WBR is the only formidable actor in the last-mile mobility space able to draw on the private sector. WBR has created a robust supply line that allows it to utilize economies of scale and provide bicycles to a wide range of communities. Using funding and proceeds from its for-profit subsidiary, Buffalo Bicycles Ltd., (which sells primarily to other nonprofits, businesses, local governments and individuals), WBR supplies bicycles to users in six operating countries (as of 2021) by working with leaders in local communities to determine the best use for the bicycles. WBR also collaborates with local entrepreneurs to establish a network for repair and spare parts and training of local mechanics to ensure the longevity of the equipment. In turn, this creates jobs in the same economies and communities were WBR distribute bicycles to those who need them most. Improving mobility in the community without costly infrastructure outlays allows for immediate improvement in these communities and helps WBR model the impact local mobility has across health, education and economic growth.

WBR measures their impact based on the number of individuals they reach and the impact a bicycle has on each individual’s life. As of 2021, WBR has assisted more than 3,177,990 individuals across 15 countries, with 260,262 bicycles funded and 375,216 bicycles sold. Approximately 2,680 community-based bicycle mechanics have been trained.

Two sector examples, education and health, best demonstrate WBR’s impact:

• Wheels for Integrated and Sustainable Health (WISH), WBR’s health program, showed that patient visits increased by 45% and that retention rates of community health workers (CHWs) increased from about 55% to 95%. CHWs reported traveling up to four times further by bicycle to reach patients than on foot.
• Bicycle Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP), WBR’s education program, found that education pass rates improved by 36%, attendance increased up to 28%, academic performance improved 10.5% on average, and travel time to and from school was reduced by 7.5 hours per week on average.

WBR’s innovative approach is in combining philanthropic bicycle programs for the most vulnerable populations with social enterprise sales to meet market demands for reliable transport, thus integrating a sustainable funding source. WBR’s innovation also lies in the development of a rugged and durable bicycle, a supply chain capable of providing this equipment at scale in a variety of markets, partnering with local communities to identify best uses for the equipment, building incentive structures such as “learn-to-own” that makes the bicycle both an enabler and incentive for better educational outcomes, and building a local entrepreneurial ecosystem that maintains the bikes while empowering local mechanics and suppliers. WBR has also constantly iterated on the bicycle design and modified it for a variety of use cases to best serve end users in diverse climates, geographies, and economies.

WBR’s organizational business model, as well as their programmatic service model, are especially applicable to other social sector organizations that are offering a good or service that has both philanthropic ends, and market-based demand by individuals and organizations that are willing to pay for that good or service. WBR has designed a service model that is domain-independent: with minimal tailoring, their service model can be applied across diverse sectors and geographies and with a variety of partners (e.g. bilateral donors, multilateral institutions, local governments, international NGOs). WBR supports each end-user by establishing a holistic, market-based bicycle ecosystem and others could benefit from learning about the importance of taking a holistic approach to providing services including integrating market mechanisms, avoiding undermining the local private sector and their own social enterprise operations, ensuring local individuals are empowered to provide goods and services related to WBR’s product, and expanding sustainable supply chains to ensure their products can continue to be utilized and achieve impact.