Govt gives organisations bicycles to assist vulnerable groups

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While bicycles have always been a practical choice of transportation in a number of countries, questions have arisen as to whether they are the best option to assist community organisations to provide vital services to women and children in their communities.

This after Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, along with the Hessequa Mayor, Grant Riddles, handed over 20 bicycles to three community organisations for the task.

The ceremony, held at the Child Welfare Centre in Heidelberg on Saturday, December 7, 2024, was part of the province’s observance of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.

MEC Sileku said that the gesture was a step towards improving mobility for organisations that play a critical role in assisting vulnerable groups. “Violence against women and children has no place in our society,” he said during the event. “These bicycles will enable our partners to extend their reach and provide critical services to those who need them most.”

BICYCLE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN OTHER COUNTRIES

According to EPOMM(European Platform on Mobility Management), delivery by bicycle is especially popular in countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark, where even sperm samples are transported by cargo bikes to fertility clinics.

Quoting a study from an extensive study of Transport for London, 2009, EPOMM noted that some of the advantages included lower purchase cost, lower running costs (tax, insurance, storage) and no parking costs. It also had a lower environmental impact which was another big factor.

GobaX, a German cargo bike manufacturer, calculated that a pizzeria could save 6300 euros (Around R119 102) a year if they would deliver their pizza by bike rather than by car.

The study also noted that bicycles allowed delivery services to reach people in remote areas with dirt roads. This could be especially helpful in South Africa considering a number of its vulnerable groups are found in informal settlements with little to no infrastructure.

BUT SA PRESENTS ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES FOR BICYCLES

While the initiative is well-intentioned, practical concerns about the sustainability and safety of using bicycles for such vital services have popped up.

South Africa’s high crime rates have previously hindered similar initiative, like that of Uber’s bicycle delivery programwas discontinued in parts of the country after riders became targets for robbery, with goods often stolen en route.

Community workers may face similar risks, particularly when traveling alone in remote or unsafe areas. Weather conditions and the distances between service points in rural areas further complicate the practicality of bicycles as a primary mode of transport.

Experts argue that for this initiative to succeed, it must be accompanied by robust measures to address these challenges, such as ensuring rider safety and exploring supplementary transportation options for areas where bicycles may not be viable.