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BEN’s strategy is articulated in an intervention logic, or Theory of Change. This is a dynamic process and evolves continuously. The elements of this approach can be summarised as follows:

Over the years BEN has distributed tens of thousands of bicycles to individuals and organisations and has made an important contribution in terms of ensuring the availability of affordable bicycles in order to enhance low cost (and sustainable) mobility. Towards this end, BEN collects and distributes donated used bikes, as well as distributing our brand of new bikes.

Used Bikes - Many of the bikes that BEN distributes are donated from benefactors in other countries. Towards this end BEN has formed strong relationships with a number of international donor agencies. We also receive bikes from local donors, including individuals and corporate benefactors.

New Bikes - BEN has also acted as an implementing agent for the distribution of new bikes and has been working in partnership with the Western Cape’s Department of Transport to programme thousands of bicycles across the province as part of the Provincial Sustainable Transport Programme (PSTP). The distribution package includes a Bike4All bicycle (our joint bicycle brand with PPA), helmets, pumps, tools, basic maintenance training, and safe cycling training. We also plays a significant role in distributing bicycles to schools. We are currently running a Schools Cycling Programme where we have engaged many schools in the Western Cape. BEN also enters into partnerships with corporate entities to develop bicycle distribution projects in communities, often as part of their corporate social investment contribution – for example, one of these projects involves the provision of bicycles to a team of female community development workers who currently have to cover vast distances on foot in their outreach efforts. These projects are aimed at improving mobility and consequently productivity and community development impacts.

Creating opportunity and economic development lies at the heart of BEN’s empowerment efforts. On the one hand we do this through our bicycle distribution efforts outlined above. By improved mobility through access to bicycles, beneficiaries are exposed to opportunities that otherwise may not exist. School children can cut hours off transport time, allowing for more time to learn and excel at school. Job seekers can explore opportunities in a greater geographical area. Some beneficiaries use their bicycles as an important work tool – for example garden services, township tours and delivery services. We have also been involved in setting up Bicycle Empowerment Centres (BECs). These centres are an important part of BEN’s distribution model and also provide a livelihood for the entrepreneurs that run these BECs. Given the relative success of the BECs over the years, BEN has recently expanded and evolved its Enterprise Development offering to include the provision of support to community organisations and cycling entrepreneurs that exist outside our formal network of BECs. In total, BEN currently supports approximately 40 cycling related SMMEs across the Western Cape. This shift will greatly improve our support footprint and allow us to reach many more entrepreneurs and improve our opportunity creating impacts.

All of our bicycle distributions are accompanied by safety training with every beneficiary of a bicycle going through BEN’s practical safe cycling programme. BEN also works very closely with the Pedal Power Association (PPA) in promoting safe cycling. We are currently jointly running a Schools Safety Programme which involves the development of cycling safety related materials that can be distributed at schools. BEN also plays a role in advocating safe cycling through engagement with other actors in the field and with public policy processes. We played a significant role in recent legislation shifts that now specifies a minimum passing distance that cars need to make provision for.

Our service centre provides a range of mechanic training options ranging from a one day offering aimed at preventative maintenance, to a three week course offering a relatively comprehensive mechanic course. We also offer specialised courses focusing on specific areas such as wheel building etc. Apart from training the BEC managers, our service centre also empowers schools and projects through mechanic training with our service centre having trained over 50 mechanics to play this critically important service role in our distribution efforts. BEN, as part of our capacity development offering, also offers small business support and training, focusing on areas such as basic record keeping, stock control, managing customers, social media, understanding margins and profitability etc.

Part of BEN’s mission is to raise the profile of cycling through advocating the development of appropriate infrastructure and for a safer cycling environment. We use our voice strongly to ensure that Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) is integrated into mobility and transport planning. We engage with other like-minded organisations to build a cycling community in order to raise awareness of the mobility, social integration, health and well-being benefits of cycling. We also engage with the different tiers of government in an effort to contribute to the policy development process.