Calfee Design is working towards assisting entrepreneurs in the developing world to make their own bicycles out of locally sourced bamboo. The reasons to do this are so strong that it would be foolish not to try:
- Bicycles are in great demand as a major labor savings device. Transporting water, people, food and other items is six times more efficient.
- Bamboo bikes cost less than inferior imported steel bikes.
- Bamboo is plentiful and does not need to be imported as a raw material. Bamboo is easy to grow and can be cultivated in dry areas with minimal irrigation.
- Bamboo bikes require a significant amount of labor to produce, providing skilled employment and an apprenticeship model that helps youth find opportunity.
- Bamboo bicycle production is not easily done in large factories. This keeps large industrialized countries from getting into the business and competing on an unfair level.
- Making Bamboo bikes does not require electricity or a large investment in equipment.
Bamboo Cargo Bike:
The rear wheel was reinforced with bamboo after testing found the bike could carry a lot more load than average bicycle parts were designed for.
This group of young men learned how to make bamboo bikes during a return trip by Craig Calfee in February 2008. The skills were learned quickly and the enthusiasm for starting a viable business was extraordinary. Detailed research was done to identify the people, places and items needed to launch a program for setting up microbusinesses.
Craig retuned to Ghana in August 2008 and set up two groups: one in the capital city, Accra and one in Abompe, a small village in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Both groups are now taking orders for Mountain bikes and Cargo bikes. Below is an example of a Bamboo mountain bike, made in Ghana:
Calfee will continue to assist in helping to expand the number of builders in Ghana and other developing countries. We are also working on building up the supply chain of better quality bicycle parts for use in Ghana.
For further information and a detailed funding proposal, please contact craig@calfeedesign.com.
Links: Ghana February 2008 blog
Videos:
General Video about bamboo bikes in Ghana
Load testing a bamboo cargo bike
Funding for this critical part of the program is provided by Cyclists for Cultural Exchange. CCE is famous for organizing the Strawberry Fields Forever century ride in Santa Cruz County.
