The IDinsight randomized controlled trial study, which involved 1,488 participants from 19 rural communities in Zambia, compared adults who received bicycles with those who did not. This provides a robust evaluation of the degree of impact bicycles can have in rural communities.

The baseline survey occurred in May/June 2023, prior to bicycle distribution in July 2023, with each endline survey taking place one and two years after the baseline to measure the program’s outcomes and impact.

The results show measurable improvements in economic activity, social mobility, and access to essential services for bicycle recipients. The findings highlight bicycles as an integral component of broader development programs aimed at improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in mobility-challenged communities.

In Year One of the study, with data collected in May 2024, households used their bicycles an average of 223 days of the year and close to 20 km a day. They increased access to healthcare, increased capacity to carry water and access energy, and decreased time spent, creating valuable time for productive activities. Households with bicycles maintained their standard of living and adapted to the drought by making more trips to the market and engaging in trade. This resulted in higher monthly income, consumption, better food security and a higher-quality diet, in comparison to households without bicycles that saw reduced consumption and who spent more time traveling and struggled to rebuild to their baseline. 

Second-year findings, collected in May 2025, reveal how sustained bicycle use not only creates immediate gains but also strengthens economic returns, resilience and well-being over time. Impacts on consumption, assets, savings, income and business revenue were sustained and expanded. Locus of control and self-esteem also contributed to personal agency. Women participating in livelihood groups experienced similar benefits.

After two years of observation, the study found that with bicycles:

Building on data from these studies in Zambia, a new analysis finds that bicycles deliver a 14.7-to-1 return on investment, placing them among the most impactful development interventions. This confirms that bicycles not only generate exceptional economic and social returns but also enable households to sustain and grow their livelihoods through times of crisis.

• Economic opportunity: Households receiving bicycles generated an average of $3,188 in economic benefits over five years. 
• Educational benefits: Providing bicycles to girls in primary schools, grades 5, 6, and 7 increases school attendance by 17 days each year, per $100 invested.
• Healthcare reach: Community health workers can serve 2,811 additional clients over 5 years per bicycle distributed, or 1,297 additional clients per $100 invested in the program. 

This groundbreaking RCT, conducted during one of Zambia’s most severe droughts in recent years, demonstrates that bicycles are not just a means of transport but a transformative tool that can significantly improve welfare and well-being. The findings of this study, when combined with the insights from our previous ‘Wheels of Change’ randomized controlled trial—focused on the impact of bicycles on girls’ education—paint a powerful picture of how bicycles improve access to essential services, boost economic productivity, build resilience, and enhance social mobility, particularly for women and marginalized groups.

These findings validate World Bicycle Relief’s approach to providing critical last-mile mobility solutions that empower individuals and create sustainable pathways out of poverty. With this research, World Bicycle Relief is uniquely positioned to lead scalable, sustainable mobility interventions that can be integrated into broader development programs focused on education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. As global organizations seek proven strategies to tackle mobility poverty, bicycles offer a practical, scalable solution, and World Bicycle Relief is at the forefront of delivering this impact.

For more information please contact:

Alisha Myers, Executive Director of Impact & Learning

amyers@worldbicyclerelief.org