Mobility in Moldova

Following the disintegration of the USSR and the collapse of the
Eastern Bloc economy, communities like Stefan Voda, in the former
soviet republic of Moldova have seen incomes shrink, the cost of imported
goods such as petroleum skyrocket, and their modest standards of living
plummet. Personal mobility and productivity have suffered.

As bus fares rose, the inhabitants of Stefan Voda could not afford to take
public transport, the system collapsed, and a town once inter-connected via
a bus system was left without transportation. Private cars are few.

Moldovans are fond of bicycles, yet quality and price is a challenge for those
on limited incomes. Nobody will sell a used bike, and new expensive imported
bikes are the only ones available.

Local farmers on average walk 10-12 miles daily, to and from their fields.
This takes two or more hours away from work. The average commute to work
and school for teachers, students and others living outside the center of town
is 30-45 minutes or more, exacerbated by the local tradition of returning home
for lunch.

Peace Corps volunteer Marc Skelton, who works in a local non-governmental
organization, Rural 21, coordinated with Stefan Voda. Marc teaches health to
6th and 7th graders, and facilitates HIV/AIDS seminars with local doctors and
other medical professionals, to address the spread of this affliction resulting
from the conversion of Moldova in general into a gateway for trafficking in
women and drugs.

Marc immediately saw that bicycles could contribute to better public health
and the accomplishment of work and daily chores. Rural 21 agreed.
The result is an initial request to PfP for 500 bicycles to establish a vocational
educational program repairing and selling bicycles for local distribution.