Bicycles for Humanity
Sara Falconer
Folks have begun to shyly bare their pasty knees, heralding the return of that long-awaited occasion: bike season! As you dig through your cluttered garages and basements, remember that your unused bicycles and sports equipment can make a real difference in developing countries. On May 30 from 9 a.m. until noon, Bicycles for Humanity will hold their annual Bike Drive across the city. Visit www.bicycles-for-humanity.org/Ottawa/index.php for a list of locations.
"The demand is huge in developing countries, and the supply is huge in developed countries," says Seb Oran, who helped start the local group in 2007. Although bicycles are one of the cheapest transportation technologies, easily maintained with minimal tools and parts, they remain unattainable for people subsisting on $1 per day. Some of the thousands of bikes discarded each year in the Western world can mean easier access to health care, education, food, water and jobs.
"Sixty per cent of people in rural areas in Africa only have their feet as their method of transportation -they can only go as far as they can walk," Oran explains. With an HIV and AIDS infection rate as high as 20 to 30 per cent in some countries and few medical facilities, that can be a matter of life and death. Health care workers can visit more communities in a day on two wheels. For children who live at least five to six kilometres from the nearest schools, "it's the difference
between them getting an education and not," she adds.The group is particularly looking for mountain bikes in working condition for adults and youths aged 10 and over, bike tools, inner tubes, helmets and gently used backpacks. They can also use Canadian Tire money, children's soccer gear and deflated basket balls. Tandem bikes are a particularly prized item because they are given to associations working with blind children. Cash donations will help ship these supplies overseas.
Once you've sent your old bike on its new journey, it's time to take one yourself. During Environment Week, which runs from May 31 to June 6, take the Commuter Challenge: Ditch the car and cycle, walk, carpool, telework or take public transit to work.
"People will be able to take action to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change," says Mike Buckthought of the Sierra Club of Canada. Currently, only about 2 per cent of Ottawa bikes to work, compared to 40 per cent in Copenhagen. "We hope that people will try it out for a week, and then use green modes of transportation on a routine basis," he says.
Last year, over 3,800 people took part in the challenge locally, along with 31,800 across the country. City councillors hope to see even more people take part, having been challenged by the councillors of Yellowknife to see which city has the most green commuters. Register online and track your progress at www.commuterchallenge.ca. Bicycles for Humanity are also holding a fundraiser at The Mercury Lounge, with African drums "to drum up funds," on May 30.
