Where does the money go?
We on occasion receive queries from cyclists as to ‘where the money goes’ and how PPA makes and spends its income. Please see the projects section for detailed information, as well as the Projects, Events and Members links in this section. Click here for more info on current projects.
On the income front, PPA is fortunate in that our membership base has continued to grow over the past few years. While membership fees cover many of the actual running costs of the Association, the profits we receive from the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust (in which we have a 50% share) assist us to do all the ‘extras’ and to put money back into various cycling projects.
In this way, the Association has paid some R7 m to various cycling projects over the last 4 years. Amongst others, the sub-committee looks at the long-term sustainability of the project and to what extent the project fits in with the PPA constitution when deciding on which applications to support annually.
Another big expense for PPA is assisting events on the PPA calendar. Although all income (sponsorship as well as entry fees) from events go to the various event organisers and not to PPA, PPA additionally support events through paying for electronic timing, marketing, and supplies event numbers, seeding, equipment and logistical support.
Safety remains a big issue, notably the provision of bicycle lanes. To this end, PPA ran a safe cycling campaign in the build-up to the 2012 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, focusing on getting the message across that motorists should pass at least 1.5m from cyclists. We are thrilled that to report that the campaign appears to have been a great success, and that we are looking at repeating the initiative in 2012. We also continue to attend the City of Cape Town’s Non-Motorised Transport Forum (Active Mobility Forum) and other commuting-related meetings and workshops.
You’ll also notice under the Project Funding feedback that PPA is, wherever possible, facilitating ‘safe cycling’ workshops to schools, development initiatives and more.
