S. 2093: Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act

This bill, known as the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act, proposes the establishment of a program by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to enhance mobility in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa through access to affordable bicycles. The key aspects of the bill are as follows:

Program Establishment

The bill mandates the creation of a rural mobility program that aims to:

• Provide rural communities with access to critical services like education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities through bicycles.
• Support the sustainable increase of access to these services by promoting local initiatives such as training for rural mechanics, ensuring availability of spare parts, and reducing social stigmas that may hinder bicycle use.
• Partner with successful organizations already working in this field to leverage existing models of support for bicycle access.

Funding Appropriations

To support the program, the bill authorizes appropriations for several fiscal years as follows:

• $3 million for 2026
• $3 million for 2027
• $6 million for 2028
• $6 million for 2029
• $6 million for 2030 and each subsequent fiscal year

Reporting Requirements

The bill establishes several reporting obligations for USAID:

• Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, a report detailing prior bicycle mobility projects from 2022 to 2025 must be submitted to relevant committees in Congress. This report should include:
• Identified countries where bicycle mobility was integrated into projects.
• Descriptions of the methods used for this integration.
• The number of bicycles distributed each year.
• Outcomes and impacts on participants in those projects.
• Lessons learned from previous projects.
• Starting December 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, USAID must submit ongoing project reports, providing updates similar to those in the initial report.

Overall Purpose

The overarching goal of this program is to improve access to essential services in rural sub-Saharan Africa, thereby enhancing the quality of life in these communities by using bicycles as a means of transportation.

Relevant Companies

• None found