Pedal power ‘the way’

WITH fuel prices skyrocketing, more people are looking for cheaper means of transport and increasingly find the solution in bicycles.

But for the poorest of the poor, buying a bicycle is often beyond their means. In the Democratically Resettled Community (DRC) of Swakopmund, Nakashimba Elephant spotted the gap in the market and opened a shop where he has been repairing and selling second-hand bicycles for the past year.The Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) of Namibia, a non-profit organisation aiming to promote sustainable transport, recently delivered 12 reconditioned bicycles plus spares and tools to Elephant.BEN imports donated bicycles and reconditions them in their workshop in Windhoek before they sell them at prices ranging from N$250 to N$500.Often companies help their workers to buy these bicycles to reduce their transport costs.”If someone who pays around N$5 to N$6 for taxi transport to and from work on a daily basis switched to travelling by bike, they would recover the cost of buying the bike in about two to three months, after which their transport becomes virtually free,” says the Managing Director and main driver of the BEN Namibia project, Michael Linke.Previously Elephant’s main problem was a limited supply of bicycles for resale.Now he has found a reliable supplier and BEN is excited about its new distributor.Glenn Howard, Director of BEN Namibia and President of the Namibian Cycling Federation, said: “We were amazed by his entrepreneurial skills and what he has achieved in such a short time.His bicycle repair skills are excellent.”Through BEN it is now also possible for Elephant to buy spares at wholesale prices, which will save his customers more money.Anyone requiring more information can contact Michael Linke at BEN Namibia at tel.081 295 6281.Nakashimba Elephant of the Mr Elephant Bike Garage can be contacted at 081 298 7260.In the Democratically Resettled Community (DRC) of Swakopmund, Nakashimba Elephant spotted the gap in the market and opened a shop where he has been repairing and selling second-hand bicycles for the past year.The Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN) of Namibia, a non-profit organisation aiming to promote sustainable transport, recently delivered 12 reconditioned bicycles plus spares and tools to Elephant.BEN imports donated bicycles and reconditions them in their workshop in Windhoek before they sell them at prices ranging from N$250 to N$500.Often companies help their workers to buy these bicycles to reduce their transport costs.”If someone who pays around N$5 to N$6 for taxi transport to and from work on a daily basis switched to travelling by bike, they would recover the cost of buying the bike in about two to three months, after which their transport becomes virtually free,” says the Managing Director and main driver of the BEN Namibia project, Michael Linke.Previously Elephant’s main problem was a limited supply of bicycles for resale.Now he has found a reliable supplier and BEN is excited about its new distributor.Glenn Howard, Director of BEN Namibia and President of the Namibian Cycling Federation, said: “We were amazed by his entrepreneurial skills and what he has achieved in such a short time.His bicycle repair skills are excellent.”Through BEN it is now also possible for Elephant to buy spares at wholesale prices, which will save his customers more money.Anyone requiring more information can contact Michael Linke at BEN Namibia at tel.081 295 6281.Nakashimba Elephant of the Mr Elephant Bike Garage can be contacted at 081 298 7260.