The Basikal ‘Know One-Teach One’ Programme
The Basikal: Building Kuala Lumpur’s Inclusive Cycling Culture
Factbox
Location
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Grant Period
Jan 2017 - Dec 2018
Grant Amount
USD 19,885
Beneficiaries
180 part and full-timers
Focus Area
Overview
The Basikal ‘Know One-Teach One’ Programme promotes cycling in Kuala Lumpur by sharing bicycle knowledge, training mechanics, and supporting community engagement. Through education and skills training, the initiative encourages healthier lifestyles while creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for underprivileged youth.
Impact At A Glance
- Training programmes that equip community members with bicycle maintenance skills
- Employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for underprivileged youth as bicycle mechanics
- Expansion of community bicycle repair services across Kuala Lumpur
- Promotion of cycling as a sustainable and healthy urban transport option
The Challenge
Car-centric urban development has made Kuala Lumpur increasingly congested and less liveable.
Rapid urbanisation and population growth in Kuala Lumpur have driven rising demand for private vehicles, leading to heavy traffic congestion and increasing pressure on the city’s transport infrastructure. The result is a range of social, environmental, and health challenges, from air pollution to longer commuting times and reduced quality of life.
Although a grassroots cycling movement has begun to emerge in the city, cycling is still widely seen as a leisure activity or sport rather than a practical daily transport option. Without stronger community support systems, skills development, and infrastructure, Kuala Lumpur struggles to develop a cycling culture comparable to more sustainable cities.
The Solution
The Basikal builds a cycling ecosystem by teaching communities the knowledge and skills needed to maintain and repair bicycles.
Founded as a one-stop cycling centre in Kuala Lumpur, The Basikal sells bicycles, provides repair services, and conducts professional bicycle maintenance classes. By sharing practical knowledge about bicycle repair and maintenance, the organisation helps more people gain confidence in cycling as a regular mode of transport.
The programme focuses particularly on empowering disadvantaged youth by equipping them with technical skills that can lead to employment or small business opportunities. By turning bicycle maintenance into a viable livelihood, The Basikal helps expand the local cycling ecosystem while supporting healthier, more sustainable lifestyles in the city.
The Grant with AirAsia Foundation
AirAsia Foundation’s grant enables The Basikal to expand its bicycle training programmes and community outreach efforts.
- Purchase additional bicycle tools to increase capacity for professional maintenance classes
- Provide free training opportunities for underprivileged participants funded by paid classes
- Support trained mechanics to pursue employment or entrepreneurship in bicycle repair
- Establish pop-up repair workshops around the city to grow the cycling ecosystem
Through these initiatives, The Basikal aims to create a larger network of trained bicycle mechanics while strengthening Kuala Lumpur’s cycling culture.
Gallery
The Organisation
The Basikal
The Basikal was founded in 2012 to promote cycling knowledge, consultation, and training in Kuala Lumpur. The organisation offers bicycle repair services and maintenance classes designed to teach people how to maintain their own bicycles. Through its programmes, The Basikal encourages cycling as part of everyday life while supporting youth and disadvantaged groups in gaining technical skills and participating in healthier lifestyles. Located in central Kuala Lumpur, the organisation also aims to strengthen Malaysia’s reputation as a regional destination for cycling tourism.
Team Leader
Akmal Abd Mutalib
Akmal Abd Mutalib founded The Basikal after discovering cycling as a practical means of transportation during his university years. Passionate about sharing his knowledge, he works to encourage people to see bicycles not only as recreational vehicles but as tools for building greener and healthier communities. Akmal has been actively involved in community initiatives including wheelchair repairs, cycling education programmes in schools, and building specialised bicycles for people with disabilities.
Social Enterprise
