BikeTown Africa

BikeTown Africa ("BTA") was founded in 2006 two bicycle riding friends, David B. and Steve M. Between 2006 - 2012, Bike Town Africa has delivered more than 2,000 new, custom-made bicycles to health care workers in sub-Saharan Africa. It has operated largely as a partnership between Bicycling Magazine, Rodale Institute, Bristol Myers Squibb, UTi, and Kona Bicycle Company. In 2013 Bike Town Africa incorporated as a stand-alone 501(c)3 organization in the United States (final IRS status pending). Each year, BTA donates bicycles (and tools) to healthcare workers in Africa, particularly those involved in HIV/AIDS related work. BTA volunteers travel to Africa to assemble and give away the bicycles to the receiving organization (typically an established, qualified HIV clinic, hospital or NGO). BTA then documents the impact these bicycles have on the personal and professional lives of the recipients. Besides health care workers BikeTown Africa has also donated bicycles to orphans and farmers as well as worked in other countries outside of Africa; notably Afghanistan.

The project started in 2006 with 200 bicycles donated to HIV/AIDS healthcare workers in Gaborone and Bobanang, Botswana.

In 2007 the project expanded. One hundred and fifty bicycles were distributed in Katima Mulilo, Namibia, and 169 in Tambacounda, Senegal. One thousand AfricaBikes were donated in 2008. These bicycles were distributed in South Africa,Swaziland and Mozambique. In 2009, 750 bicycles were distributed. During September 2009, an international team of volunteers assembled 268 bicycles in the Orange Farm township of Gauteng, South Africa. These were donated to the Catholic Healthcare Association of South Africa for distribution to their affiliates in South Africa, Botswana, and Swaziland. The final two projects for 2009 happened in Kibaha and Bukoba, Tanzania.

In March 2010, 100 Specialized Fuse BMX bikes were distributed to 4 tracks built by AMA Rider for children in townships around Cape Town. In August 2010, 120 Kona AfricaBikes will be distributed in Malawi at the Baylor Tingathe Community Outreach Program. A further 120 bicycles will be donated to Foundation Rwanda. In September 2010 250 bikes were distributed in The Gambia, with assistance from the HopeFirst Foundation.

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