BEN, Qhubeka and PPA awarded tender for WC Government Provincial Sustainable Transport Programme

15th November 2019 – BEN, Qhubeka Charity and PPA, collaborating as the Bicycle Mobility Consortium, are proud to announce a significant bicycle distribution initiative with the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works.

Please read the following media release:

The Bicycle Mobility Consortium is closing 2019 on a high note. The consortium consists of Bicycle Empowerment Network, Pedal Power Association, and Qhubeka and has won a tender to supply bicycles to communities in the Western …Cape over a three-year period as part of the Western Cape Government’s Provincial Sustainable Transport Programme (PSTP).
The PSTP is a programme run by the Department of Transport and Public Works, and aims to improve public transport and the safety of roads and communities in the Western Cape. As part of the programmes commitment to non-motorised transport, the first year of funding will see 400 bicycles distributed. However, Qhubeka Executive Director, Tsatsi Phewani says that what’s most exciting is the holistic nature of the programme. “This is one of the first tenders awarded in South Africa that looks to address the full end-to-end programming impact of bicycles on communities,” she says. “It’s not about simply delivering bicycles to people – it takes into account the full picture of creating a bicycle culture, helping people improve their access to education and employment opportunities, and moving people forward using bicycles as a tool for success.”
The Consortium explains that one of the key lessons it has learnt over the last years is the importance of programmatic sustainability. “We believe it is our responsibility to work with communities to create long-term solutions to their challenges – solutions that work for them,” says Tim Mosdell, Executive Director at Bicycle Empowerment Network.
This is why the Bicycle Mobility Consortium has developed a comprehensive programming process that takes into account everything from manufacturing bicycles to managing the spare parts supply chain and even training bicycle mechanics so that the bicycles remain rideable and people have an opportunity to build bicycle-based businesses.
“This consortium has been three years in the making, developing holistic bicycle implementation programmes,” says Robert Vogel, CEO at Pedal Power Association “It’s wonderful to see the hard work bearing fruit and we look forward to changing more lives with bicycles together.”