Since the 1990′s there has been a steady growth in the number of CSO’s, both national and international, involved in promoting non-motorised transport. In August 2009 these CSOs founded the African Bicycle Network. Many of the founding member CSOs have a history going back many years and have gained a reputation for effective grassroots work on promoting non-motorised transport. The challenge is that many other CSOs and individuals who emphasis with the Networks aims are scattered throughout and important information is not widely available resulting in reinventing the wheel over and over.

Hence the main objective of the Network is to build a strong, pro-active web based network, starting with the founding member CSOs and incorporating as quickly as possible other CSOs and Associates with similar interests and aspirations. The networks aim is to provide a platform to harness the knowledge, experiences and expertise which is already there in many CSOs to improve the quality of life of people in Africa through non-motorised transport. The network will be a focal point for regional integration to advocate and lobby for sustainable development with emphasis on non-motorised transport. Our conviction is that identifying, organising and managing existing resources throughout the network will enormously strengthen the technical, organisational and advocacy capabilities of existing groups, far beyond the resources necessary to do so. This is because a strong articulated network can ensure information available from one group flows throughout the regions to other groups in need of that information and vice versa.

Our goal is that more African citizens can cycle and want to cycle, from more interest / social groups for more reasons and more often to fight many of Africa’s challenges. To reach our goal we offer strong support to pioneers, currently working on limited resources with scares information, and empower them and already established CSOs to reach these objectives in their own cities and countries.