The AfriBike, a New Bicycle for Africa

Contact: Maikel Lieuw Kie Song
 
Afribike

The AfriBike is a bicycle designed for today's Africa. The low-income market in Africa is typically dominated by bicycles of an outdated design that have limited appeal, especially to the younger generation. The AfriBike meets the demand of the African market in the broadest sense. It is being designed based on Afribike's experience with selling bicycles over the past years. Repeatedly it has been found that the looks of the bicycle are an important element, especially in urban areas. If bicycle use is to be increased in Africa, then a more attractive, yet durable bicycle needs to be on the market. As such the following elements are taken into account:

• cost
• suitability for rugged conditions
• ability to carry heavy loads
• ease of maintenance
• assembly and repair using simple tools
• attractive colors and looks
• manufacture of some components in Africa
• use of spares which are already available on the local market

This initiative is being financed together with a Dutch Consortium of bicycle related industries who recognise the huge potential market that this bicycle has all over Africa.

If sale of this bicycle takes off, this can have a huge impact on job creation and small business sector expansion through creating jobs at all levels of the supply chain: small companies can become component manufacturers, making for instance seats or spokes. Then the assembly of the bicycles can be done centrally, but also by small micro retailers, who would save in transport cost but also have a higher share of local value added. These micro retailers would of course also be able to generate income from the sale and repair of spares and accessories for these bicycles.