DONATE
STAY CONNECTED
Why Bicycles
THE CHALLENGE
Can you imagine the next week of your life with no transport other than walking?
The first thing you'd notice is the extra time that you need to do everything. Instead of driving to work you would have to walk, perhaps getting out of bed an hour or two earlier than usual. Instead of a 30 minute bus ride to visit family, or to attend school you might be looking at 3 hours on foot.
Instead of going to night classes to gain an extra qualification you would have to go straight home - there simply wouldn't be time to walk to the college.
You would find your weekly shopping routine impossible, firstly because carrying all that weight would break your back, and secondly because the market stall holders, who also have to travel long distances, simply might not be able to make it to market.
And what about when you get sick – how quickly would you be able to get to a doctor?
If you can imagine this then you're on the way to understanding the problems faced by millions of the world's poorest people. With no means to access opportunities in employment, education or healthcare, let alone the means to gather food and water quickly, these people are trapped in a cycle of poverty with little way out.
BUT there is hope, and there is something we can do about it.
THE SOLUTION
A bicycle, one of the simplest transport technologies, is affordable and can be maintained anywhere in the world with minimal tools and spare parts. Bicycles greatly improve personal mobility and help in the journey out of poverty to a better life.
Yet despite their relative affordability, even bicycles may be beyond the reach of the world's poorest people – for many people living on $1 per day, this is not an option.
In the western world, every year we discard millions of bicycles as we upgrade to newer models. Most of these bicycles are in perfect condition, or require only a little maintenance to get going.
Unused bicycles in garages or basements can make an incredible difference in Africa
by providing sustainable mobility
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
‣Photos of bikes in use
-
‣CBC news segment on how bicycles help in the combat against HIV/AIDS in Namibia.
Related links
Healthcare
Bicycles bring healthcare workers to patients and patients to hospitals
Education
Bicycles bring students to schools and educators to the students
Economic Development
Bicycles bring goods and services to markets, create new employment and enable workers to get to jobs or find better jobs
Productivity
With a bike, a person can go at least 2 times as fast, cover 3 times the distance and carry 4 times the load as compared to walking
Copyright © 2012 Bicycles for Humanity Ottawa - all rights reserved