XAccess
1336 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 548-2453
info@xaccess.org

Newsflash! February 2006. XAccess completes name change to WorldBike. Sends two project staff to Kenya to conduct largest ever trial market, benefitting 10000 bicycle taxi operators in the city of Kisumu. We need your help to build the most compassionate bicycle company in history! (Specifically, grassroots publicity and individual donations are our most accute needs.)

Progress updates are now up at www.worldbike.org, our new web home. Please help us spread the word about this exciting project and consider making a tax-deductible donation before May 2006. Many thanks to our courageous and generous donors!

(En Español)

XAccess (Xtracycle Access Foundation) makes load-bearing bicycles possible for people who need them most yet can least afford them.

We help create economic opportunities by allowing people to move themselves, their goods, and their families, using human power. Rando VTT

XAccess is the nonprofit sister company of Xtracycle LLC, maker of the world's first Sport Utility Bicycle. Profits from Xtracycle LLC support XAccess. Read more about Xtracycle and its products at Xtracycle.com.

(Read more about the XAccess mission in the Frequently Asked Questions page)

New And Recent | Bigga Boda Project Blog

A bicycle delivery man carrying empty tomato crates from the crowded Condele market in Kisumu. By helping farmers at the market, this entrepreneur can create a job for himself.	XAccess Bigga Boda Trial Market in Progress in Western Kenya. Project dates: April 2005 - April 2006 View a Powerpoint presentation about the Bigga Boda Trial Market. (3 MB) Above: East Africa's largest newspaper, the Daily Nation, captures a Boda Boda bicycle taxi operator shuttling two passengers on his Bigga Boda bicycle from XAccess. Read More!

A Longtail in Kariobangi, a neighborhood of Nairobi. By extending a normal Kenyan bicycle with the Longtail, the carrying capacity more than doubles. Here, the Longtail carries eight empty fuel cannisters -- an uncommon capacity for a commonly moved item in Nairobi.

Project Update: Longtail prototypes in use by Makindu Childrens Center of Western Kenya

With help from Rick Randall, a civil engineer from Oregon who volunteers on water projects for the Makindu Childrens Center (MCC) this orphanage and community center is using two load-carrying bicycles built by Kickstart and designed by XAccess.

Our product development collaboration with Kickstart in Kenya led to the development of the Longtail bike extension. The Longtail carries up to 100 Kg loads on its steel rack, and costs only $24 to the end user.

In February '03, Randall reported:

"The bicycles are a big sucess... In a few days the whole community knew of them. no one walked by without stopping. i loaned the bike for a day to a guy who delivers water on a kenyan bike. the bikes and racks they use will cary 3 20 liter jugs. the new rack will cary 6. 5 easily says the water guy. he was very impressed and of course would love to have one...

It's very importand that at least the rear rim is the better, stronger quality for the extra weight. the riders, men and women seem to handle the extra weight and new rear brakes system fine tho there were some near crashes with the new brakes. After one ride they had that figured out. The bikes are also the larger frames wich may be best. Even the smaller people seemed able to ride them well...

Thanks to you and [ApproTEC] for helping these people. its greatly apreciated."

See pictures of the Longtails in use by Makindu Children's Center

Featured Links:

(check out the Network section for more great links)

Kickstart
An NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya (with an office in the Bay Area), Kickstart develops technologies that help Africans start small businesses and create jobs. Kickstart is our chief partner in developing and marketing the ExtraBike in Kenya. In December '01 they revamped their web site. (Formerly known as ApproTEC.)
www.kickstart.org

Xtracycle, LLC
Xtracycle develops high-performance Sport Utility Bicycles. The Xtracycle FreeRadical and the ExtraBike (used in our projects in Africa) are two designs from the same root. Profits from Xtracycle support XAccess.
www.xtracycle.com

Progress updates are now up at www.worldbike.org, our new web home. Please help us spread the word about this exciting project and consider making a tax-deductible donation before May 2006. Many thanks to our courageous and generous donors!

XAccess Bigga Boda Trial Market in Progress in Western Kenya. Project dates: April 2005 - April 2006

Project Update: Longtail prototypes in use by Makindu Childrens Center of Western Kenya

Featured Links: