Dave Peckham in Africa

["bill london" <bill_london@hotmail.com>]

Vision 2020 subscriber Dave Peckham is in Africa, distributing bicycles 
and bicycle repair knowledge.  He is planning to send periodic reports 
to an email list of friends and supporters, by sending those messages to 
me for forwarding.  This is the first installment.
I know that not all 2020 subscribers want to receive his reports.  But 
if you do, just send an email to bill_london@hotmail.com with your email 
address and your desire to be added to the dave list.
I will not be sending any more of his reports to the 2020 list.  So, if 
you want to find out what Dave is up to, email me to get on his list.
BL

>
>Accra, Ghana, 18 Jan 99
>After decades of stagnation and decline, things are looking up in 
Ghana.  In the capital new construction is evident in all income levels, 
the currency is stable, there's a new phone system and shiney new 
digitized gas station stations to feed a growing number of cars.  Accra 
is strangling in traffic, go-slows as they're called here.
>
>The World Bank is trying to help out in typical fashion with wide 
highways and overheads, but as we're slowly learning in the US, new 
roads only lead to more driving.  The edges of Accra are growing the 
fastest, as one man explained , "because people want to getr away from 
the traffic."
>
>One of the first things `i did in Africa after sleeping for 24 hours 
was to reassemble the two bikes I'd brought from the states and start 
finding my way around Accra.  I found a thriving bike market where some 
twenty vendors had a wide assortment of parts for sale.  I also found 
all the general mechanics tools, at very cheap prices.  Patch kits with 
24 patches were just over a dollar, pumps were two dollars and an eight 
piece set of wrenches was three dollars.  And I paid $50 in overweight 
charges to fly much of that same stuff here! Prices are so low that I 
can't afford to not bring my toos home.  
>
>Bicycling in Accra is not at all like Moscow , Idaho.  The rules of the 
road here are essentially, 'the biggest vehicle has the right of way,' 
and it is assumed you will get out of the way.  Drivers are not inclined 
to give you any extra room in passing.  The hordes of taxis and tro-tros 
(local min-buses) frequently pass and then immediatly stop in front of 
me.   Still bikes were not rare, you might see a hundred an hour on a 
busy street.  Despite the dangers, I much preferred a bicycle to being 
stuck in traffic , sweting profusely along with twenty other unhappy 
passengers.
>
>Francis KKwof-Kwao has waited ten years for this.  His Bike YOuth 
Organization has just received a shipping container full of used bikes 
from the USA.  He and ~I were both dissappointed to not see more 
mountain bikes among the piles at his family's home of ten-speeds and 
kid's bikes, but the steady stream of visitors to his family's house 
were all eager to buy, remarking generally about the good quality and 
condition.  It looked a lot like what  finds its way in to the Bike 
Dungeon in `moscow.  Francis says more don't ride in Accra because it's 
too  dangerous. He has been working with the local government for more 
bike accomodations and the city is responsive.  They have new pedestrian 
lights, are wideneing sidewalks, and have put some bike lanes on some 
World Bank fundied highways.  The problem is there's no enforcement to 
keep cars from driving and parking in the bike lanes.
>Bike YOuth plans to give 20 bikes to the police department in Hohoe, 
Francis' home town 3 hours from  Accra.  He wants me to train them in 
bike repair.  Bike YOuth's Project Coordinator, Steward Ettor-Krisk is 
lining up a schedule of bike trainings , including current mechanics, 
youth, women's groups , and the genral public.  Bike Youth's mission is 
"Promoting Bicycle Transoprtation and Rural Economic Development."  
Steward was telling me that they are convinced that bikes, sometimes 
with trailers, can play a significant role in moving produce to market 
and main road.  He says Africa can't afford cars.  Thats what I've been 
saying!
>
>I've met and watched a number of local bike mechanics.  They are all 
heavily reliant on hammers chisels, punches and nails.  All those 
specialized repairs requiring special tools are getting pounded. the 
mechanics readily admit that sometimes the parts are destroyed in the 
process.   I want to provide these mechanics with the tools they need to 
adequately repair the bikes they see.  They include chaion breakers, 13 
mm wheel bearing (thin) wrenches,  14mm socket wrench and crank puller 
for modern cranks, and 30-32-36-40  headset(thin) combo wrench.  I was 
able to find a 15mm headset wrench in the market.  
>I'll be emailing parts makers for donations of up to 100 units.  If any 
of you readers would like to help out, that would be wonderful.  
>
>According to reports from  Buster Back Services, the donated 
accountant, the Village Bicycle Project has received over $800 in cash 
donations.  I am honored humbled and thankful.  
>I'd love to hear from you, email or good old pulp mail, c/o Bike 
~YOuth, 
>PO Box 162
>Hohoe, V/R
>GHANA West aafrica
>(before march 20)
>
>I'm off now to Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire to help ~Peace Corps get their 
bicycle fleet udner control, train staff in mechanics and do a training 
for incoming volunteers.
>cheers, Dave Peckham
>
>
>
>
>
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