Tern Cargo bike support community resilience in Ukraine

Tern has donated 60 Tern short-haul cargo bikes to provide essential transportation for families, aid workers, and local services in Ukrainian cities such as Chernihiv and Oleksandriya.

The bikes will play an important role in helping communities rebuild and strengthen amidst the ongoing conflict.

Josh Hon, Tern team captain, said: “The people of Ukraine have been astoundingly brave and resilient in the face of daunting obstacles. We want them to know that they are not forgotten and that we support them. We hope that our cargo bikes can make daily life a bit easier.”

Northern Ukrainian city Chernihiv was one of the first areas affected by the conflict, having its infrastructure and resources damaged. Unreliable energy supplies have made automobile and train travel difficult.

Bicycles have become vital to the city, being invaluable for families rebuilding homes and parents transporting kids to school. Essential workers have also been reliant on bikes.

Tern short-haul cargo bikes have been chosen for their simplicity and reliability, running purely on muscle power. The components are easily replaceable. Up to 50kg can be carried on the rear rack with another 20kg being carried in the front.

Oleksandriya has been sheltering hundreds of people displaced by the war. Humanitarian aid centres have started using 10 donated bikes to transport essential supplies to refugees.

Families with children have received prioritisation in receiving bikes in Chernihiv. Essential workers were also prioritised for bikes.

Bikes have had an amazing impact on the local communities, here are some of their stories:

Yuriy, an elderly man based in Chernihiv, has been delivering bread to hospitals, kindergartens, and rehabilitation centres. Whilst his sons fight in the war, he has stayed behind managing his business and making his deliveries by bike.

Iryna is a nurse living in a heavily damaged part of Chernihiv and continues to work in the hospital despite most of her home being destroyed. She uses her bike to commute to the hospital, hoping to one day repair her home.

Tetiana has remained with her cows at the small dairy farm she runs. Her farm was hit by shells and part of the barn burnt down. Despite this, she continues to operate the farm and delivers milk to families who stayed behind on her bike.

A veterinarian has been travelling across villages to provide care to small farms. The short-haul bike will allow her to carry medical supplies and provide services. This allows her to visit more farms and treat more sick animals.

Inna’s home was destroyed in the conflict, she is now reliant on using her bike to transport her small children to and from school in a neighbouring district.

Michael Roffler, head of Swiss NGO Pro Ukraïna, said: “While the war has damaged the lives of the locals, their spirit remains strong. Life goes on, just at a slower pace. These cargo bikes will help people rebuild their lives, empower essential workers, and bring moments of respite and joy to local families.”

Thomas Loesch, a long-time designer at Tern sadly passed away this August. This was a special project for him, as he championed this project. Loesch pushed through logistics and safety concerns to supply bikes to communities that needed them most.

Terns’ Short-Haul Cargo bike is part of  its broad range of bikes available on the market, including its Bosch-power Quick Haul Long.