29 Aug 2022 WOMEN CAN BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT THROUGH BIKE MOBILITY IN SA SAYS PPA
Monday 29 August
The Pedal Power Association, one of South Africa’s largest cycling organisations, continuously celebrates the women of South Africa by distributing bicycles as a means of mobility to them to have access to education, healthcare, and employment. “A focal point of the PPA bicycle distribution project, is to provide women living in rural or disadvantaged communities, with bicycles and teaching them how to ride safely, to become more independent and earn a living,” explained CEO of the PPA Neil Robinson.
The PPA’s Bike4All bicycling distribution project has handed out hundreds of bikes over to women and school going females across the Western and Eastern Cape as well KZN in the past couple of years to provide the mobility, they so desperately need to lead a sustainable lifestyle.
‘’Part of our mission at the PPA is to help advocate for safer and more secure cycling spaces in South Africa. Our goal is to create a ‘’cycling South Africa. And to do that we need to focus on the more vulnerable sections of our population in South Africa, particularly women who need to travel to work or reach health clinics as well as children needing to get to school every day. Over the next couple of years, the PPA aims to move the needle with regards to creating better and more sustainable non- motorised transport options for the citizens of this beautiful country we inhabit,” Robinson said.
Safety of women on our roads is a priority for us. The PPA offers free social rides every Saturday from beginner to advanced levels and we encourage women to join our groups, which provide a safe and secure environment to cycle in and around the City of Cape Town. The ladies appreciate the ‘peace of mind’ of riding in these groups as well as the support provided.
Cycle Lab JHB established a CLW (Cycle Lab Active Women) group that focusses on promoting cycling amongst women in the area. They accommodate women who have just discovered the joy of riding a bike and provide a social environment without intimidation where the ladies can grow their skills and fitness and make friends.
In line with women’s month celebrations in August, the PPA supported Mpongo Cycling Club with Stay Wider of the Rider reflective bibs for their Women’s Day ride, which was hosted in Daveyton, Benoni. Members of the club encouraged the women of the community to join them for a 20km rides to promote safe cycling amongst women and to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence. The attendance was overwhelming. We wish to congratulate them on taking the initiative to promote cycling amongst the women in Daveyton.
Newly appointed bicycle mayor of Cape Town, Sindile Mavundla, who also served on the PPA Executive Committee for several years, says he has always been passionate about promoting cycling as a means of mobilising more women. This passion originates from growing up in a household who were predominantly women. He noted the challenges woman have with regards to accessible and affordable reliable transport. “Bicycles gives women an alternative option of mobility, says Mavundla. As bicycle mayor he will train 15 women instructors to teach woman to start cycling. “We also want more women to qualify as bicycle mechanics to become self- reliant” he commented.
“The PPA promotes cycling as a simple, sustainable, economical and reliable mode of transport and a means of staying healthy for everyone in South Africa,” Robinson concluded.