A bicycle is a simple and clean means of transportation. But it’s also a way to deliver critical health services to people, especially those who live in remote areas. In recognition of this, the United Nations declared June 3rd World Bicycle Day.
The UN lauds “the potential of the bicycle to contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the [UN] Sustainable Development Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda.” We use bicycles across our programs around the world to reach and enhance the health of rural and hard-to-reach communities.
Increasing reach and access to HIV services
In Tanzania, more than 700 community case worker supervisors trained by the USAID Community Health and Social Welfare Systems Strengthening Program ride their bikes to oversee community case workers, who identify and track people living with, at risk of, or otherwise affected by HIV, including adolescent girls and young women and orphaned and vulnerable children.
One supervisor spoke enthusiastically about the bicycle he received from the program. “Before receiving the bicycle, it was not easy because we used to walk, which took more time. Some of the villages were up to 10 kilometers away. The bicycles help me and my team of case workers reach HIV-affected families in four remote villages in our ward.”
Collectively, the supervisors and the community case workers have linked more than 1 million people to HIV testing. They are doing important work to help Tanzania reach the UN 90–90–90 goals: diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons; provide treatment for 90% of those diagnosed; and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated. And they are getting to them in an inexpensive, sustainable, and healthy way.
Paving the road to healthier communities
In the United States, JSI supports grantees in their efforts to increase physical activity, mobility, and fun through bicycling initiatives.
Experts recommend that people, especially kids, get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Organizations like Genesee Valley Educational Partnership and its partner GObike Buffalo, are working with youth and other residents to increase physical activity by improving safety, convenience, and mobility throughout Buffalo, NY. GObike’s Recycle a Bicycle (RAB) program and the complimentary Complete Streets project work with Buffalo Public Schools and the community to reduce barriers to biking.
Hygiene.
“I had one student last year who was 11 and had never learned to ride. He had a hard time with balance, but the other kids were very supportive. He crashed into everything possible, but he eventually got it. He was so excited.” — Jon Piret, RAB instructor through GObike Buffalo
Bikes for Community Health
In Madagascar, JSI’s Mahefa Miaraka program supports multiple bike oriented initiatives to increase community access to health services.
Mahefa Miaraka supports a bicycle resale and repair cooperative known as eBox. eBox provides donated used bicycles to the community and trains locals to repair and maintain bikes. The cooperative benefits the community in many ways: creating jobs, covering emergency health transport costs, and helping finance a locally managed health insurance system. Bicycles help Mahefa Miaraka increase access to and use of key health services, and improve regional, district, and commune health management and systems.
The Mahefa Miaraka program also works to build an Emergency Transport System which identifies and pilotis locally appropriate non-motorized modes of transport including stretchers, bicycle ambulances, canoes, and ox-drawn carts. Implementing transport strategies, like bicycle ambulances, alongside other interventions may contribute up to an 80% reduction in maternal deaths.
To address mobility challenges faced by Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), Mahefa Miaraka provided bicycles to 1,020 CHVs. Bicycles have enabled CHVs to reduce travel time to and from their health posts and have enabled them to administer more health services.
Biking to JSI with Julie Ray
JSI’s Boston senior communications writer and editor Julie Ray has been biking to work for as long as she’s had a job. “I’m lucky because I’ve always lived within 10 miles of work,” she acknowledges. Although riding in the city requires one to be hyper-alert, she says that biking is stress relieving and head clearing. Plus, “I don’t like the gym, have no patience for (Boston’s) unreliable public transportation, and biking it’s basically free.” Unlike some of her colleagues who bike, she does take the train during heavy rain and when unplowed snow crowds the streets.
Julie emphasized that while biking is often treated as a “specialized activity,” it doesn’t need to be. “You don’t need an expensive bike or special outfits; the only mandatory item is a helmet, and if you are splash-averse, a bike with fenders and a chain guard.” In fact, the less fancy the bike, the less likely it is to get stolen.
Julie dispelled a couple of myths about bike commuting:
1. “You must be fit and young.”
Riding a bike doesn’t require special strength (or talent). If you aren’t fit though, regular riding will help you become that way. And if you aren’t young, it will make you feel that way!”
2. “You must be crazy.”
Au contraire! Think about how crazy-making driving or taking the T can be. Riding a bike, (i.e., exercise) lowers stress overall and contributes to mental well-being. So you don’t need to be crazy to ride your bike to work. But neither should you be scared. Grab an old three-speeder, put on your helmet, and just go.”
Biking toward a bright — and strong — future
While girls in sub-Saharan Africa face many barriers to education, the physical distance to school is a big reason that some girls in rural communities don’t go. In rural Malawi, for example, secondary schools are few and far between, sometimes requiring a commute of up to 10km. Besides such a walk leaving all students with less time to study, sleep, and do chores, girls risk assault by men traveling along the same road.
Girls Education Support (GES), a program sponsored by the JSI-managed DREAMS Innovation Challenge, helped girls return to and remain in secondary school by providing scholarships and bicycles, and encouraging parents and guardians to support girls’ education. Ultimately, GES gave 450 girls bikes, making their commute to school many times faster and safer.
