Batswana Cyclists

Over the last few weeks, I have been photographing and interviewing cyclists that I meet while riding around Gaborone. My sense is that most of these cyclists are lower to middle income Batswana. Most have limited English speaking ability and I cannot speak Setswana or Shona, so their comments are a bit simplistic. I ask basic questions, such as "why do you bike?", "where do you bike?", "is it dangerous?", "how do you feel when you bike?" and "how far do you ride?" and then let the conversation wander freely. The gender imbalance among these cyclists brought to light a fact that should have been obvious to me earlier: I haven't seen a single Motswana woman on a bicycle in Gaborone.

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Motlakapula Baleseng

"I like to use the bike because I can go faster. Every day I think I'm using 30 minutes each way. If it's cold, it's OK, because I can feel better. If you are using a bike every day, you feel OK, or most of the time you feel strong. If you are using a bike, most of the time you feel better. Most of the time I am using a bike. Starting from...I think it's starting from 2001, because now I have 9 years, yeah, to using a bike, I am enjoying a bike. Or most of the time I am using a bike, so I don't like a car, because I am exercising and most of the time I am feeling strong. A driver using the car is not carefully about the bikes, but if you are a rider, you supposed see the robots or the car. You are supposed to be careful most of the time. But if you are using, you are right."

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Shepperd Tshuma

"I ride to work everyday. I was riding and my seat fell off behind me. The metal on this bike is very cheap."

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 Kelly Kontsenyane

"I ride for 30 minutes to get here to work. I ride my bicycle for exercise. It is not dangerous to ride here because I go away from the road. I get fresh after riding, not tired. I get strong. I have the power, so I do not get weary or tiredness. I feel energetical after riding. Even if I am in work, I can still patrol. On Sunday in the morning when I don't work, I will ride on my Humber to the border of South Africa with my little brother for exercise. I have used my bike for a life time. I paid 400 pula for it."

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Goitsamodimo Mogapi

"I bike 5 kilometers each way for to go to the church and to work. It is not dangerous. I bike because it makes me stronger. I train in the morning, do some push-ups, and then ride my bike."

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Tshetlha Bareeng

"I sell the wood. I cross Africa on my bike. I am going to Marapula. Marapula is my village. I am a police man. I am Motswana. I am going."

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Adimire Tuma

"I sell ice cream just here. We call the supplier in Broadhurst and they deliver ice cream to us. It's hard work when it is hot. You must be careful of cars. This bike is not my own. I am working for someone, so there are many bicycles. I do not have a bike of my own, so I take a combi. I get two to four flat tires every day. It is too hot now, so the tires will just burst."

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Lucas Mabutho

"From where I stay to go to where I work, when I am running serious, I take 15 minutes. It is not dangerous, you have to watch for the cars and the bricks. It is an old bike. To my younger brother, gave me the bike. It was a frame. It was free."

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Biza Tapelo

"I am going to Broadhurst 16, past Bull and Bush. I am going home for lunch, for one hour. I am coming back 2:00 PM. I am working down there beyond the bus rank at PPAGB. This is my car! Probably I am talking English not too much."

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Wonder Nwathi

"My ride is 15 minutes, but when there is traffic it takes longer because it is difficult to cross the street. I have had this bike for 12 years. This is my horse! If you take care of it, it will take care of you."