IN AN affluent society such as ours, where cars, telephones, televisions and bicycles are forever being traded in and upgraded to shinier, more fashionable models, few people wonder what happens to the ones they left behind.
Not so Belfast retired dentist, David Macaulay, who has just helped 'rescue' almost 400 unwanted bicycles across Northern Ireland which will be put to good use by health workers, teachers, fishermen, farmers and children living on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar.
David, a member of Phoenix Cycling Club in Belfast, and fellow cycling enthusiast, Brendan McCartan –a retired vet and club secretary – this week helped load the donated bicycles on to a 40-foot container ready for shipment to the island off the south-east coast of Africa.
"It may seem strange, collecting people's old bicycles, but they really are put to good use in Madagascar where there is so much poverty and the roads, especially in the south of the country, are impassible for most of the year," David says.
"A bike that has outlived its usefulness here can be refurbished and used by health visitors visiting patients, children and teachers going to school, or fishermen on the coasts who need to bring their catch to market further inland."
Along with other members of the local club, Brendan, meanwhile, has been putting his working knowledge of bicycles to good use by repairing and reconditioning them and getting them ready for bumpy roads thousands of miles away.
"Where a health visitor might have to walk around 20 miles to deliver medicines, these Northern Ireland bikes are virtual life-savers," says David, who works with the Adsum Foundation charity based on Belfast's Ormeau Road.
"Madagascar is a big island and bicycles are a much-needed taxi service for local people. They are even used to transport water from one place to another, so the island community is very appreciative of old bikes from Northern Ireland."
Established in 2008, the Adsum Foundation does more than provide pedal-power for residents of Madagascar; the charity is also involved in literacy and school building projects, as well as health initiatives such as the sinking of water wells in the most needy parts of the island.
With over 24 million people, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world; 50 per cent of the population lack access to safe drinking water and over 90 per cent live on less than £1 a day.
"Water, education and basic healthcare are sparse, particularly in the rural communities, and marketplaces, workplaces and other income opportunities can often be long distances away from people's homes," David adds.
"And weather conditions can make these journeys even more difficult, whether in the scorching heat or in the rainy season."
For over two years, Adsum has partnered with BikeAid Africa in a bid to resolve the transport problems, with the Belfast group collecting and shipping the reconditioned bicycles and BikeAid then identifying recipients and distributing the bikes to those who could benefit most.
According to the charity's website, donated bicycles allow more teachers to travel further in spreading the important adult literacy programme which, so far, has reached over 30,000 islanders.
"We are so well-off here, in comparison, and children often get new bicycles from Santa, or they outgrow their bikes and are bought new ones," David says. "For a child to receive a refurbished bike in Madagascar, it is a fantastic Christmas present which they appreciate every day of the year."
The last consignment of bicycles from Northern Ireland, shipped out a year and a half ago, numbered 370 and the most recent, which left Belfast on Friday, broke the 400 mark.
All were carefully packed into the container – itself purchased second-hand by the charity a few years ago – with spare space between wheels and frames used to transport extra packages of bed linen, knitwear, shoes and hats.
All types of bicycles are gratefully received, but hybrids and mountain bikes are especially needed, due to the rough terrain, according to David.
"The better the condition of the bike, the less work is needed to get it back in safe, working order, but even the ones that are beyond use are still good for spare parts," he says.
"Everyone has been so generous and we are now on the search again – we are seeking more bicycles for our next shipment to Madagascar. We'll take anyone's bike off their hands and make sure it goes to a good home."
:: Anyone interested in helping the charity with shipping costs or who wants to donate a bicycle can visit adsumfoundation.org/bikes or contact David (07802 660433) or Brendan (07788 108727).
