BACKGROUND
TKCMC in collaboration with the Namibia Road Safety Forum (NRSF), the SADC Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety (SADC Alliance), and other stakeholders will engage in an Awareness Ride with the aim to create an awareness of the TKC. The Cycling will be done over a period of 18 days, where the first day will be dedicated to the arrival of cyclist and the last day for departure. The remaining 16 days will actively engage the cyclists from Pretoria to Walvis Bay. On average cyclists will ride a 143 km daily for 14 days. All riders will make use of mountain bikes or gravel bikes.
A Pledge on recommitment to economic development of towns and villages along the TKC will be handed over to Ministers as the delegation progresses (Detailed program attached). TKC member states will be invited to provide 10 cyclists per country and support teams of maximum 4 persons. The costs of these 30 riders and their support team will be covered by the event. TKCMC will welcome riders from other SADC Countries however they will be expected to cater for their travel and accommodation costs. The TKCS and Members of the SADC Alliance will be responsible for the selection of potential riders. All riders will be selected on endurance, event participation, speed, and current fitness levels.
As the principal cyclists approach settlements and towns along the TKC, cyclist from such settlements who will be interested to meet and join the cyclists will be allowed to do so. All riders and their support teams will be hosted in tented camps. Three meals, breakfast, on-the-go lunch, and supper will be served daily. Refreshments and snacks along the way will also be provided.
Specialised performance enhancing supplements will not be provided. The transport to the start of race (Pretoria) and from the end of race (Walvis Bay) will be provided at no cost, to all sponsored riders.
THE PLEDGE
The cyclist will deliver a pledge for the ministers to recommit themselves to the ideals and objectives of the TKC. The pledge will be developed in conjunction with member states. The pledge will address in priority areas that have potential to give immediate change of people’s lives while at the same time adding to ease flow of movement along the corridor. The pledge will promote spatial development initiatives such as clinics and health centers, truck stops and resting stations, restaurants and petrol stations, community farms.
The pledge will also pave way to promote investments in areas of tourism, manufacturing, natural resource trading and schooling. The pledge will further speak to road safety and security along the corridor and within the towns that the corridor trespasses.
WHY CYCLING
Cycling is a way of promoting healthy living and leads to safer roads and the environment. Cycling is also an amazing way of conducting a campaign and drive a point home. This is because when 30 individuals ride over 1900km together for a common cause, this is bound to raise interest nationally and regionally and internationally. The TKCS chose this campaign because of the impact it will have on the community and is bound to help change the mindset of both planners, developers, and investors.
Even though more than 70% of the African population is reliant on non-motorized transport, African countries are among the least safe places to walk and cycle in the world. The lack of essential infrastructure, forces people to make use of roads designed for motor vehicles only, making the experience of walking, and cycling difficult, unpleasant, and dangerous. Best practice is for city planners to work with engineers and the community to deliver affordable actions to improve safe and accessible mobility for all road users.
For further information please contact:
Marketing and Communications
Ankwetse Hunda
Tel: +264 61002572
Cell: +264 816250247
WhatsApp: +267 76414798
marketing@tkcmc.com
