World Bicycle Relief Targets Africa

World Bicycle Relief’s current endeavor, Project Zambia, is delivering 26,000 bicycles to trained HIV/AIDS healthcare workers and educators in Zambia. After the organization’s success in bringing relief with Project Tsunami in the wake of the December, 2004 disaster, World Bike Relief has turned its attention to other areas in need of help.

The mission of World Bicycle Relief, founded by SRAM and Trek Bicycle, is “to provide access to independence and livelihood through the power of bicycles.” Specific targets are disaster and poverty relief. Zambia will be the first of seven African nations to receive aid.

As the zippy graphics of their website exhibit (above), bicycling allows people to cover four times more distance than walking; increases carrying capacity five-fold (although some would claim even more); saves a commuter three hours over a 10-mile distance vs. walking; and increases the range a person can cover in one hour from 20 square miles to 310 square miles (a critical difference during disaster relief).

World Bicycle Relief aims to impact a community’s healthcare, education, and economic development. The organization accepts donations and is a 501c3 nonprofit.

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