Heroes on Bikes get frontline staff to work
Country
South Africa
Update
August 25, 2020
Heroes on Bikes get frontline staff to work
Country
South Africa
Update
August 25, 2020
COVID-19 measures affect the way essential workers commute to work. South African initiative Heroes on Bikes donated bicycles to frontline workers from the townships so they can travel to work safely.
The corona pandemic created travel problems for essential workers in the townships around Cape Town. They depend on affordable and safe transportation to get back and forth to their jobs. Trains and busses are not running, taxis are unsafe and e-hailing services as Uber are expensive.
Heroes on Bikes initiative
South African companies Khaltsha Cycles bicycle shop and bicycle manufacturer Avalanche Bicycles joined forces with Pedal Power Association and Bike4All to form the Heroes on Bikes initiative. The objective of this project is to provide essential workers from the townships with bikes so they can commute to work safely. Part of the costs – which not just covers use of the bikes but also the spare parts - are shared by the parties involved. The remainder of the money is raised through crowdfunding. Within a short time, 20 frontline workers signed up for a bike, while enough money was raised to fund the first bicycles.
Khaltsha Cycles founder Sindile Mavundla wants to raise enough funds for 50+ bikes. He hopes to expand this initiative to other parts of South Africa. Sindile Mavundla: “A bicycle is the perfect mode of transport for social distancing. Our Heroes need safe, reliable, convenient and affordable transportation to get to our communities throughout the COVID-19 crisis.”
Khaltsha Cycles has started a crowdfund to support their initiative at https://gf.me/u/ystd3q.
Social media
Khaltsha Cycles
Instagram: @khaltshacycles
Facebook: @KhaltshaCycles
Pedal Power Association
Instagram: @pedal_power_association
Twitter: @PedalPowerPPA
Facebook: @pedalpowerassociation
Avalanche Bicycle Company
Facebook: @AvalancheBicycles
Bike4All
Twitter: @BENBikes_SA
Facebook: @BENSouthAfrica