Here in Washington, a bicycle is usually thought of as a tool of recreation – a plaything, like a canoe, a jetski or a snowboard. More and more people are using bikes as a means of transportation – a healthy and responsible way to get to work, or scoot around the neighborhood.

Rarely, though, does someone’s life depend on having a bike.

In Africa, a bike is more than a fun way to get from A to B. With huge distances between regional centers, clean water, health care and schools, and little or no infrastructure, a bike is a critical tool for survival.

Riding a bike is four times faster than walking, the only other choice for millions of Africans.

People with bikes get to schools, markets, farms and health care in one-fourth the time, improving their lives and economic futures.

For the past five years, the ARAS foundation, a Sammamish-based nonprofit, has been collecting bikes from generous locals on the Eastside, as regular gift to the people of Ghana.

The ARAS does this through its connection with the Village Bicycle Project (VBP), which supplies not only bikes, but also the spare parts, tools and training so Ghanaians can keep their bikes on the road.

VBP empowers whole communities by including women and girls in bicycle education, a huge step toward reducing poverty in isolated villages.

Villagers with a bike can save hours in the day and devote that time to crop tending, producing more food for their families or to sell at market, going to school or spending more time with their families.

Ghana is a long way from Sammamish and Issaquah, but you can help.

ARAS is currently collecting donations of bikes and bike parts to be sent to Ghana, and will accept almost anything regardless of whether it is in working order, except for tricycles or those that are severely rusted.

Once the bikes arrive in Ghana they will be repaired so they are in fine working order.

Donated bikes and parts can be dropped off May 15 at Sammamish City Hall, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Anyone who wants to donate a bike before that date can contact Mary Trask of the ARAS Foundation at mary@arasfoundation.org, or 425-868-8448, to make arrangements.

ARAS also needs volunteer help on May 15, from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., to prepare the bikes for shipment by lowering the bike seats, lowering and turning the handlebars and removing the pedals in order to conserve space in the cargo container for shipping.

No experience is necessary, and the adjustments to the bikes are usually quite easy.

Interested volunteers can contact Mary at the e-mail address or phone number above.

For more information about the ARAS Foundation, including their bike drives of previous years, visit www.arasfoundation.org.

For more information about the VBP, visit www.villagebicycleproject.org.