What happens when a town of 28,000 people in Nicaragua receives 20,000 bicycles? Well, the quality of life improves. Most of the residents of Rivas do not have enough money to own a car, the bicycles have given them an increased mobility, allowed improvement of economic activity, and more time to spend with their families.
This film trailer shows the positive effects of bicycles on several residents lives. The film is in final production now.
Please view this video on full screen, as the image quality is superb. Sometimes with Vimeo clicking start a few times helps if it freezes.
The Bicycle City. Trailer from Greg Sucharew on Vimeo.
Xiomara Davila is a young mother of two. Her oldest son suffers from asthma, a common problem in Nicaragua, where air pollution is pervasive and extreme. Even though her husband works sixteen hours a day, six days a week, they still sometimes have trouble making ends meet and cannot afford Kevin's medicine.
Xiomara:
Joaquin Obando is a bicycle mechanic and assistant to a bicycle parts dealer. In addition to his full-time job, he and a partner have opened a small bicycle shop where he can be found nights and weekends working to keep the fledgling business afloat. A group of young boys look up to Joaquin, often hanging out at the shop with him, learning bicycle maintenance and repair, performing tricks on their own bikes, and having an all around good time. An avid cyclist, he competes in local cycling competitions.
Joaquin:
Pedals For Progress is the organization behind bringing bicycles to many impoverished communities around the world. It is the vision of David Schweidenback, a former Peace Corps worker.
We rescue bicycles destined for overburdened U.S. landfills and ship them todeveloping countries where they are sorely needed and highly valued. P4P bikes are put to work not only as basic transportation, but are used as asupplement to school and community programs. The bikes are adapted for useas trash haulers, produce trucks, taxis, and farm machinery. Some of themunicipalities even sponsor recreational cycling programs, making bikes available to all who care to participate.
Increased use of bicycles for everyday activities makes sense for the USA, as well as those in less affluent countries.