World Bicycle Relief brought together a powerful coalition of thought leaders, researchers, policymakers, and program participants for its inaugural Mobility & Impact Forum. Convened in Nairobi and livestreamed globally, the event spotlighted one of the most underappreciated barriers to development—mobility poverty—and highlighted bicycles as a proven, scalable solution.
Addressing the opportunities and persistent challenges in rural transport, the forum offered compelling new evidence, rich storytelling, and a vibrant panel of global experts representing diverse perspectives—from community health systems and women’s economic empowerment to sustainable urban mobility and impact financing.
The event began with Maureen Kolenyo, World Bicycle Relief’s Regional Director for East Africa, sharing a stark reminder: Nearly one billion people in rural regions lack access to reliable transportation. That distance translates into diminished healthcare access, missed education, and lost economic opportunities. As emphasized throughout the program, bicycles represent an affordable, sustainable, and immediate solution.
A landmark randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted by IDinsight in Zambia offered the most rigorous evidence to date of the bicycle’s power. Jeff McManus, Senior Economist at IDinsight, presented the results: “In a year marked by the worst drought Zambia has experienced in over 40 years, households that received bicycles reported a 43% higher income compared to those who didn’t. They also saved over four hours per week in travel time.”
Bicycle recipients not only maintained income, they also sustained household consumption levels—consuming more diverse and nutritious foods, including higher levels of animal-source protein—while the control group’s consumption fell sharply. Those with bicycles were 89% more likely to report savings and were less likely to sell off key assets during the crisis, demonstrating how increased mobility contributed to long-term economic resilience.
For community health workers, bicycles significantly increased reach and productivity. On average, health workers who received Buffalo Bicycles served 63% more clients per month than their counterparts and used their bikes to transport sick clients approximately 15 times over the course of the study year, often providing urgent care where no alternative transportation existed.
These weren’t just modest improvements—they were life-changing shifts that helped individuals and families survive a climate and economic crisis with greater resilience and dignity.
That data came alive through the voices of Lucia Mwende Ngungu, a community health promoter from Kitui County in Kenya, and James Ohito Oyucho, a farmer from Siaya County. Lucia spoke about the challenges of reaching 40 households a month on foot, navigating long distances in the expansive terrain, and the transformation that came with her Buffalo Bicycle: “Now I can reach pregnant mothers faster, respond to emergencies, and even support my small business. My husband helps deliver goods using the bike. It’s become essential to both my work and my family.”
James shared how the bicycle allowed him to scale his farming business where he grows and sells watermelons, regularly transporting up to 80 kgs to local markets: “My income has increased significantly. I used to depend on others for transportation. Now I get to market directly, on time, and with more produce.” He described how the bicycle has helped him move more produce, faster and more efficiently, contributing to higher earnings.
But the impact extended beyond his individual success. Through World Bicycle Relief’s incentivized sales model, around 30 members of James’s savings group were able to acquire Buffalo Bicycles. Since then, he’s observed significant improvements in members’ ability to save, driven by better access to markets and increased income from farming and small businesses.
Moderated by Lolem B. Ngong, Chief of Staff at AMREF Health Africa, the panel brought together voices from across sectors for a deeply insightful conversation hitting on some key points:
Sybil Chidiac, Senior Program Officer for Gender Equality at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, underlined the connection between physical and financial mobility. “When women are empowered to move, they are empowered to earn,” she said. “At the Gates Foundation, we aim to increase the economic mobility of 60 million low-income women. Tools like the bicycle are critical assets in that mission.”
She also emphasized the power of women’s groups and savings cooperatives, noting, “Aggregation models—what we call women’s empowerment collectives—are powerful scaling platforms for productive assets like bicycles.”
Dr. Maureen Kimani, Head of Community Health Services at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, highlighted the pressing need for mobility solutions within primary healthcare. “Our community health promoters are assigned to serve 100 households—sometimes spread across 20 kilometers. Without transport, two hours a day isn’t enough,” she explained. “With bicycles, these frontline workers can reach more families, deliver essential care, and improve population health outcomes.”
She also cautioned against overreliance on emerging tech: “E-bikes are exciting, but in many rural areas, there’s no power grid. Manual bicycles remain the most viable and scalable solution for now.”
Carly Gilbert-Patrick, Team Leader for Active Mobility at UNEP, drew attention to the broader environmental and urban mobility implications. “Africa is experiencing the worst effects of climate change—despite contributing the least to it,” she said. “Bicycles are the lowest-cost intervention we have to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and promote health. We need to see cycling infrastructure as a public good—not a niche concern.”
She also challenged governments to act: “If I were a mayor tomorrow, I’d freeze spending on car infrastructure for three years and divert it to pedestrians and cyclists. That’s how transformative this shift needs to be.”
Sean Granville-Ross, Executive Director of Programs at World Bicycle Relief, focused on removing structural barriers to bicycle access. “This isn’t a new innovation—it’s a proven one. The real question is how we enable equitable access,” he said. “Affordability is the biggest barrier. We’re exploring financing partnerships and community-based loan models to make bicycles more accessible—especially to organized groups engaged in livelihoods and savings.”
He also noted recent policy wins, like World Bicycle Relief’s’s success in helping reduce import duties on bicycles in Zambia. “This is the kind of policy change that unlocks real scale.”
Maarten Fonteijn, Managing Director of eBee Kenya, addressed the cultural perception of bicycles: “We need to make cycling aspirational again—something cool, not just a necessity for the poor. In urban areas, we’re showing that bicycles can provide green jobs, especially for women and youth. And it’s working: Our riders have seen income gains of up to 35%.”
The 2025 Mobility & Impact Forum reinforced three essential truths:
As World Bicycle Relief CEO Dave Neiswander reminded the audience in closing, “Every bicycle changes a life. The data tells us what we’ve always known: Distance is a barrier, and mobility is the key. With more bicycles in more hands, we can unlock opportunity across the world’s most underserved communities.”
