Cycling is taking off all over South Africa. We interviewed Andrew from the Bicycling Empowerment Network to find out more about the great work they do.

Andrew cycling at the UCT hill climb championship

GG: Hi there Andrew! How did the Bicycling Empowerment Network start and how did you get involved?

After school I went to UCT and completed a B.Soc.Sci undergraduate degree and a Postgraduate Management degree. I then worked for 7 years for various NGO's in the development field but this was unrelated to cycling or sport. I then decided to follow my real love of promoting cycling and, whilst working at Sports Science, began a masters degree in Sports Management through the University of Leicester, UK. When I completed this I channelled my knowledge into bicycles and formed BEN.

GG: When and how did you learn to ride a bicycle yourself?

I learnt to ride a bike when I was quite young, growing up in Perth Australia (where I was born). When my family moved to Cape Town when I was eight years old I started cycling with school friends. When I was 14 I started racing and soon became very competitive. I have not stopped in the 25 years since, although I do not have the time to race as often as I used to.

GG: What is the dream of BEN – what kind of world would you like to create as a consequence of BEN?

I would like to create a world where children can feel safe in their own environment, their own neighbourhood, where there is an understanding that residential areas are safe areas in which to walk and cycle - be it to school or to friends houses and where the speeds are low. I would like to see that commuters choose a bike as a form of transport over a car, not every day, but when and where possible. I would like to see SA cities with less congestion, less pollution, great freedom for all road users. I would like to see our politicians focusing on parks and libraries and bike paths and pedestrian areas - where the speeds are low, the environment is green and South African'can meet and socialise with one another. This is limited behind the closed windows in the world of the private motor car, which merely accentuates the division between us all - socially, economically and physically.

GG: How many people work at BEN? Tell us about them.

The staff and interns of BEN

BEN has eight employees.

Andrew Wheeldon - Managing Director; Yvonne Tripod - Financial Manager; Beverley Roode - Program Officer; Zandiswa Cacambile - Outreach Officer; Naym Moltie - Training Manager; Trevor Knowlden - Outreach Officer; Rufus Norexe - Training Manager; and Janine Johnson - Administrative Manager. There are four men and four women and we all have varying roles and responsibilities. Louis still works with us and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

GG: What is your most exciting project/initiative?

The most exciting program has been the work with the schools, delivering bicycles and training programs to learners who have had to walk long distances or take expensive public transport to school. The learners cannot wait to get on to bicycles and to then be able to visit their friends, cycle to the beach and to the shops and get fit. The sense of gained independence cannot be underestimated.

Distributing bikes to the Kwamfundo school

GG: Which personal story has touched you the most?

If I were to choose one, it would be the health care worker from de Doorns, who after walking for hours each day for many years along dusty bumpy roads carrying vital but heavy medicines to home-based patients, was now able to increase her patient per day total from 8 to 19 by using the bike. She was overjoyed that she could provide better health care to more people and as a result also increase her daily wage - as the health care workers are paid per patient visit. The three hours per day walking was not paid for, so to be able to reduce this to only one hour per day the health care workers could provide a far more efficient service and end the day far less fatigued.

Healthcare worker in Worcester

GG: What do you do on a typical day at BEN?

A typical day would include writing of reports, working with staff on current projects - bike orders for schools and adult groups - as well as planning events and working with the BEN independent bicycle dealers on their programs. BEN has nine such projects where nine previously unemployed semi-skilled people have been trained as bike mechanics by BEN and set up in small township or rural businesses. They are all busy with programs to promote bikes and safety in their own communities and this requires ongoing discussion and planning.

Andrew at work

GG: If you could start all over again – what would you do differently?

I now know better how some of the programs could be established more efficiently so I would effect those changes. On the whole, it has been a real learning experience and a good one - I would change very little. We have managed to change many people's lives for the better with the simple, efficient and inexpensive bicycle - and that has made the program very worthwhile.

GG: What are you planning for the future?

BEN is planning to work with the national department of transport (NDoT) to successfully roll out its national bicycle program (Shova Kalula - Pedal Easy). The aim is to distribute one million bicycles by 2010 and BEN can assist with the training in communities in matters of safety and maintenance as well as the establishment of the independent bicycle centres.

Distributing bikes to government rural roads workers

GG: If people have an old bicycle, what should they do with it?

BEN has collected many used bicycles over the years and these are all refurbished at the BEN academy in Tokai, Cape Town, and then provided to a township school or project. We can be reached at 021-7133634 if you have an old bike to donate. BEN will write a story and take a photo of the recipient and send this to the donor.

Bikes distributed to workers at a hotel group

If you'd like to get involved in this wonderful project contact Andrew at BEN.