Bike programs in Africa

[hiero2]

I had a gent yesterday ask if I was considering selling my old bicycles. Of course, the answer was no - but it started a conversation. Turns out the guy wanted to ship a bike to his nephew in Africa.

I'm thinking, my god, the shipping cost would probably be huge! I'm not sure it would be worth it at all. So I told him to email me, and I'd look into possible options.

So, there is the venerable Bikes not Bombs - they are still around.

Jock Boyer's Team Rwanda.

Qhubeka, of MTN-Qhubeka fame.

And Calfee was doing something with bamboo frames and bikes, wasn't he? I've never been to Africa - and I don't know which country this nephew is in, either. I imagine S.A. would have bike shop resources available, pretty much like most developed countries - at least in J-burg. Kenya - might. In the cities.

But would they be like US cost offerings? I'm sure that multi-k options would not be options. Or else the guy wouldn't be looking to buy used and ship.

He could probably find a good deal on Craigslist. But the shipping.

Thots?

Ideas?

 

[DirtyWorks]

But would they be like US cost offerings? I'm sure that multi-k options would not be options.

Why not? China/Taiwan is exporter to the world for bicycles, so whatever you see in the U.S. is available there too depending on the locale and wealth.

What makes shipping expensive for bikes is the large, odd-size box. It's cheaper and probably more reliable to send about 5 boxes on a pallet. It will take time, but cost quite a bit less.

The problem with bikes in low-weath locales is not the bikes themselves but supplying all the bits that break down AND having an economy sufficient so there are consumers who can afford the repairs.

 

[ebandit]

bikes not guns

better off forwarding $ to buy local

of course the tragedy is so much $ spent on mines/weapons that could be better spent on enriching peoples lives with their own bikes

in time the world tour truly would be a global event

http://www.recyke-y-bike.org/

here I donate my old stuff to our local scheme who ship container loads of refurbished bikes to africa

Mark L

 

[mambo1]

Having visited Africa, the only way I can think of is to start a program to build bikes there using local labour and resources.

 

[latrinus]

Let us know

..to which country a bike wants to go - and I'll tell you what kind of infra and access the country already offers.....esp in the Southern countries....

 

[mambo1]

I live on a frontier where there are regularly hundreds of confiscated bikes. I have often thought of seeing how I could blag them out of customs (they are left to rot) and send them to Morroco which is only 20 miles away across the straits of Gibraltar.