Super strong bikes help transform lives and improve healthcare in Ugandan community

Health workers in Uganda and people in the rural communities they serve say they're enjoying the benefits of having bikes especially designed for rugged terrain. The Buffalo Bicycles are distributed by a non-profit organization which says they've been built to be stronger and simpler than recreational alternatives, to meet the needs of workers traveling long distances in harsh conditions. Retailing for roughly $200, it is three times more expensive than the cheapest regular bicycle. Many people haven't heard of it or can't afford it. It's promoted by World Bicycle Relief, which says its durability in rough terrain results in fewer trips to the mechanic, also meaning fewer maintenance costs. The bicycle is also seen as a community asset. Susan Apio, a health worker, is using the new Buffalo bike. In the village where she lives, anyone can show up and ask to use it. “It has helped me because when I am moving within the community, I don’t take long, even I also don’t take time. It also helps me to cover a number of households within the community and also our facility is far. We used to walk like for one and half hour reaching the facility, the health center, but when they gave us this bicycle, really it has helped me a lot to move to the facility,” explains Apio. Hamuza Ali, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for World Bicycle Relief, says the organization is aiming to widen the distribution of the bikes into other poor and rural settings, some areas with refugees. He says, “By solving mobility challenges that are within these areas, we are also aimed at reducing the poverty levels, also equipping the people here with a solution to see that their household incomes are increased. However, we are now penetrating in other regions and you can hear that we have been in Fort Portal, we have been in Kabale, we have also been in West Nile, that is Yumbe, in the refugee settings that is Bidibidi, and Adjumani.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.