Books on Bikes is a development project founded last year by eco-active travel company Bike & Saddle last year and launched its first book collection day on 6 December 2009 at the Book Lounge in Cape Town.

This year, Books on Bikes has partnered with the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and Department of Arts and Culture to provide support for the inaugural National Book Week taking place in Johannesburg from September 6-13. Bike & Saddle will run a Cycle Relay from Cape Town to Johannesburg with township children from the Youth Empowerment Project(YEP), a community-owned and managed NGO that provides opportunities for marginalised youth to participate in sports and educational activities and empower them in leadership development.

Starting on September 3, Bike & Saddle will depart from Cape Town and ride through the Garden Route towns of Mossel Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg ay, making our way along the coast to Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban and then heading inland via Pietermaritburg, Bloemfontein and Pretoria before reaching our final destination of Johannesburg. The aim of the Cycle for Reading Relay is to generate publicity for reading and cycle-friendly spaces and build a network of book and bike stores that will act as partners in this worthy cause.

The Books on Bikes team will launch the charity initiative in each town, inviting book and bike stores in each locale as well as the mayor's office to attend and donate any old books of course! Accommodation en route is being generously provided by the Southern Sun Hotel Group who have committed themselves to the project.Then on the first weekend in December, Books on Bikes will run its annual Book Collection Day where all our partner book and bike stores will open their doors for the public to cycle down and drop off books.

There are many ways to get involved in this worthy cause. Donate your old books to any of our Partner Stores, make a cash donation or simply generate publicity for the initiative or partner with us. This is a long-term vision with Books on Bikes seeking to spread its influence across Africa.

For more information and details of both the tour and donations visit www.bikeforbooks.org