International Cargo Bike Festival 2018

#ICBF2018
Cargo Bikes in Rotterdam
By Tim Sjouke
Cargo bikes in Rotterdam to make the urban distribution more sustainable; it is an inspiring
vision of the future, yet it is one that is slowly turning into reality. The use of human-powered
vehicles in urban distribution is increasing, but to what extent should we remodel the city
to accommodate these newcomers? What infrastructural changes are necessary and what
opportunities arise in the design of public spaces?
The first step in improving the operability
of cargo bikes is simply following the
guidelines for the design of cycling
infrastructure. The Dutch guidelines are
managed by CROW; the Dutch technology
platform for transport, infrastructure
and public space. The Recommendations
for traffic provisions in built-up areas 1 are
also available in English and German.
Additionally, an upgrade in the design of
urban public spaces can also benefit a
sustainable way urban distribution.
It focuses primarily on reconfiguring the so-called urban traffic
environments. This allows the problems in the infrastructure to
be identified and addressed.
In addition, local opportunities can be found through a spatial
design framework. This framework, Functional Ambiance 3 , makes
the connection between traffic and the public space itself.
Flows and places come together within this framework. These
frameworks aid the integration of the cargo bike into the urban
traffic and show which local optimisations are possible. In Cargo
bikes in Rotterdam, seven streets in Rotterdam are analysed to
explore the opportunities in practice.
Two innovative design frameworks are used
to examine the infrastructural complexities
and to inspire a smarter design of the
public domain.
The traffic-based framework, Urban
Mobility 2 , is a new approach to the design
of urban public space.
1. CROW. (1998). ASVV – Recommendations for traffic provisions in built-up areas. Ede, The Netherlands: CROW.
2. Immers, Egeter, Diepens, & Weststrate. (2016). Urban Mobility. The Hague, The Netherlands: ANWB.
3. Verheijen, & Smidt. (2013). Functional Ambiance. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Research Centre Sustainable Solutions,
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.
4. Hoogendoorn, van Lonkhuizen, van der Ree & Sjouke. (2018). Cargo bikes in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands: University of Applied Sciences.
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