Re-Cycle Bikes For Africa

EDM number 988 in 2006-07, proposed by Bob Russell on 26/02/2007.

That this House pays tribute to the charity Re-Cycle Bikes for Africa, which in the past 10 years has shipped 20,000 second-hand bicycles to 11 African countries; notes that the principle of the scheme is that the bicycles, suitably repaired in the United Kingdom, are shipped in containers to Africa, where they provide a cheap green transport infrastructure, for both economic purposes and domestic assistance; further notes that used bicycles donated by the Post Office are particularly useful because they have containers which can hold goods for simple transportation needs, and thanks the Post Office for its generosity; welcomes the fact that both in the United Kingdom and in Africa the project provides individuals with skills in the restoration and maintenance of the bicycles; recognises that the excellent work undertaken by Re-Cycle Bikes for Africa during the past three years has been extensively helped by funding from the Community Recycling and Economic Development Programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, but that this support runs out at the end of 2007; and calls on the Government to use its best endeavours to secure new funding so that Re-Cycle Bikes for Africa can continue the success of its environmental good works of accepting the donation, from individuals and organisations, of second-hand bicycles in the United Kingdom and putting them to good economic use in Africa.

This motion has been signed by a total of 68 MPs.