BIG INTERVIEW
the charity’s positive impact on the environment as a by-product of its primary focus. “People can donate them to us and we can give them a whole new lease. of life.”
When shipping bikes, maximising space is crucial for costs, but also to ensure that shipping is kept as sustainable as possible.
As a result, Re-Cycle has adopted a “Sardine Style” approach to packing bikes.
This sees the Re–Cycle team pack down the bikes into a compact product and then load them in a way which is similar to that of a tin of sardines. “About 10 years ago, the average number of bikes per container was
“They identify schools that are very rural, very remote and where children are walking vast distances to get to school and they will teach them how to look after their bikes. “We don’t want to be giving children access to a bike and then not be able to fix it if there’s a problem, so that’s a key part of what we do and how we work with our partners.”
Sustainability
While transforming lives through the power of bicycles is Re- Cycle’s main aim, doing so sustainably is also important. “That’s nearly 150,000 bikes that haven’t gone to landfill here in the UK,” adds Ward when talking about
Training mechanics in Zambia earlier this year
about 400,” adds Ward. “Now, with the new style of prepping and the new style of loading, our average is around 520 bikes per container.”
Supporting women Part of Re-Cycle’s aforementioned Cycle to School programme focuses specifically on supporting young women and girls who have historically been marginalised when it comes to getting access to education. “Our partners are doing great work with girls getting to school and having access to a bike,” says Ward. “There used to be a stigma around girls riding bikes and how they shouldn’t do so because of various things, but now that’s all been proved wrong. “These bicycles can enable girls
to be able to have an education and get to school safely.” On a recent trip to Sierra Leone, Ward heard accounts of girls walking more than 10 kilometres to school and on occasions paying for lifts on motorcycles which comes with financial costs as well as safety risks.
“If we can give them [young women and girls] access to a bike, then they can be independent, get to school safely and on time, be able to finish their education, and go on to do great things,” she says.
20 | September 2024
www.bikebiz.com
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