Makindu Childrens Center buys Longtails to aid in agricultural and school transportation

The Makindu Children's Center (MCC), an orphanage in southern Kenya, has purchased two Longtail equipped bicycles from XAccess's Kenya partner, ApproTEC.

An American civil engineer named Rick Randall introduced the MCC to the inexpensive cargo bikes. Randall has flown to Kenya twice to lead water-quality projects benefitting this city of 20000.

A local water-carrier used the longtail to carry 66% more water on his daily route. Teenagers from the MCC use the bikes to transport food and school supplies.

Makindu residents are often so poor they choose between buying Malaria medicine and paying for the high school education of their children. Although Makindu lies on a major trucking route, cars and pickup trucks are beyond the reach of most people here. Randall says "They use bikes like pickup trucks."

The Longtail bicycle extension cost the MCC approximately $25 each. It attaches to the back of a normal Chinese-made Kenyan bicycle, using ordinary nuts and bolts. The bicycles cost about $50 each, making the whole ready-to-ride product about $75.

The Longtails were produced in Nairobi by XAccess' partner, ApproTEC. ApproTEC also assisted in the design of the bicycle extensions, which took place over a six month period from October 2001 through April 2002. XAccess then-director Adam French was the lead designer on the project: "Our goal was to double the capacity of Kenyan bike, using as little steel as possible."

XAccess plans to return to Makindu in '04 to produce 50 longtails at local welding shops, distribute them to local entrepreneurs, such as the water-carrier, and track the benefits of the bicyles on incomes.

Back to XAccess' Kenya Project.

Link to Makindu Children's Program