Austin-Lehman Adventures Press Releases

< Back to all press releases

April 2010 - Philanthropic Pedaling – Cyclists to Bike Through Italy to Aid a Rural Village in Namibia

Apr 13 2010
By Dave Wiggins

Proceeds of Austin-Lehman Adventures’ October 2-8, 2010 Tuscany Heartland Bike Adventure to Help Fund a New Bicycle Empowerment Center in the Caprivi Region of Namibia

Billings, MT – April, 2010 - Austin Lehman Adventures (ALA) (http://www.austinlehman.com) is pleased to announce a partnership with Bicycles for Humanity (http://www.bicycles-for-humanity.org/) to create and manage a Bicycle Tour in Italy this fall. Cyclists from around the world can sign up for a seven day pedal tour of the Tuscany region of Italy and in doing so, help fund the establishment of a bike shop and cycling center in a remote village in the far eastern corner of Namibia. ALA was recently named the “#1 Tour Operator in the World” by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.

This trip starts October 2, 2010 and is just the first in what ALA and B4H hope is a long and mutually beneficial partnership. The weeklong cycle tour begins and ends in Florence taking in the historic towns of Siena, San Gimignano and Artimino. Participants will pedal along rural roads over gently terraced hills, through vineyards and olive groves to each night’s lodging. For more information see: http://www.austinlehman.com/b4h-italy

Bicycles for Humanity, founder Pat Montani and spouse Brenda were among the first group of riders to sign up for the trip. ALA has earmarked $1,000 each from the $3,398 per person trip price tag to go directly to the new bike shop and cycling center in Namibia.

Dan Austin, director of Austin-Lehman Adventures is also the founder of the Billings chapter of Bicycles for Humanity. “When I first learned of the work B4H was doing in Africa I just had to get involved in a big way,” explains Austin. “I was most impressed by the fact that 100% of all donations, cash, equipment and materials go directly to the recipient communities in Africa.”

Austin points out that numerous studies have demonstrated that bicycles are an appropriate technology for travelling short distances in developing countries, with the lowest operating costs of all available modes in sub-Saharan Africa. A bicycle carries up to five times the weight and can travel four times as fast as a person walking, using much less energy.

As an example, bicycle-related activities can:

Improve access to income generation opportunities.
Provide sustainable transportation for low-income earners.
Increase access to government services, including health care and education.
Mobilize home-based care volunteers to visit more people living with HIV.
Provide sporting opportunities for young athletes.

In addition to ALA and the Billings chapter all 24 chapters of B4H worldwide will be promoting the Italy trip and fund raising effort to their followers via Twitter, Facebook, chapter websites and e-newsletters.

About Bicycles for Humanity

Bicycles for Humanity began in September 2005 with the simple aim of enabling people to raise funds and collect unwanted bicycles to send to reliable partners in developing countries.Its mission is to empower people to improve their quality of life by transferring mobility through the use of bicycles. The goal is to expand the work of its chapter members, build more sustainable initiatives and programs and to mobilize and empower more of the world's poorest people. “We have one focus, mobility through the use of a bike. We have one objective, to help the people of Africa help themselves. We believe that all of us working together can make a difference.” Visit http://www.bicycles-for-humanity.org/.

< Back to all press releases

Travel + Leisure
World's Best
For the fourth year in a row, ALA was recognized as one of the top Tour Operators in the World by Travel + Leisure. Read the Press Release >

Outside Magazine
2012 Hall of Fame Travel Awards
ALA was inducted in Outside Magazine's 2012 Hall of Fame Travel Awards for our groundbreaking Cuba Tours. Read More...

National Geographic Traveler
50 Tours of a Lifetime
The editors of National Geographic Traveler single out ALA's Cuba tour as one of their top tours in 2012. See the complete list>