| The story behind yuba
Yuba was launched in 2006 to build and provide affordable mobility solutions with a particular emphasis on distributing them to those most in need. The founders of Yuba came together to advance economic and social development, to promote self-reliance, and to emphasize better environmental awareness and lifestyle choices – all through the use of bicycles.
Because bicycles are one of the most energy efficient, financially affordable, mechanically reliable, and environmentally friendly vehicles, we believe that a more bike-centric world makes for a better world, a more connected world.
Vision
Our purpose and motivation are fuelled by the love of bicycles and the strong desire to help individuals around the planet gain a foothold on the ladder of development. Utility Bicycles are a tool for a different “de-velo-pment", they are an appropriate solution that is democratic, available to all and greatly affordable. Because bicycles are one of the most energy efficient, financially affordable, and environmentally friendly vehicle ever invented, we strongly believe that Utility Bicycles can lead to a nicer world. A world in which individuals can have a better life and have more opportunities and do more good. It is clear that Utility Bicycles can be a solution to help the poorest get out of poverty. Furthermore the zero emissions characteristics of the Mundo is a positive and proactive way to combat global warming. The Mundo Utility Bicycle is then a great vehicle and support for allowing individuals enough personal freedom without sacrificing the resources, nature’s beauty and the social link between people.
History
In
the
late
nineties
Yuba
co-founder
and
avid
cyclist
Benjamin
Sarrazin
spent
several
years
traveling
throughout
South
America,
Europe
and
Africa.
It
was
during
this
time
that
he
became
increasingly
aware
of
the
economic
and
social
shortcomings
of
developing
regions
with
little
to
no
transportation
options.
“One
could
see
bikes
everywhere,
but
they
were
useless
for
carrying
cargo,
which
was
crazy,
because
that’s
exactly
what
they
needed
most”
remembers
Yuba’s
founder
Benjamin
Sarrazin.
He
thought
of
a
bike
that
could
carry
50
kilos
sacks
of
grain
and
mosquito
nets
over
mountain
trails.
Such
a
bike
would
enable
entirely
new
possibilities
for
the
people
who
really
needed
to
use
their
bike
for
transportation.
Sarrazin
partnered
with
Klaus
Schröder,
designer
of
the
ScooterBike;
they
launched
Yuba
in
the
winter
of
2006,
collaborating
with
German
bike
maker
Panther
Werke
to
manufacture
the
bikes.
Schröder
likes
to
resume
the
concept
this
way
“ Most
people
in
the
developing
or
in
the
western
world
don’t
need
a
bike
for
racing.
They
need
a
bike
to
carry
their
groceries,
packages,
children
and
outdoor".
Mission
Yuba is dedicated to promoting sustainable transportation options across the globe. We endeavor to:
- Design and develop solutions that encourage human powered transportation.
- Advance bicycle use as a means to aid poverty-stricken regions.
- Build eco-friendly, affordable and durable products.
- Promote health, environmental and lifestyle benefits of bicycle riding for transportation.
- Bring to the collective mindset an understanding of the benefits of bicycle riding for transportation.
People
Yuba is a gathering of outdoor enthusiasts and professionals with a broad base of experience spanning the bicycle industry, the non-profit sector and the sport adventure world. We are all particularly united by our passion for biking.
• Klaus Schroder: Klaus has been working in the bicycle industry for more than two decades with an emphasis on innovative bike design. He opened one of the first recumbent bicycle shops in Germany and designed the recumbent ScooterBike. Klaus serves as product manager for the ScooterBike brand as well as a designer for Yuba and the co-designer of the Mundo.
• Benjamin Sarrazin: Benjamin is a former professional kayaker who spent much of his time exploring developing countries during his competitive years. Working for another utility bike manufacturer, he successfully built up international distribution via an increased dealer base, and extensive web marketing and promotion. Benjamin specializes in worldwide development issues, web marketing and international sales.
• Paul
Freedman aka Fossil
Fool: Paul
Freedman (also known
as Fossil Fool, the
Bike Rapper) began
Rock the Bike in
Summer of 2004. The
company was initially
called "Fossil
Fool",
but that name now
refers
only to his bike
rapping
alter ego. In addition
to sending out
the bike vibe through
his rap, custom
Soul Cycle party
bikes, and the
Down
Low Glow bike lights,
Paul also contributes
to Worldbike.org,
a nonprofit developing
low cost cargo
bikes for poor countries.
Previous
to dedicating himself
as a bike culture
artist, musician,
and social entrepreneur,
Paul worked at
Metazoa, a scientific
software company
making collaboration
tools for research
biologists. Paul
graduated from
Harvard
with a degree in
Computer Science.
He hardly uses
his formal education,
except to communicate
with coder Brandon
Bergren. When it
comes to product
design, engineering,
business, marketing,
etc., he is self-taught.
10% for the People in need
When
purchased
directly from
Yuba Bicycles in
the USA or in
Europe,
a portion
of the
proceeds from
each Mundo
sale are
redirected to
Jugendhilfe
Ost Africa or
Re~Cycle, programs
that provides
utility bikes
to developing
countries that
don’t
have
the resources
to purchase
them. To
learn more
about the
Non-Profit programs
or
to donate
directly visit their
website: JugendHilfe, Re~cycle. |