The article focuses on the dawn of bicycle taxis, "boda bodas," in Kenya. Bicycle taxis are rapidly supplanting gasoline-powered minibus taxis in parts of western Kenya. Residents of Kisumu, a small city 500 kilometers from Nairobi, have long relied on aging minibuses, called "matatus," to get around. But as improvements in the bicycle industry lead to lower production costs, sales of the pedal-powered alternatives are booming. Kisumu's bike-taxi commuters can now cross town for half the price of a matatu ride, and usually arrive at their destinations faster because the bicycles, known as "boda bodas," maneuver through traffic more easily. The bikes also bring environmental benefits, including cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. And bicycle taxis offer a means of income for a larger share of the population, compared with the capital- and fuel-intensive matatus. But as bicycles bring greater prosperity to their owners, local matatu businesses are struggling. The bikes do have drawbacks: many cyclists are hit and killed by reckless motorists. The bicycle bikes have ignited the flame of bicycle transport across Africa.