GURARIDE, founded in 2017, is a Green E-mobility public bike-share (PBS) transport system company. GURARIDE is committed to the sustainability of micro-mobility in Africa, with Rwanda being its first entry point. It employs a multimodal micro-mobility solution in a single app to enable users to choose their ride preference. Its main goal is the migration of transportation from fossil fuel-based vehicles to other non-pollutant means of transport using innovative technology. GURARIDE looks at changing the narrative for urban mobility in Africa, aiming to have a long-lasting impact on the environment, communities, transportation, and green jobs, while fostering healthy lifestyles.
Ike Erhabor, GURARIDE President
“If you look around, you will notice that Rwanda has started putting bike lanes all over the country’s major cities. In alignment with Rwanda vision 2030 for smart Green e-mobility in the country, we found Rwanda as the readiest country in Africa.”
GURARIDE, founded in 2017, is a Green E-mobility public bike-share (PBS) transport system company. GURARIDE is committed to the sustainability of micro-mobility in Africa, with Rwanda being its first entry point. It employs a multimodal micro-mobility solution in a single app to enable users to choose their ride preference. Its main goal is the migration of transportation from fossil fuel-based vehicles to other non-pollutant means of transport using innovative technology. GURARIDE looks at changing the narrative for urban mobility in Africa, aiming to have a long-lasting impact on the environment, communities, transportation, and green jobs, while fostering healthy lifestyles.
Achievements
In partnership with the City of Kigali, GURARIDE is starting its operations in two of Kigali’s city corridors and, as cycling infrastructure and road safety measures are put in place by the city authorities, it will gradually expand to cover additional areas in the city. The bracketed corridors are mainly the Central Business District (CBD) and the Remera-Kimironko corridor along KG 17 Ave known for their bustling commercial activities and sports hub respectively.
By deploying the first PBS system in the City of Kigali, Rwanda, GURARIDE has made available 100 smart base-model bikes for public use. Also, as part of its first phase deployment and scale-up plans, it is introducing an electric bike fleet, thereby providing residents of Kigali with ride options, and fast battery charging systems to complement the PBS infrastructure. Through the GURARIDE mobile app, a rider is able to locate a nearby docking station, access the facility and conveniently make payment for the service. In addition, GURARIDE’s collaboration with districts, technical and vocation schools, relevant government agencies and corporate institutions is being leveraged on to provide skills acquisition and capacity development for young women, employment, and the teeming youth population in Rwanda.
All GURARIDE’s bikes and e-bike models are completely assembled in Rwanda, so complementing the efforts of the Government of Rwanda in promoting ‘Made in Rwanda’. One of the key long term business goals is to operate a fully equipped manufacturing/assembly plant in Rwanda, from which it can suitably service the East African communities and subsequently the continent.
As part of it public enlightenment, GURARIDE is educating the people of Rwanda about the advantages of public bike sharing especially through the bi-monthly “Car Free Day” event. For its inaugural launching campaign, potential users will access the PBS services along the two above mentioned corridors free of charge for a period of 60 days. This is to encourage and educate residents further on the usability and far-reaching benefits the services offer.
