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BEN turns 20

July 4, 2022

20 years ago, our visionary founder, Louis de Waal co-established BEN with the aim of empowering communities and individuals through the bike and cycling. Two decades on, BEN continues to thrive and make an impact in communities by creating social and economic opportunities through cycling and bicycles.

Some of BEN’s achievements over the past 20 years are:

  • Over 31 000 used bicycles distributed into areas of need
  • Over 2500 new bicycles distributed through our Bike4All programme
  • 18 Bicycle Empowerment Centers Established (BECs)
  • Over 100 community bicycle mechanics trained
  • Over 11 000 learners trained in safe cycling

To showcase these achievements, BEN will be hosting several celebration events over the coming month. STAY TUNED…

A Living Tribute to Louis de Waal

April 11, 2022
Louis de Waal, the family man, the civil engineer, the rugby player, the cyclist, the co-founder of Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN), the Table Mountain man, and the ubiquitous leader of numerous civic and sporting bodies.
This is a testimony to the great living tribute, as part of our celebration of BEN’s 20th anniversary this year!
For the past twenty years, Louis and the team have been building the Bicycling Empowerment Network to where it is today and the journey has been nothing short of incredible. We’d like to thank every single person involved in helping BEN achieve what it has, and we can’t wait to celebrate the next twenty years of empowering the nation through cycling.
If you’d like to found out how to support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Alternatively, visit us at https://www.benbikes.org.za/contribute to find out more.

Happy TWOSDAY! 22-02-2022

February 22, 2022
Happy TWOSDAY! We can add to the 2’s as BEN turns 20 this month. What better way to celebrate than to DONATE to BEN! 🎉🎉🎉🎉
Beat the TAX YEAR END – DONATE – GET YOUR PBO Certificate NOW!

Lamberts Bay CPF made stronger through bicycles

November 23, 2021

10 Bicycles were distributed to the Lamberts Bay CPF on Friday 20 November 2021. These bicycles were handed over through the Western Cape Government – Transport and Public Works, Cape Town Provincial Sustainable Transport Programme in joint partnerships with BEN, Pedal Power Association Qhubeka Charity Bike4All and Rooibos2Muisbos. Community Policing is a strategy aimed at achieving more effective crime control, reducing fears of crime, improving quality of life, and improving police service and legitimacy. These goals are achieved through a proactive reliance on community resources, seeking to improve crime causing conditions.

Silversands NHW Kuilsriver receives bicycles

September 30, 2021

Silversands Neighbourhood Watch in Kuilsriver received 5 bicycles on the PSTP bicycle distribution on 29th September 2021.  Silversands NHW is a newly accredited NHW in the Western Cape. Each recipient receives a bicycle helmet, a lock, pump, tyre puncture set, spare tube and some bicycle tools to help keep their bicycles safe and well maintained, as well as a basic bicycle safety  and maintenance guide.   This is Western Province Department of Transport and Public Works project, together with the Bicycle Mobility Consortium made up by the Pedal Power Association, Bicycling Empowerment Network and Qhubeka.  

OnBike BEC takes to the streets with a “Westlake Safe Cycling Awareness Ride”

May 28, 2021

We wrapped up the week on Saturday, 8th May with an On Bike “Westlake Safe Cycling Awareness Ride” in the Westlake community. The law is there to protect cyclists, but the cyclists need to adhere to road safety at all times.
Safe cycling relates to the combination of common sense, road rules and cycling knowledge to get you to and from your destination in a safe and efficient way!
Some points to remember…..
– Check your bike before you head off on your journey
– Wear a helmet
– Wear bright visible clothes
– Adhere to robots and road signs
The roads are there to share with fellow motorists and pedestrians. Be safe!

Proudly partnered with Pedal Power Association Western Cape Government – Transport and Public Works, Cape Town Qhubeka Charity Bike4All Open Streets Cape Town LIFE brand Kirstenhof

These are not just bikes ……..

May 28, 2021

Onesimo is based in Crossroads/Philippi. The players come from as far as Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Mandalay. Many players would jog to training and Onesimo would have to provide taxi fare for their return. This proved a financial strain on the organisation as they didn’t always have petty cash, resulting in many boys missing training. Onesimo contacted The Bicycle Consortium and they were issued with 10 bicycles on the 19th May 2021. Onesimo says “These aren’t just bikes, these will assist us to keep our boys off the streets and on a regular training programme”.

Student Projects always welcome!

September 22, 2020

September 2020 – Many thanks to Joey Gordon for sharing her project photographs with us. Joey is a 2nd year Visual Communication Design Student at Red and Yellow Creative School of Business in Cape Town. The brief of the project entailed Joey to document the story of a South African Company/Organisation building a better future. Thank you for choosing BEN as your project Joey. We hope you receive top marks!

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