Many thanks to Re~Cycle UK for our container load of used bicycles. We were beyond excited to receive them on Monday, 4th November 2019. Our warehouse is packed and we itching to get the bicycles out into the communities. Thanks so much Re~Cycle UK – you have no idea how much these bicycles change peoples lives. Special thanks must go out to all the donors and volunteers who work so hard to get these bicycles to us. You guys are just amazing! Thank you
Tim Mosdell had the privilege, and honour of being involved in this important tour!
Media Release From Alan Winde (Premier of the Western Cape Government) : Safety and mobility the focus of the Safety Cycle Tour 2019
4 November 2019
A team of cyclists and I have completed the 2019 Safety Cycle Tour, riding from Saldanha Bay to Cape Agulhas, to spread the message of safety across the province and handing over 200 bicycles along the way.
The group of cyclists included members of cabinet, Western Cape Government officials, as well as cycling and mobility activists from organisations including Qhubeka, BEN bikes, Open Streets, Bicycle Cities, Bicycles and Beyond. Media partner HeartFM also joined the ride and helped to spread the message.
During the four-day tour, bicycles were handed over to pupils from the Weskus Special School, Hopefield Highschool and to Neighbourhood Watch groups in the Breede Valley municipality. In Malmesbury, Qhubeka, a charity distributing bikes to communities and who took part in the cycle tour, handed over 105 bikes to learners at Ilingelethu High School.
A simple bicycle has the ability to connect communities with educational and economic opportunities. Many of the school children who received bikes during this trip, will now be able to get to school quicker and more safely than before.
Because the focus of the trip was on safety, children who received bikes also received helmets to keep them safe, and road safety tips to ensure safe cycling.
In Breede Valley, we handed over bikes sponsored by the Department of Community Safety which will help make Neighbourhood Watches mobile and more efficient. In Bredasdorp, I had the opportunity to meet some of the municipality’s Peace Officers on bikes. They are recent graduates from the Chrysalis programme, who help to supplement the efforts of Law Enforcement Officers in towns, contributing towards making their communities safer.
During the trip, I also focused on improved road safety- participating in road blocks and traffic blitzes, visiting the Worcester traffic department and assisting cyclists to be safer and more visible.
As the Western Cape Government, we are focused on building a safer province, but safety is not just about crime. Safety is about our value system and taking responsibility for our safety and the safety of others by adhering to the rules, which include the traffic rules.
I also handed out books collected during the massively successful Western Cape book drive, to the Wellington Library and to Holvlei Primary school.
The group also visited the Jakes Gerwel Technical School in Bonnievale- a collaboration between the local community and the Western Cape Government. The community of Bonnievale stepped up and played a part to ensure that children in the area are able to access educational opportunities, and the world-class facility now ensures that the learners who attend, will develop necessary skills that will secure their futures, and address the skills needs of businesses in the area.
This trip gave us the opportunity to meet with community members, and see the work that municipalities are doing towards building safer communities. I hope that it has also inspired people to consider taking up cycling as a way to improve their mobility, connect them to opportunities and support systems, with the added benefit that they can also improve their health.
31st October 2019 – #NewBikeDay for Ilingelethu High School learners in Malmesbury as they received an additional 105 Qhubeka bicycles on the “Learn to Earn” programme. Bicycles were sponsored by Rola Motors and Spar. We were honored to welcome Premier Alan Winde and his #safetycycletour19 team as they joined us in the presentation of the bicycles. Proud partnership with Qhubeka Charity, Pedal Power Association and Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN)
The Gugulethu Community, Movement of Change and Social Justice (MCSJ), Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN), Pedal Power Association (PPA) and Qhubeka handed over 12 Bike4All bicycles to the Gugulethu Community Neighbourhood watch.
This distribution was held at the Gugulethu Sports complex in NY, Gugulethu. MC’s Noxolo Mayekiso and Phelisa Dlangamandla carried out the ceremony with guest speakers Neighbourhood watch speaker Ntobeko, Cycling sport speaker Xola Sono, distributor of chronic medication Ncedo Makhamba, Elliot Nombayeka who advises how using bicycles can generate income, Tim Mosdell CEO of BEN and closing off the ceremony was Ncedisa Quabazi.
Gugulethu community entertained us in true community style as they welcomed the bicycles to help serve the community.
Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) Pedal Power Association Qhubeka Charity
Meshack Nchupetsang, our BEC in Westlake, is proud to present “On Bike Tours”. It forms part of his growth strategy in diversifying his product to reach more people.
Tours will officially commence daily from 19th November 2019. Join him as he showcases the diverse beauty of Cape Town. Call Meshack on 078 279 6460 to secure a booking. We wish you all the very best in your new venture.
24 October 2019 – 100 Qhubeka Bicycles went to schoolchildren from Rietenbosch Primary School in Stellenbosch. Funded by Breitling and Cape Epic Fundraisers. To quality for the bicycle, each learner grew a tree which was handed over to Wildlands to plant. Qhubeka Charity Pedal Power Association Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) Cape Epic Brietling Wildlands
18 October 2019 – Congratulations to Richard Smith and Nuriya Rustin for completing their 3 week bicycle mechanics course at Bicycling Empowerment Network. We wish you both success in the future.
100 Ilingelethu scholars received their bicycles on 17th October 2019 on the Qhubeka “Learn to Earn” programme and a further 20 bicycles went to community safety volunteers in the community. Bicycles were funded by Spar and Team Dimension Data. Proudly partnered with Qhubeka Charity, Pedal Power Association and Bike4All.
30 September 2019 – School holidays are meant to be fun, so we headed off to the Weltevreden Community Center in Mitchell’s Plain for some cycling fun! Together with Coot B Community Watch and our BEC, Vyvan Bean from Mr B’s Bikes, we conducted a safe cycling school holiday program with at least 100 children from the community. Such well behaved children who enjoyed every minute of the training and cycling. Special thanks to Dragon Sports for the donation of Avalanche cycling gloves and to Cape Town Cycle Tour for the water bottles. The children were beyond excited to receive your donations. Well done to Coot B Community Watch for helping keep the community safe. Thanks to everyone for a great event.
8th October 2019 – Bicycle safety training taking place at Ilingelethu Secondary School in Malmesbury. Ilingelethu scholars will be receiving bicycles on 17th October 2019 on the Qhubeka “Learn to Earn” programme. Qhubeka Charity Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) Pedal Power Association
