07/06/08: The Continuing Story
To continue following Andrew's blog please go to the following link:
07/05/08: Welcome to the b-Log: Kenya '08-'09
Welcome to the b-Log for Worldbike's current project in Nairobi and Naivasha, Kenya. My name is Andrew Hall. I am the project manager; Worldbike's current, sole, low-overhead, on-the-ground, Kenya representative and humbly your resident blogger for those who care to come along for the ride. I will tell you a little bit about the project, but first the...
05/20/08: Position Filled
Worldbike has found a great person to lead our project in Kenya. More details soon!
04/14/08: Opportunity to help Worldbike in Kenya as technical lead of new bicycle development project
Worldbike is partnering with UN Habitat to build bicycle and metal-working shops in two informal settlements in Kenya. We are seeking a Project Manager/Technical lead who will train Kenyans to build specialized bicycles for carrying, people, water, and trash. He or she will also support locals in developing small businesses using these cargo bikes. This is a one-year contract position, staring in May 2008. Please direct questions or resume and cover letter to contact@worldbike.org. Click on attachment to download full job description.
Worldbike designs and distributes low-cost load-carrying bicycles in developing countries. The slideshow below is comprised of photos from our Big Boda Trial Market, which took place in Kisumu, Kenya in 2005 and 2006. Our workshop in Kisumu is still operational, creating and servicing Worldbike-designed bicycles.
At our Kisumu, Kenya workshop, we use our own Big Boda load-carrying bicycles to do our project work. Above, George hauls three complete Big Boda frames back from the papyrus weavers. Worldbike's entire budget for the Big Boda trial market couldn't buy us one Land Cruiser even if we wanted one.
Often the floors of workshops in developing countries are simply bare earth. A three legged table is easier to balance and requires less steel. A three legged table never rocks back and forth because all three legs are always planted. If it's large enough, it can be just as stable as a four legged table.
We often get emails from people in the early phases of planning a bicycle distribution project in a developing country. If you're one of them you've probably chosen or are finalizing your choice of a project location. Whether or not you are planning to use Worldbike technologies in your project, you need to know how to craft your project in way that's consistent with the conditions in the location where you will be working.
The list below shows the top four location-specific factors you must understand when considering a project location.
06/03/07: What is Open Source Bicycle Design?
You’ve heard of open-source software design, but what does it mean to apply the term ‘open-source’ to a physical product like a bicycle?
Here are some commonalities we share with open-source software communities:
- Geographically distributed participants working towards a common goal.
- A good cause. Whether it be breaking the monopoly of Microsoft operating systems, or improving the transportation and income-generating abilities of families in developing countries, the best open-source communities have a good cause that rallies participants to give their time to the group effort.
- Participants can use the community’s shared knowledge (source code) to accomplish a specific goal or project, then contribute their refinements back to the community.
- Knowledge is free for the download.
In a field like bicycle design, open-source design may seem a little awkward at first – how exactly do you download a bicycle?
02/23/07: Big Boda load-carrying bicycle
Designed with weight, strength and cost in mind, the Big Boda bicycle extension transforms a standard bike into a two-wheeled hauler for carrying passengers or loads with more ease and greater efficiency.
The top platform of the Big Boda, covered with woven papyrus and sporting a narrower profile, carries both cargo and passengers comfortably. Side platforms provide additional cargo space on either side of the wheel, distributing the weight to a lower center of gravity and allowing for more cargo to be carried in a single trip without difficulty.
