Bamboo Bicycles, Part 3

Today we finish our series on the Congo Transport to Market Bicycle Project. As noted previously Chuck Regier and Craig Calfee traveled to Congo in July 2015. The excerpts taken from their report have been edited for clarity on our website.

Below their report we’ve included a series of photos to illustrate part of the production process. All are labeled.

Next Steps:
1. Work on a more comprehensive business plan. Under consideration are options for a larger production facility in Kinshasa, a number of smaller local producers, and a combination of these.
2. Improve the supply chain for both locally available and imported parts. Ease of communication for key contacts is critical. A smart phone was purchased for UPDAP allowing better and more frequent communication.
3. A return trip to Khoma by Chuck and Craig is needed within six months.
4. Shipping another set of parts to the Congo soon is important to maintain project momentum and meet the greater project goals.
5. Engineering and sourcing an improved shifter design.

Your Support is Essential
Although the goal of the Congo Transport to Market Bicycle Project is to create a profitable self-sustaining enterprise, it still relies on contributions as the concept is tested and refined. To reduce overhead and keep the project nimble and simple they have not created a new organization, but are working with existing ones already involved in Congo: Hope International Development Agency and African Inter-Mennonite Mission.

For more information about the project including how to donate, click on this link to their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CongoTransportBikeProject