BikeTown Africa
Encyclopedia
BikeTown Africa is a project that started in 2006 as a partnership between Bicycling Magazine, Rodale Press
, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Kona Bicycle Company
. The project primarily donates bicycles to healthcare workers in Africa, particularly those involved in HIV/AIDS related work. Bicycling Magazine then documents the impact these bicycles have on the personal and professional lives of the recipients. Besides health care workers BikeTown Africa has also donated bicycles to orphans and farmers as well as worked in other countries outside of Africa; notably Afghanistan.
The project started in 2006 with 200 bicycles donated to healthcare workers in Botswana
.
In 2007 the project expanded. One hundred and fifty bicycles were distributed in Katima Mulilo
, Namibia, and 169 in Tambacounda
, Senegal.
One thousand AfricaBikes were donated in 2008. These bicycles were distributed in South Africa
http://www.maafrikatikkun.org.za/web/content/view/216/250/, Swaziland
and Mozambique
. In 2009, 750 bicycles were distributed. During September 2009, an international team of volunteers assembled 268 bicycles in the Orange Farm township of Gauteng, South Africa. These were donated to the Catholic Healthcare Association of South Africa for distribution to their affiliates in South Africa, Botswana, and Swaziland. The final two projects for 2009 happened in Kibaha and Bukoba, Tanzania.
In March 2010, 100 Specialized Fuse BMX bikes were distributed to 4 tracks built by AMA Rider for children in townships around Cape Town
. In August 2010, 120 Kona AfricaBikes will be distributed in Malawi
at the Baylor Tingathe Community Outreach Program. A further 120 bicycles will be donated to Foundation Rwanda. In September 2010 250 bikes were distributed in The Gambia, with assistance from the HopeFirst Foundation.
The primary bicycles used in BikeTown Africa is called the Kona AfricaBike. It was designed by Kona Bicycle Company
to fit the unique needs of health care workers in Africa. Over the project life span the bicycles has undergone various changes and additions. BikeTown Africa also has distributed bicycles manufactured by Specialized.
As with the bicycle, the project is constantly adapting so as to utilize best practices learned. In 2007 BikeTown Africa changed some of its policies insisting that the bicycles must be owned by the individual recipients rather than the organization, so as to promote personal responsibility of the maintenance and repair of the bicycles. In return each recipient agrees to volunteer with the organization for a fixed amount of time or devote an agreed amount of time to help sustain the project.
BikeTown Africa also includes training for mechanics in the areas the bicycles are distributed, as well as providing tools to equip the trained mechanics.
Rodale Press
Rodale, Inc., is an American publisher of health and wellness magazines, books, and digital properties. Rodale is headquartered in Emmaus, Pennsylvania and also maintains a satellite office in New York City, on Third Avenue....
, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Kona Bicycle Company
Kona Bicycle Company
Kona Bikes is a bicycle company in Ferndale, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. It specializes in high-performance mountain bikes, racing and touring bicycles. The company name comes from the owners' love of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii....
. The project primarily donates bicycles to healthcare workers in Africa, particularly those involved in HIV/AIDS related work. Bicycling Magazine then documents the impact these bicycles have on the personal and professional lives of the recipients. Besides health care workers BikeTown Africa has also donated bicycles to orphans and farmers as well as worked in other countries outside of Africa; notably Afghanistan.
The project started in 2006 with 200 bicycles donated to healthcare workers in Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
.
In 2007 the project expanded. One hundred and fifty bicycles were distributed in Katima Mulilo
Katima Mulilo
Katima Mulilo is the capital of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia's far north–east extension into central Southern Africa. It comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban...
, Namibia, and 169 in Tambacounda
Tambacounda
Tambacounda is the largest city in eastern Senegal, southeast of Dakar, and is the Regional capital of the province of the same name. Its estimated population in 2007 was 78,800.-Geography:...
, Senegal.
One thousand AfricaBikes were donated in 2008. These bicycles were distributed in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
http://www.maafrikatikkun.org.za/web/content/view/216/250/, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. In 2009, 750 bicycles were distributed. During September 2009, an international team of volunteers assembled 268 bicycles in the Orange Farm township of Gauteng, South Africa. These were donated to the Catholic Healthcare Association of South Africa for distribution to their affiliates in South Africa, Botswana, and Swaziland. The final two projects for 2009 happened in Kibaha and Bukoba, Tanzania.
In March 2010, 100 Specialized Fuse BMX bikes were distributed to 4 tracks built by AMA Rider for children in townships around Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. In August 2010, 120 Kona AfricaBikes will be distributed in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
at the Baylor Tingathe Community Outreach Program. A further 120 bicycles will be donated to Foundation Rwanda. In September 2010 250 bikes were distributed in The Gambia, with assistance from the HopeFirst Foundation.
The primary bicycles used in BikeTown Africa is called the Kona AfricaBike. It was designed by Kona Bicycle Company
Kona Bicycle Company
Kona Bikes is a bicycle company in Ferndale, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. It specializes in high-performance mountain bikes, racing and touring bicycles. The company name comes from the owners' love of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii....
to fit the unique needs of health care workers in Africa. Over the project life span the bicycles has undergone various changes and additions. BikeTown Africa also has distributed bicycles manufactured by Specialized.
As with the bicycle, the project is constantly adapting so as to utilize best practices learned. In 2007 BikeTown Africa changed some of its policies insisting that the bicycles must be owned by the individual recipients rather than the organization, so as to promote personal responsibility of the maintenance and repair of the bicycles. In return each recipient agrees to volunteer with the organization for a fixed amount of time or devote an agreed amount of time to help sustain the project.
BikeTown Africa also includes training for mechanics in the areas the bicycles are distributed, as well as providing tools to equip the trained mechanics.