Schoolchildren
Bicycles are an effective way to address the needs of school children in South Africa.
12 million of the country’s 16 million school-going children walk to and from school and 500 000 of these walk more than two hours to school and two hours back. With a Qhubeka Bicycle, a child’s commute time is reduced by up to 75%.
Adults
In Africa, a lack of access to transport means that people have to walk long distances to get to jobs, clinics, shops and opportunities.
With a bicycle, people can travel four times faster than if they were walking. A bicycle also increases a person’s carrying capacity by five times and saves people money they would otherwise have had to spend on public transport.
Bicycles make it easier for people to get to where they need to be, whether it’s a work opportunity, or visiting family, a clinic, shops or community event.
Disaster Relief
Natural disasters – fires, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis, among others – can leave villages, towns and cities in ruins. Often, major transport routes are compromised, and people are unable to access basic services. At Qhubeka, we believe that bicycles can be a useful tool for first responders.
When roads are blocked or it is a problem to access fuel, bicycles provide an alternative means of transport to motor vehicles. They can get to places that cars cannot; they don’t need fuel; and they can help people to transport heavy loads and travel faster than if they were walking.
Bicycles can be used to reach people who need emergency assistance, and to transport supplies, people and even pets as part of wider disaster relief efforts.
Read how bicycles have helped in the wake of natural disasters
