World Bicycle Relief’s goal of providing 1 million Buffalo Bicycles worldwide to empower 5 million people by 2025 is well within reach. In 2022, we put more than 76,000 additional bicycles in the hands of people working to change their lives—bringing our lifetime distribution to over 700,000 bicycles! We also introduced our Mobilized Communities programs to four new communities and added 65 new retail shops to our bicycle ecosystem.
With limited data available about bicycles as a tool to improve rural access, bicycles are often overlooked as a transportation solution. In addition to our core bicycle programs that create pathways to mobility for people in rural areas, World Bicycle Relief is committed to helping increase evidence and awareness in what is still very much an under-researched area. Developers and policymakers repeatedly fail to systematically evaluate access to transportation when designing rural projects. World Bicycle Relief is committed to identifying partnerships to build awareness and strengthen the case for rural mobility, and strengthen government and funder willingness to act: to increase investment in and integration of rural mobility into policies, programs and budgets.
The opportunity the Power of Bicycles has to influence change is made possible by the passion and support of our donors, volunteers, partners, fundraisers, and influencers. With its shared purpose, our community continues to grow stronger, making our collective impact bigger every year. We’re grateful for your ongoing support and excited to accomplish even more together in the future.
We didn’t just design the ultimate bike for rural transportation—we created a sustainable bicycle ecosystem that supports people while they build better lives for themselves. The Buffalo Bicycle isn’t your typical lightweight, recreational bike. It has a job to do, running on extremely rugged terrain, with heavy cargo (220lb/100kg capacity), giving people of all ages vital access to services and schools. World Bicycle Relief and Buffalo Bicycles Ltd. are proud of our unique social enterprise model. We don’t inundate communities and economies by simply giving away bicycles. Instead, we have built a sustainable model that includes careful planning and research, supply chain operations and a network of shops that prioritize access to bicycles and spare parts, complemented by regular maintenance from our shop managers and the community-based mechanics that we train.
When you send a girl to school, the good deed never dies. It goes on for generations, advancing every public good, from health to economic gain to gender equity and national prosperity.”
We prioritize women and girls in our programs to help close the gap on gender disparities—further worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In many regions, women and girls face cultural obstacles that limit their access to quality education, well-paid employment, reproductive healthcare, and property rights. With two wheels, women can access work and health services, while girls can reach school on time with energy to learn.
Educated girls can boost national economies by entering the workforce, where they can earn more with a secondary education to help lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Forced marriage rates, mortality rates, and maternal mortality rates all decrease when we invest in girls’ education. Beyond the self-esteem they gain, they’re also able to raise healthier children, creating sustainable change for generations to come.
We believe that mobility is a fundamental human right. With bicycles, people are empowered to make positive change in their lives and communities. Our innovative model and mobility solutions ensure people have access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. We are committed to working with communities to help achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.