The word iBoni (pronounced [i:-boʊ-ni:]) is a South African township slang word which loosely translates to “bicycle”. iBoni is an innovative bicycle and scooter sharing start-up business founded in February 2015 and is currently based in the province of Gauteng in South Africa.
This start-up is in concept phase, bring about South Africa’s first commercial bike sharing business. The sharing economy is a disruptive tool that iBoni wants to use to create a more sustainable ecosystem with the existing public transportation infrastructure. The idea is that bicycles and scooters are shared among people in communities without individual ownership. Customers will rent the bicycles/scooters at a bike parking station near their current location, start their commute, and drop it off at a bike parking station nearest to their final destination.
The scooter and bicycle stations at transportation hubs will encourage motorists to use public transport. This will reduce traffic which will in turn reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and create more sustainable cities. The bicycles are GPS tracked, which is a crime prevention tool and also shows users how far they have cycled or travelled.
Their vision is to make car ownership an option and not a necessity. The realization that a fully functioning public transportation system is the backbone of increased economic participation and transformation. The sharing economy is a disruptive tool that iBoni wants to use with the public transportation industry.
The bigger picture is to contribute to the well being and sustainability of the environment and its inhabitants in Africa, by providing a shared eco-friendly mode of transportation in the form of bicycles and scooters. They aim to be at the forefront of creating bike friendly cities in Africa; creating a unique and novel way to commute with ease, convenience and comfort.
