Promoting Cycling in Africa

ITDP has been working in Africa for over a decade. Many of the continent’s cities are among the fastest-growing in the world and face pivotal decisions about providing high quality transport choices that help to raise people’s quality of life while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

In 2002, we began the Access Africa Program to promote accessibility to education, employment and healthcare for low-income communities in Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. 

In the past three years, ITDP has held over 25 events to promote cycling that have involved 17,000 participants.  These events include bike repair and safety workshops for schools, free organized public bike rides, and Car-Free Days.  Through our California Bike Project, we have worked with over 35 independent bicycle retailers in Africa to distribute over 5,000 new, higher-quality bicycles to low-income workers, health care staff, and students—giving them a new sense of freedom and improved mobility in their work and studies.

ITDP also provides technical assistance to municipalities for planning and designing mass transit systems that include networks for cyclists and pedestrians.  ITDP is currently working with municipalities and other local partners in Johannesburg, Dar es Salaam, and Dakar to develop bus rapid transit (BRT) systems with integrated facilities for cycling and walking.  These transport systems will provide safer, less polluting, better quality transportation options to high- and low-income Africans alike. 

For more information about this project, contact:

Aimée Gauthier