International Cargo Bike Festival 2021

THE

ICBF

MAGAZINE

2021

#DECADEOFTHECARGOBIKE

- ADVERTORIAL -

WE’RE HERE

TO DRIVE OUT

POLLUTING

VEHICLES FROM

INNER CITIES.

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The ICBF Magazine 2021 is a publication

of Fietsdiensten.nl © 2021

Preface

In a world where everything changes we are happy to provide a modest anchor

by publishing the 6th edition of the ICBF Magazine. It is clear that the cargo bike

revolution is growing and spreading globally. So we are very glad that we can

offer you a glimpse of many new international examples of this revolution.

In this magazine you’ll find articles about waste collection and recycling in

Romania and in Jinja, Uganda. There is an article about cargo bikes in Ecuador.

Canada is represented with interesting articles from Vancouver and Toronto,

including a novelty: the ‘Decade of the Cargo Bike Rap’ by Abdominal.

Developments in Europe seem to accelerate every year. What to think about

hydrogen fuel cells in cargo bikes? ‘All about Hydrogen’ and the city of Arnhem

are working on a HydroCargo Bike in cooperation with the University of Applied

Sciences of Arnhem and Nijmegen - find out more on page 31.

The growth of the use of e-cargo bikes and other light electric vehicles requires

legal and technical regulation in order to guarantee safety for riders and other

users of the urban landscape. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water

Management is working on these new regulations and we are involved as

external experts on the subject.

The population of our big cities will increase significantly

over the next few years. We can think of hundreds of reasons,

but the most important part we can play in finding a

solution is mobility. We understand today’s challenges and

use them as a force for good. High-emission vehicles with

an unnecessary significant environmental impact are finally

losing territory. It’s time for businesses like ourselves to

up our game and contribute to a sustainable future where

mobility is emission-free, and cities are liveable again.

Flexibility

We do this by providing flexible contracts for electric cargo

bikes to businesses big and small. And we take care of

everything, so you don’t have to worry about a thing;

all-risk insurance, preventive maintenance and 1-day

replacement service. Whether you’re a national or local

entrepreneur, you possibly have limited investment

capacity to scale your fleet of transport vehicles. DOCKR

goes where you go; our subscription fees are competitive,

you can easily switch or upscale electric bikes, and you

can even cancel your contract whenever you like.

Always on the move

One of our partners is Get Bike Service (GBS), and just

like them, we’ve made it our top priority to make mobility

easy, accessible and sustainable. We foster collaboration

and pursue a set of common objectives. One of the

distinguishing elements we offer is that your DOCKR is

always on the move. GBS delivers on this uptime promise

every day and easily scales with DOCKR. This way, we can

guarantee our customers to deliver on time, all the time.

Despite overcrowded cities, our electric cargo bikes enable

couriers to deliver on time at lower costs, resulting in

higher customer and employee satisfaction. By working

together with today’s leaders of sustainable transformation,

we are on track to become the number one partner in

fast and clean delivery for every company with logistical

needs.

Our goal is to become the global leader in

mobility as a service. How do we get there?

Crossing borders

We can proudly say that we surround ourselves with

inspiring, forward-thinking clients intrinsically motivated

to speed up the transition to emission-free mobility.

But we’re not there yet. Our ambitions cross borders

too; Belgium and Germany will be our next destinations.

Expanding to these countries will enable us to continue our

pioneering way of delivery and business. We are convinced

of the necessity of our offer, which means we also like to

address issues locally, bringing people together to come

up with more creative transportation alternatives.

We already know what the solutions are. We just need

people, businesses and local authorities to ride with us

towards a better future.

Care to join? Follow our journey:

Commissioner Jos Sluijsmans

Next year we really hope to welcome all of you in person at the live International

Coordination Karin Veenendaal

Cargo Bike Festival 2022. Stay tuned via our website and social media for updates

about the venue and dates. We’re already working on making it the best

Editor Tom Parr

Design Avancé Communicatie

edition yet.

Print Zalsman

For now, enjoy the ICBF Magazine 2021!

Cover photo DOCKR

Jos Sluijsmans

www.cargobikefestival.com

Director of the International Cargo Bike Festival

@cargobikefest

#DecadeoftheCargoBike

CONTENTS

4 Interview with Jos Sluijsmans & Tom Parr

24 Dutch framework for Light Electric Vehicles

8 Curbing Traffic - Melissa & Chris Bruntlett

27 Bixicargo Ecuador - David Alcivar

10 Wait, Mr Postman - Hivebox

28 Recicleta Romania - Gabriela Iordan

11 Cargo bikes in Edinburgh - Kim Harding

29 Cargo bikes in the picture

12 Getting to Zero - Sam Starr

30 In the making CargoBEIC

13 Our Greenway - Darnel Harris

31 Hydrocargo Bike - Frank Mietes

14 Decade of the Cargo Bike Rap - Abdominal

32 Because your cargo matters! - Hivebox

16 In retrospect: ‘Go Electric’ research project

33 Groningen: Cargo Bike Capital

18 Johanneke Heijting, portrait of a female gardener

34 Velo-city Conference 2021

19 CycleSpark - Christiaan Suurmeijer

36 Cargo bikes in perspective - Irfan Iskender

20 Roadside Recovery - by Cargo Bike

38 Cargo bike emoji - David Majarich

23 Bike2Clean - Luuk Eickmans

2 THE ICBF MAGAZINE 2021

3

“THERE ARE

EXCITING AND

INSPIRING

INITIATIVES

ALL AROUND

THE WORLD”

JOS SLUIJSMANS AND TOM PARR LOOK

BACK ON A TUMULTUOUS PERIOD AND

SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE

There’s no avoiding the subject; 2020 will forever be the year when COVID-19 paralysed our way

of life. And of course it also had a big impact on the cargo bike industry. But not all in a bad way,

according to Jos and Tom. To their surprise it also acted as an accelerator for many promising

new developments.

How do the two look back on this past period? “At first we

were in shock”, explains Jos. “Things really escalated with

the pandemic just one month before ICBF 2020. It – like

so many other events – had to be cancelled. Pretty much

everything was set up and ready to go, so we really had to

pick ourselves up.” And so they did. Tom: “In retrospect

we adapted pretty well. We organised a digital ‘Cargo Bike

Meetup’ event and produced the 2020 ICBF Magazine,

which reached a significant audience. We also intensified

our social media output. We now have over 16000 followers

- there’s a lot of really great engagement there.”

New initiatives

Jos continues: “The ICBF is partnering with the Velo-city

Conference 2021 in Lisbon. We will be present with the

Dutch Cycling Embassy and will participate in several

sessions in the programme. In November we will be

participating at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow,

presenting research on the emissions of light electric

vehicles.”

On top of this, they’ve also found the energy to start two

new initiatives. Jos: “Since we could not hold physical

events in 2020 or 2021 we started searching for an alternative.

What could we offer to the cargo bike community

and industry in these strange and troubling times?” The

idea of a permanent centre was born. CargoBEIC: the

Cargo Bike Expertise and Innovation Centre *. Tom: “We are

still developing the idea. Our aim is to have a permanent

physical space as well as a digital hot spot for the cargo

bike industry. There are many interested parties, and we’re

working on funding and venues.”

Jos adds: “The funny thing is, there is a group in Canada

with the same plans. So perhaps they’ll beat us to it.”

Laughs: “No, not frustrating at all. We would love to help

and it just shows that we are on the right track. People are

ready for it.” Another initiative is a lobby organisation

specifically for the cargo bike industry. “There are many

lobby groups for cycling in general but none specific to

cargo bikes. We feel the need to demonstrate the added

value of our industry to policy makers” Tom continues:

“But also, for example, to get people thinking about new

upcoming traffic regulations which will have an impact on

the usage of cargo bikes.”

Creating home grown, local industries

According to Jos and Tom the momentum is building and

potential is growing. They are astonished and pleasantly

surprised by the many new initiatives and projects popping

up all over the world. Tom: “It’s almost impossible to keep

up with all these developments. Even Macclesfield, my

home town, has a cargo bike delivery business. How great

CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

Most of you know Jos Sluijsmans as the founding father

and Director of the International Cargo Bike Festival

(ICBF). Tom Parr, his right-hand man, became actively

involved with the ICBF in 2019 when the annual festival

took place in Groningen. Before we dive into more pressing

matters, a small introduction of Tom is in order for those

who have not met him yet.

Tom: “I grew up in Macclesfield, a small town near

Manchester in northern England. Back in 2016, after

spending time living in London and Australia, I took a leap

of faith and took a boat to the Netherlands. I’ve never

looked back; I really like the way of life over here. The

cycling infrastructure is great. You don’t have to worry

about being knocked off your bike. Cycling is embedded in

the culture - it’s just normal. So normal, most Dutch don’t

realise how special it is compared to elsewhere.”

From shock to recovery

Tom and Jos met during a summer course on ‘Planning

the Cycling City’. Jos was taking part in an event on the

sidelines and they hit it off. In 2018 they started working

together for the first time. Now Tom is co-organiser of

the ICBF and in charge of the social media channels,

communications and registrations. Jos: “We really work

well together. Tom strives for perfection where I am more

the guy of the broad brush strokes. And not unimportantly:

he’s a very pleasant person to have around.”

‘We feel the urge to tell and show policy

makers the added value of our industry’

4

THE ICBF MAGAZINE 2021

5

is that! And we also root for any initiative outside

of Europe. For developing countries in particular,

cargo bikes can be a game-changer. It would be

great if we could stimulate home grown, local cargo

bike industries and ecosystems in places like that.”

Jos: “It’s high time to scale up. And luckily it’s

happening. You see more and more cargo bikes

being used, for example in service logistics. So, to

carry out services rather than transport things.

This is something we did not foresee a few years

ago, but it’s great because these developments

stimulate changes in the design of our cities. We

need to rethink how cities are planned, find ways to

diminish the dominance of cars and make way for

more sustainable ways of transport. I hope cargo

bike containerisation – which we have been talking

about for years – will also make this jump forward.

The sooner the better.”

Essentially priceless values

It’s obvious. Their love of the cargo bike and it’s

many, many possibilities hasn’t faltered. Jos:

“Sometimes it frustrates me that people - or rather

politicians - still don’t see the full potential. They

just look at it in terms of revenue. But there are over

30000 people employed in the bicycle industry in

the Netherlands. And there are other values. Values

which are hard to put a price tag on, but are

essentially priceless: health benefits, noise

reduction, cleaner cities, social cohesion.”

Tom: “Sometimes we are so caught up in all the

exciting developments that we almost lose track of

why we started. It comes from a deeply felt wish for

a better, greener, healthier world.” Jos concludes:

“It’s very promising that we’ve received requests

from various cities for the ICBF to be held there. It’s

also encouraging that, for the first time, Velo-City in

Lisbon will pay serious attention to the usages and

advantages of cargo bikes. It’s hopeful and that’s

what keeps us going!”

Text and photos: Karin Veenendaal

* SEE PAGE 30 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CARGOBEIC

‘It comes from a deeply felt

wish for a better, greener,

healthier world’

DRIVE CHANGE /

Introducing: The Family Anniversary.

Our new cargo bike made in honour

of our 10th anniversary: A decade of

cargo bikes.

6 THE INTERNATIONAL ICBF MAGAZINE CARGO 2021 BIKE FESTIVAL 2021

7

urbanarrow.com/10

THE ACCESSIBLE CITY

“PEOPLE AREN’T DISABLED. THE ENVIRONMENT THEY LIVE IN IS.” – KAREL DOLLEKENS

Move freely and independently

So, when we traveled to the Netherlands for the first time

and saw how this fietsparadijs (‘bicycle paradise’) was also

allowing people with handcycles, tricycles, tandems, and a

variety of other adapted devices to move freely and independently,

we were amazed. What was built to make cycling

easier was also making life easier for those historically

underserved in the transport world. Our hometown of Delft

is no exception. On every outing, we see people of all ability

levels walking, scooting, and cycling along the fietspaden

(‘bicycle paths’) and fietsstraten (‘bicycle streets’).

Inclusive and welcoming streets

When it comes to building more inclusive and welcoming

streets, what exactly sets the Netherlands apart? What

explains the empowering and emancipating conditions

people with disabilities enjoy? The secret lies not in a

specific piece of legislation, but with a single book: the

CROW Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic; widely regarded

8

In Curbing Traffic: The Human Case for Fewer Cars in Our Lives, Melissa and Chris

Bruntlett chronicle their experience living in the Netherlands and the benefits that

result from treating cars as visitors rather than owners of the road.

Over many years of advocacy work, we’ve witnessed the Disabled and non-disabled

role the humble bicycle can play in granting autonomy to Although we are lucky enough to consider ourselves

virtually everyone, starting at the earliest age; from watching

‘non-disabled’, we are acutely aware that like everyone,

our own children grow up on two wheels, to seeing we are ‘temporarily abled-bodied’; likely to experience

countless cities around us evolve to get more people

disability at some point over our lives (something that

riding more often. A central goal for many of these cities will only become more prevalent; given increasing elderly

developing networks of infrastructure is that it be for ‘all populations). We have also had countless conversations

ages and abilities’. But the reality on streets and in public with people living with chronic illnesses that vary, such as

spaces often falls short of that goal. High curb heights, insufficient

rheumatoid arthritis, helping us to appreciate that disabled

curb cuts, narrow sidewalks and bike lanes, and and non-disabled people are not two entirely distinct and

a lack of storage facilities let people down, especially those fixed groups. We saw firsthand that many cities needed to

living with physical disabilities.

be better to help these people – and eventually ourselves –

maintain their independent mobility.


as the best bikeway engineering guide in the world. But it

is much more than that. It ensures networks of active travel

infrastructure can be accessed by the greatest number

and diversity of participants, through design and proximity,

making them inclusive and intuitive for everyone. It

contains specific requirements about physical segregation,

cycle track width, and gradient steepness. Like the

abundant curb cuts, ramps, and pedestrian bridges that

double as cycling bridges (and therefore lack stairs) seen

across every Dutch city, these are the unexpected benefits

of orientating your built environment around the bicycle.

Cities that work for cycling also work for people using

wheelchairs, strollers, rollators, and many other types of

mobility devices.

From Curbing Traffic: The Human Case for Fewer Cars in

Our Lives by Melissa Bruntlett and Chris Bruntlett.

Copyright © 2021 and photos by Melissa Bruntlett and

Chris Bruntlett. Reproduced by permission of Island Press,

Washington, D.C.

9

- ADVERTORIAL -

CARGO BIKES IN EDINBURGH:

WAIT, MR

POSTMAN,

LOOK AND SEE

A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

We asked Kim Harding, founder and director of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling, to share his thoughts

on the latest developments in Edinburgh, Scotland. His account is very relatable. For example,

he recognises the unforeseen positive effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on sustainable transport

and the arrival of new last-mile cargo bike operators.

As a long time observer of cargo bikes, I can say that ten or

unreliable home built bike with two Riese & Müller Packers.

more years ago, if you saw a cargo bike in Edinburgh, it was

The Brazilian cargo trike has been replaced with an

German manufacturer VSC.Bike makes cargo bikes for mail carriers. And they

a novelty. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying there weren’t

any; they were just very rare. There was/is a Brazilian street

Urban Arrow XL. The original cargo bike courier is no longer

in business, but new last-mile cargo bike operators have

need to meet high demands: the cargo bikes and their transport boxes need to

be sturdy, weatherproof and ergonomically designed. A piece of cake for VSC.

food stall near the city centre that used a cargo trike. There

was/is a soup cafe delivering with a home-built e-assist

cargo bike.

arrived on the scene.

Stimulated by the pandemic

Bike, thanks to the Hivebox.

The first couriers and family bikes

Recent opportunities to promote cargo bike use in the city

have included the extension of a tram-line in Leith, which

Around 2010 the first cargo bike cycle courier with a Larry

involved major road closures. Sustainable transport charity

Using the VSC cargo bike with the

Bergmann GmbH specifically for

vs. Harry Bullitt arrived. Family cargo bikes also existed;

Sustrans has also provided a cargo bike library to show

Hivebox to deliver letters is ideal for

mail carriers. The super light and yet

mail deliveries. And not only is the

box light, durable and weatherproof.

Hivebox product lines

there was a single wooden bakfiets (cargo bike) and Nihola

trike, but these seemed to be the only ones in the city.

businesses what is possible. The pandemic also stimulated

cargo bike use; a couple of charities started using them

extremely stable Hivebox lends itself

Thanks to the sturdy walls and the

SOLO:

For mail carriers, made

In 2013 things started to change with the arrival of the

to deliver waste food from supermarkets to those in need.

perfectly for all practical purposes.

integrated lock on the box, the

entirely from lightweight

first Urban Arrow family cargo bike. Why was this such a

Once again a demonstration that cargo bikes can carry as

As a very satisfied user of VSC bikes,

contents are also protected against

panels

game-changer? Simple: the topography of Edinburgh; it’s

much as a van with much lower running costs.

the Deutsche Post can attest to that.

theft.

CargoMax: For large loads, reinforced

not flat. You can’t go far without having to go up (or down)

When the huge postal company heard

with aluminum

hill. Without e-assist, this can be challenging. It was also

The days when, if you had told me that you had seen a cargo

about the innovative transport box,

The lightest of its kind

Tarp:

Incorporating truck

notable that this was a family bike.

bike in Edinburgh and whereabouts in the city it was, and

the first mass order was soon to

The Hivebox is made exclusively from

tarpaulin, e.g. for

I could have told you who was riding it, are now long gone.

follow. Today, hundreds of mail

a plastic honeycomb panel, which is

vegetable deliveries

Expanded range of services

The city is all the better for this.

carriers on bikes transport thousands

of letters through Germany with the

why it is so lightweight. The specially

developed hinges are extremely robust

VSC.Bike customers

Over the next few years, most cargo bike sales in the city

(and across Scotland) were family bikes, suggesting that

help of the VSC Hivebox.

and very light. And it is built to last:

Deutsche Post

this area has the greatest potential for growth. Most of

For individuals and families wanting to try out a cargo

“I will never part with

this box! I love it.”

Feedback from a Deutsche

Not only the exclusive hinge system,

but also the entire box has been tested

for durability based on automotive

industry specifications.

postcon

Österreichische Post

VW

these replaced a car, making sense in the urban environment

where most journeys are under 10km. Curiously,

businesses were much slower to take up cargo bikes; of

the pioneers mentioned above, the soup cafe replaced its

bike, the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling also provides

cargo bikes for hire - including for tourists!

https://edfoc.org.uk/cargo-bike-hire/

Post mail carrier

Tailor-made for special purposes

The Hivebox was developed by

carpenter’s workshop Bächer

All you need to know about the Hivebox:

www.hivebox.bike

info@hivebox.bike


11

GETTING TO ZERO-EMISSION URBAN LOGISTICS:

stakeholders, is a critical tool that all

municipalities and regional governments

them to the current state, infrastructure,

and culture of our cities will be the

right time. Public-Private collaboration,

coordination, and consolidation are all

THE NEED FOR PUBLIC & PRIVATE INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

should be leveraging.

Roadmap

key to the success of any Sustainable

Urban Logistics Plan & Strategy.

Enabling sustainable freight in our

critical to achieving zero-emission urban

freight in our cities.

There is a lot we can learn and many

cities will take a well-defined roadmap

The long road in developing and

Governments and the private sector are waking up to the idea that stimulating cargo bikes is a good idea. But how

best practices we can utilize from across

the globe to achieve sustainable

and strategy, optimizing existing infrastructure,

getting all the stakeholders at

enacting a smart zero-emissions freight,

and cyclelogistics heavy plan, must be

should they go about it? How do they avoid a logistics “Wild West” scenario? Vancouver, Canada-based Cycle Logistics

expert Sam S. Starr explores the next steps they urgently need to take together.

zero-emissions logistics in our cities in

the next 10 to 15 years. Leveraging the

right combination of tools and adapting

the table, and creating the right blend

of policy and incentives for people and

businesses in the right place and the

dramatically shortened. Climate change

will not wait.

The COVID-19 global pandemic

accelerated eCommerce, and increased

grocery deliveries, residential waste

needs, and instant deliveries by

restaurants primarily using third-party

delivery services. Many cities and

governments at all levels have struggled

to rein in urban logistics and set the

proper strategy and tactics for sustain-

ability and zero-emission cities.

If the public wants more sustainable,

livable cities, it will be sustainable

urban freight and maximizing cyclelogistics

that will be the key to getting us

there. Take the City of Montreal as one

example, which created a multi-carrier

hub through their COLIBRI project, and

the City of Vancouver following in their

footsteps. The project has proven, as

many other global pilots have, that one

delivery van can be replaced by one

cargo bike using a hub, and that we need

to expand these hubs across the cities

and activate ‘neighbourhood logistics’

with cyclelogistics.

Wild West

Broadly, municipalities need to look at

strategic models and solutions across

the globe that are being leveraged today,

to achieve a zero-emission goal as soon

as possible. If they do nothing, the cost

is huge and will result in a ‘Wild West’

scenario in the continuation of the

direction we are going today. The

Physical Internet multi-hub open-source

logistics network model is an

existing, proven solution that should be

an integral part of their vision to achieve

zero-emissions logistics.

As the world traverses the road to

COVID recovery, there is no better time

to strategize, develop, and implement

a plan to achieve zero-emission freight.

And, don’t let the excuse of harsh

winters be a deterrent. The COLIBRI

project, as well as many Scandinavian

projects, have already proven this not

to be the case.

Incentives for low-emissions

We can also look to France, where

the government has successively

incentivized cycling, electric bicycles,

and electric cargo bicycles. The large

existing low-emission zone (LEZ), and

soon to be zero-emission zone (ZEZ)

in central Paris is rapidly accelerating

adoption, reducing automotive usage,

and improving the quality of life for

many Parisians (Urban Access

Regulations EU). Furthermore, in

May 2021, the Government of France

announced a nationwide plan to

First, Last &

Only Mile

Middle Mile

Increased Distance

Increased Load Weight/Volume

Long Haul

promote cyclelogistics and incentive

small businesses. This is a step that

many other European countries are

likely to adapt soon, with zero-emission

goals in developed frameworks ready

to enact.

By implementing low- or zero-emission

zones, a network of connected and

eventually shared logistics hubs placed

in strategic locations, an open data

platform, and incentives for cycle-

logistics and collaboration between

global and local logistics partners, cities

can further lower logistics emissions.

A collaboratively designed and executed

plan will accelerate the adoption of

sustainable logistics methods across

cities, all while preventing the existing

“Wild West” scenario from imploding.

A stakeholder ‘covenant’ that aligns the

strategy and goals of the municipality

towards zero-emissions logistics with

specific actions and milestones from

Walking

Bicycles

Utility Cycles

Shared Public Transportation (Subways)

Mobile Hubs (Barges, Drop Trailers)

Electric Cars & Vans

Electric Heavy Duty Trucks

Heavy Duty Rail

Air Freight

Sustainable Logistics Transportation Pyramid for North America (Note: In other

countries where heavy-duty long-distance rail is electrified, heavy-duty rail would

swap positions with Electric heavy-duty trucks) (Source: Sam S. Starr)

Sam S. Starr, M.Eng., MEL, is a Sustainable Logistics Expert & Consultant from Vancouver, BC, Canada.

OUR GREENWAY KEEPING CARGO

CYCLES ROLLING IN CANADA

Started as a not-for-profit group in 2016, Our Greenway was founded in

Toronto, Canada on the belief that suburban equity-seeking communities

deserved the same access to safe streets, resilient infrastructure and cargo

cycles enjoyed by people downtown. Committed to transforming our cyclelogistics

vision to reality, we are also consultants, and work with both the

private and public sector.

Over the last five years we have delivered

our policy and regulatory expertise to

all levels of government, conducted research

and written reports for Transport

Canada and JalonMTL, ran pilots with

local commercial clients, and created

community programming to showcase

the potential of cyclelogistics to a North

American audience.

Transforming Toronto

Cargo cycles were identified early on

by community members as potential

mobility solutions - if we could get our

hands on them! In 2018, Darnel and the

Our Greenway team collaborated with

Melissa & Chris Bruntlett to run

Toronto’s 1st Cargo Bike Championships.

Intended to be a showcase for the

potential of cargo cycles to transform

Toronto, the exciting event drew over one

hundred and fifty participants, several

cargo cycle vendors and a documentary

team which covered the energetic scene.

While we planned to expand our in-

person events with a mix of family and

commercial programming, COVID-19

changed our focus toward eliminating

regulatory barriers, filling knowledge

gaps, and exploring ways to enable

companies, residents and decision

makers to see and use a diverse set of

cargo cycles in their own communities.

Policy, research and applied action

Reflecting on the multiple policy barriers

and knowledge gaps they had encountered

- such as actually finding commercial

and adaptive cargo cycles to showcase in

2018 - we embarked on a three pronged

approach - policy, research and applied

action. Our team are experts on all segments

of the cyclelogistics ecosystem,

from standards to systems to financing,

and we work closely with governments,

businesses and communities across

North America to strengthen the business

case for cargo cycles.

Working with our academic, civil society

and industry partners, including York University

and the Smart Freight Center, we

are pursuing new frontiers in cargo cycle

research, focusing on cargo cycle pilots,

value metrics, and social barriers to

usage by seniors, people of color and suburban

residents. Our policy and research

efforts are supported by our Cargo Cycle

Library - featuring a range of family and

commercial cargo cycles, including adaptive

cycles for our Cycling Without Age

program. This Library is being assembled

and expanded with the generous support

of Tern, Yuba, Curbside Cycle, Plug’n Drive

and the Ontario Government.

What is next for Our Greenway?

We have exciting news! We are expanding

our Cargo Bike Library into a Cargo Bike

Expertise & Innovation Centre, in partnership

with our existing academic and

not-for-profit partners and with the Cargo

Bike Expertise & Innovation Centre in The

Netherlands. We look forward to releasing

more info about this Centre as it becomes

available. The Centre will provide a testing

laboratory, exhibit space, and testing

and knowledge mobilization space to fuel

the growth and maturation of the cargo

cycle industry in North America in late

2021 and 2022.

12 THE ICBF MAGAZINE 2021 13

Darnel Harris

CHECK OUT THE DECADE

Together,

OF THE CARGO

BIKE RAP!

Convy + Chaser

We Deliver.

How about that?! A brand new track about cargo bikes

by the Canadian rapper Abdominal – Abs for short. We

absolutely love it. We recommend you check out the

Let’s give it

up for Abs!

Tailor-made cargo cycling solutions,

for a reliable delivery to make city logistics

cleaner, more efficient and more flexible.

video on YouTube because the lyrics are great - but

in the end they’re just words on the page. To feel

More about our portfolio at:

the vibe and get into the groove you have to hear

Centurion

and see Abs cruising the streets on a cargo bike!

CARGOCYCLING.COM

Previous visitors to the ICBF will already be well acquain-

of companies as diverse as

ted with Ron Vervuurt’s cargo bike songs. Some of you may

Fedex, Amazon, UPS and Hermes.

even have sung along in the past (we did!). This year we as-

No wonder then this cargo bike soliloquy,

ked rapper Abdominal (Andrew Bernstein) to write a song

about the Decade of the Cargo Bike - which we declared on

plus an ultra low emission form of mobility!

Hmm, do I sense some confusion?

Challenger

the eve of the 2020s. We fed Abs with a ton of information

That simply means they help in reducing air pollution,

and he succeeded brilliantly in pinpointing the essence of

consuming 94% less energy

why cargo bikes are the solution to so many problems.

than an e-van for the same delivery.

LYRICS

Listen to me, cargo bikes a no brainer,

especially when combined with universal containers

‘Cities, built for cars or for humans?

to form centralized, urban shipping hubs,

You’d like to think the latter, but that feels like an illusion

preconceived notions of city traffic, rip ‘em up,

sometimes, mainly due to the demands

and let’s reclaim the streets, for humans.

of urban logistics, but cargo bikes’ll fix this!

The solution? Cargo bike revolution!’

The 2020s, decade of the cargo bike,

compared to vehicles like vans and cars, so light

and nimble weaving through that downtown traffic,

CANADIAN COLLEAGUES

deliver your goods over that last mile faster

Abdominal is a rapper from Toronto, Canada. He’s one of

for multiple reasons,

the rappers associated with Event Rap, an initiative by

they can use bike lanes, take shortcuts and park easier

Baba Brinkman which co-funded the production of the

plus closer to the final destination

video clip. For the video shoot they borrowed a NRBI

compared to van drivers who, according to the data,

(pronounced ‘nearby’) cargo bike via Darnel Harris of

walk a third of the way of their average total distance,

Toronto-based mobility organisation Our Greenway.

so not only do they pollute, they’re inefficient.

And in the business of shipping, efficiency’s key.

Precisely why cargo bikes have been enlisted to fleets

https://youtu.be/yDNEVYG0dMU

Chariot


INSPIRING SUSTAINABLE

SERVICE LOGISTICS

A ‘learning community’ attached to Amsterdam

University of Applied Science (AUAS)’s ‘Go Electric’

research project inspires and challenges professionals,

researchers and students into thinking about

zero-emission service logistics. That is, the logistics

of carrying out services rather than, say, delivering

goods. Project Leader Susanne Balm tells us more.

One of the most important factors in the success

(or failure) of zero-emission transport in service

logistics is cooperation. Within the entire chain, and

beyond. For this reason, and as a follow-up to the

recently completed ‘Go Electric’ research project,

AUAS started a ‘learning community’ in February

2021, in which professionals, students and lecturerresearchers

frequently share knowledge about

zero-emission service logistics. ‘You don’t have to

keep reinventing the wheel; we’ve been seeing the

same issues and problems for years’.

While manufacturer Easy Go

Electric wants to redesign the passenger

version of their light electric

vehicle (LEV) iYYo Ev1 to carry cargo,

wholesaler Technische Unie is working

on the question of how it can sustainably

supply their customers in 44

Dutch cities. Both companies have

enlisted the help of community members:

AUAS students and researchers,

and professionals from the field.

During the knowledge sessions, they

share their findings, results and future

visions with both providers and users

within the service logistics sector.

To inspire, but also to pose important

questions. After all, all those present

are faced with the same task: from

2025, trucks and delivery vans in the

city centres of 30 to 40 Dutch municipalities

must be emission-free.

Easy Go Electric designs LEVs for

service companies

The use of LEVs as an alternative to

diesel vans in city centres is one of

the solutions and challenges for

zero-emission service logistics; on

this, the community members agree.

How this is to be designed and

organised is a practical issue that

both providers and users have to

deal with. They state that service

mechanics who currently use cargo

bikes as a sustainable alternative

would like to avoid getting wet,

steer clear of the hustle and bustle

of the city and occasionally need to

transport large items that do not

always fit into a cargo bike.

Logistics students from AUAS set

to work for Easy Go Electric on a

new design for the compact

passenger version of the iYYo Ev1

from LEV provider Easy Go Electric,

so that it can also be used as a cargo

vehicle.

In the students’ design, the LEV is

extended at the rear to make room

for a standard loading cube in which

service engineers can carry tools

and parts. The design is an efficient

and cost-reducing solution and

extremely suitable for service

companies, among others, says

Bob Kranenburg, principal of Easy

Go Electric: “It offers an intermediate

solution for mechanics who want to

stay dry and at the same time are

looking for an easily manoeuvrable

vehicle for use in the city”.

“You don’t have to keep reinventing

the wheel; we’ve been seeing the

same issues and problems for years.”

Technische Unie aims for sustainable deliveries

process over 30 shipments per day - more than expected.

Another issue among the community members is sustainable

inner-city deliveries by wholesalers. Technische Unie especially the reach and transport of larger shipments

In Utrecht, a pilot with an LEV was also conducted, in which

commissioned a logistics graduate student at AUAS, to and lengths (tubes) proved to be a challenge. For the pilot

work on this issue for their customers in 44 Dutch cities. in Leiden, a collaboration was set up with CityHub, a city

Three alternatives were investigated: 1) electric trucks, logistics company. It appears that the cooperation works

2) smaller (electric) vehicles (LEV and cargo bike), and 3) well, and that customers have a preference for a small

deliveries via the hub of a city logistics company. Freek group of deliverers - they like to see familiar faces.

examined per city what volumes go into the city. A model

was developed which took into account volume, weights, This provides valuable information for other users in cities.

distances between stops and the presence of a Technische The knowledge session showed that urban logistics parties

Unie location, in order to be able to advise on the most can and must work together and that using the same ICT

suitable modality or cooperation for each city.

platform makes upscaling possible. The advantage of this

is that companies that operate in multiple Dutch cities

Initial pilots in Utrecht and Leiden show that cycle couriers

in Utrecht have a shorter stopping time than an

different local city logistics operator they use.

do not have to make different ICT connections with every

employee with a conventional truck. Bicycle couriers can

Leaning community members

Easy Go Electric, Arval, Fiestdiensten.nl, DOCKR,

Fleet Complete, Mego Mobility, BluekensEV, Cenex

Group, Forty, Royal HaskoningDHV, Trens Solar

Trains BV, Unica, Pantar, Breman, Eltag, ENGIE,

Voskamp Group, Technische Unie and Hemubo,

Techniek Nederland and Gemeente Amsterdam.

Photo: Urban Arrow

Would you also like to be part of future learning communities? Then contact Susanne Balm (s.h.balm@hva.nl). The

AUAS learning community organises a question-and-inspiration time every two weeks. This online meeting takes place

in Dutch, and is open to interested parties from the field of business, research and education. The community connects

companies to AUAS students (Logistics, Mobility, Engineering, Business Administration) and offers students

extra support in their research.


17

A FEMALE ORGANIC GARDENER

ON A CARGO BIKE

Dutch landscape gardener Johanneke Heijting cycles around

the city of Nijmegen on her specially designed, hand made

gardening bike. Not just in summertime, but all year round.

She designs gardens, creates planting plans and carries out

a lot of garden maintenance. Yet another great example of

how bikes can be used to transport cargo.

“I originally trained as an actress and was living in

Amsterdam. At some point I wanted a time out and took

off to Scotland where I ended up in a small community.

Here I was in charge of the communal kitchen garden.

This was a turning point. My love of gardening grew, so

I went to study it in England where I also later got my

first paid gardening assignment.”

Loading rack and trailer

After some years Johanneke returned to the Netherlands

and took over her brother’s gardening company. “He had said

goodbye to his van and worked with a specially designed

bike and hand-made trailer, which I liked very much. At the

front, there is a box with space for two 36V batteries.

There is also a long loading rack and a bicycle trailer hitch.

The trailer was designed based on the things that are carried

every day. The box measures about 160 by 60 centimetres

and can carry a lot.”

Business card

And by a lot she means: a folding ladder and a smaller ladder,

a spade, pitchfork, garden rake, grass rake and a broom.

Furthermore, two branch cutters, various cordless tools. Plus

a bag full of hand tools, buckets and large bags for collecting

bulky green waste. Johanneke: “If necessary, you can also

use straps to place materials on top of the box. An incidental

advantage is that this arrangement stands out and therefore

acts as a great business card.”

Resourcefulness

Does she miss a car or van? Not at all. “I’m used to doing

everything by bike or public transport. You become more

and more resourceful when it comes to transporting things

around. The only thing I sometimes miss in bad weather is

a dry place to have lunch. And if you have a lot of pruning

waste or I need to buy lots of plants, there’s no getting away

from hiring a van.”

No brainer

According to Johanneke anyone can ride this setup. “The

cycling itself is easy, but you have to get used to it, because

you are bigger and more cumbersome than on a normal bike.

Sometimes, there are moments when you have to jostle for

space in order to manoeuvre through the traffic properly and

safely. For example, when you want to get into the left-hand

lane and you have to pull out in front of cars.” For Johanneke

it’s a no brainer: all gardeners should swap the company van

for a cargo bike. “It’s healthy, silent, flexible, big enough and

the maintenance is very easy: just make sure it’s parked in

a dry place - the box is made of plywood.”

Johanneke was interviewed as part of the Amsterdam

University of Applied Science’s ‘Go Electric’

project, of which the International Cargo Bike

Festival was a participant. Find out more on page 16.

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which ones don’t. Choosing the right cargo bike to fit your

business can be a hassle... We’re here to help!

We’ve learnt about how to carry heavy payloads and large

volumes on cargo bikes. We’ve learnt which bike is most

suitable for which specific user group. We have seen

that cargo bikes can play a broader role in circular city

logistics and not only in e-commerce business. And we’ve

also experienced that the drivers themselves are crucial.

They are the ones that need to feel good about the

vehicle. Happy drivers are a catalyst for cycle logistics.

They drive the vehicle every day. There are also different

types of drivers. Some don’t need protection from sun or

rain; they just want to be in the open air. Others do like

weather protection, or a strong pedal assist.

All weather cargo bike

Weather protection has been high on the priority list

for a number of pioneering companies. For this we now

have found a solution: we’ve introduced a cargo bike with

a rain and/or sun protection roof. We tested this new

solution and seen that it can provide benefits to service

and maintenance fleets. For example, service engineers

understandably do not like arriving soaking wet at their

customer’s location. We tested the CBXL1-CK and the

driver really did stay dry. No more hassle putting on and

taking off your waterproof trousers.

Carefree cycling

Drivers hold the power

in their hands

CycleSpark aims to enable anybody to use cargo bikes to

build up a sustainable business - because we know that that

is the fastest way to work towards zero emission and liveable

cities. We take care of the cargo bike, arrange the insurance

and make sure your cargo bike is always up and running. No

worries; so you can focus on your business. We have built up

a fleet of cargo bikes and will expand the fleet even more in

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Sparking a Revolution

Today, CycleSpark supports local food suppliers, city

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Let’s transform our cities into smart, circular cities. Circular

cities are cycling cities. Let’s bring it all back into balance.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

WWW.CYCLESPARK.COM


ROADSIDE RECOVERY -

BY CARGO BIKE

ANWB Wegenwacht is the largest provider of roadside assistance in the Netherlands. On 7 July 2020, the ANWB deployed a

cargo bike for roadside assistance in Nijmegen – a first for the city. How did this come about? ANWB roadside patroller Jan

van Raaij was interviewed as part of the Amsterdam University of Applied Science’s ‘Go Electric’ project. It’s a job Jan has

done for over 30 years, and, as he tells us, some customers are more than a little surprised - and even sceptical - to see

him turn up on a bike.

How did it all come about?

outside the city. They come to the depot in their patrol

The ANWB has been using cargo bikes for about five

vehicles and switch over to the cargo bike.

years in the four major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam,

The Hague and Utrecht. When I saw that, I thought: we And so you are on your bike all day.

can do that in Nijmegen too. Mobility in cities is a big

You don’t swap over halfway through the day?

problem; it is becoming increasingly difficult to get into If the weather conditions allow, I’m on my bike all day. Once

them with a car. I said, guys, I’d like to have a roadside

in a while it can be so bad that we are told to get off the bike

assistance bike like that too. Why don’t we do that?

and take the van, but if it rains a bit we just keep on riding.

There’s a reason we have rainwear, right?

And when it gets cold, will you be back in

a vehicle again?

When the bicycle was brought in, were there

Yes, the standard season for bicycle and motorbike patrols any changes to the area you had to cover?

is from 1st May to 1st November. After that, they are taken The cargo bike is only used in the city of Nijmegen; within

off the road due to weather conditions. Everyone on cargo the built-up area.

bike or motorbike duty also has a patrol vehicle.

And the action radius of the cargo bike?

So you have a bike and a car. Are they kept at home How long does a battery last?

or some other place?

It’s a challenge for us to ride on one battery for a whole

I live close to the depot, so I’m lucky enough to be able to day. We do carry a spare battery for emergencies. As a

ride there on my own bike. Three of my colleagues live

rule, I ride in eco mode. You have eco, tour, sport and turbo

An ANWB cargo biker (not Jan van Raaij) on patrol in Nijmegen. Photo credit: Tom Parr

modes. If you have to get going with a heavily loaded cargo The ANWB uses diesel vans, but are

bike, or if you have a headwind or have to get going and there plans to switch to electric?

speed up, then you set it to tour, sport or turbo. And when There are already some electric cars. I was recently given a

I get up to speed, I switch to eco.

new patrol vehicle that runs on natural gas, and that’s all in

the interests of the environment. We are always looking for

And the maintenance and repairs to the

ways to contribute: what are the options and is it workable?

cargo bike, do you do that yourself as well?

With electric cars, the question is whether they will last

No, because it’s a company bike. If we had to do that

a full day. It can’t just stop working halfway through the

ourselves, we would not be ready to work, and you couldn’t day. And there’s the cost issue, of course. But it is all being

work your shift. We have the maintenance of the bike done looked at. At Schiphol Airport, for example, we now have an

at Busybike (a local cargo bike specialist). We checked

electric car. It mainly deals with breakdowns at the airport

where the local Urban Arrow service centre was, and

itself, in the car parks.

he’s the dealer here. It’s going really well. We are techies

and we know at a certain point when something is wrong. And do people react positively to the cargo bike?

The cargo bike is always heavily loaded and is used every Yes, every day; today as well. People stand in the street,

day. Some parts suffer more, for example, I recently

a dead-end street, looking out for a van. They do that nine

replaced the brake pads myself because I could see that out of ten times. And then I ring my bell ‘ding ding’ and they

they were really worn out.

turn around: ‘On your bike?’ Yes, on my bike. Sometimes

they get a bit suspicious. Is this going to work?

Do you have any tips for service providers

The other day, I had a gentleman with an old fire engine

who also want to use a cargo bike?

that he had converted into a camper van. He had no more

Buy a decent cargo bike, make sure you buy something brake pressure and I saw him wondering: can he solve this?

good. Inflate the tyres, simple things like that. Take a bike On his bike? But I did solve it. That’s a great feeling.

with sufficient battery capacity and a strong motor.

Photo credit: Tom Parr

Do you ever miss anything?

You’ll come across something from time to time, but if

Jan van Raaij was interviewed by Jos Sluijsmans

there’s an item you notice you’re missing more than once,

as part of the Amsterdam University of Applied

you can always take it with you the next time.

Science’s “Go Electric” project. More on the

Do you find it easier to get to places by bike than by car?

“Go Electric” project on page 16.

Yes, especially in modern residential areas, on one-way

streets and dead ends. The latter are usually not applicable

to bicycles. Then you have bollards at the end, and I can

get past them on my bike.


21

LET US DO

THE HEAVY LIFTING

BIKE2CLEAN: FROM AFRICAN WASTE

TO PROFIT WITH A CARGO BIKE

Cargo bikes are helping to create employment opportunities In Uganda,

whilst contributing to a cleaner? It’s part of Bike2Clean, a remarkable

social enterprise led by the Cycling out of Poverty Foundation

(CooP-Africa) and carried out by a Ugandan youth group. Luuk Eickmans,

Executive Director of CooP-Africa, tells us more.

In the second half of 2021, the

youths will establish a closed-loop

recycling enterprise. They will collect

household waste, free of charge, with

custom-made cargo bicycles from

CooP-Africa. This waste (plastic and

organic waste) will be recycled into

profitable new products to sustain

the social enterprise and generate a

decent, fair income for the youths.

Addressing the challenge

Many countries face challenges with

waste management. Uganda addresses

this challenge by allowing garbage

collectors to operate to collect

household waste for a fee. Those who

can’t or don’t want to pay for waste

disposal often opt to burn their waste

for free. This ranges from light bulbs

and plastics to garden waste and food

scraps, and causes high levels of air

pollution, littering and public dump

sites. The Bike2Clean project aims to

close this gap and collect waste

which otherwise would be burned,

or dumped in rivers or public places.

CooP-Africa

The garbage is collected by cargo

bikes which were designed, produced

and are maintained by CooP-Africa,

in our Green Hub workshop in Jinja.

CooP-Africa builds upon experiences

from cargo bike production in Kisumu

(Kenya) and Koudougou (Burkina

Faso). The design is tailored to the

terrain, amount and type of waste

and distance to be covered. Bike-

2Clean is being launched in a suburb

of Jinja in Uganda, and based on the

lessons learned in this one community,

Bike2Clean could in future easily

be scaled up and rolled out to other

communities.

Recycling waste for decent living

The youth group collects the garbage,

sorting and cleaning the waste and

making new recycled products from

the various waste streams. The first

products include the fully recycled

plastic paving stones, plastic fence

posts, rich compost and animal feeds.

The recycled products are sold, again

(partly) by bicycle, and the objective

is that the profits must cover the

costs of running the social enterprise

and generate a decent living for the

employees. In addition, the youths

also educate the community about

waste management, environment and

health, as well as organising street

cleaning days.

Bikenterprises

This pilot project is part of CooP-

Africa’s Bikenterprises programme.

Under Bikenterprises we explore the

potential of small bicycle enterprises

in the bicycle or bicycle-related

industry by supporting start-ups with

(cargo)bicycles, and other custom

made bicycles, in combination with

providing start-up capital and capacity

building. The Bike2Clean project is

co-financed by Beixo (chainless bikes,

shaft driven).

BUILT TO TRANSPORT YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS CARGO

SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY

Stay tuned!

Want to keep up to date with how the Bike2Clean project is

going? Luuk Eickmans will be writing a monthly blog about it’s

progress on the ICBF website: www.cargobikefestival.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

WWW.COOP-AFRICA.ORG

You can also follow Coop-Africa

@coopafrica

@cyclingoutofpoverty

22 INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL NIJMEGEN

23

DUTCH FRAMEWORK

FOR LIGHT ELECTRIC

VEHICLES (LEVS)

IN THE MAKING

In July 2021, the Dutch Minister

of Infrastructure & Water

Management informed the House

of Representatives about a new

framework of regulations for

Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs).

Unlike bicycles, mopeds,

light-mopeds and speed pedelecs,

there are no European vehicle

regulations for LEVs.

In the Netherlands, an increasing variety of light vehicles

expects to be able to send this arrangement to the House

can be seen in the bike lanes and on the roads. These are

of Representatives at the beginning of next year (2022) at

mainly (electric) bicycles. There are around 23 million

the latest. The framework is expected to come into force

bicycles in the Netherlands, including 2 million e-bikes.

on 1 January 2023.

In addition, there are mopeds and light-mopeds

Impact analysis

of LEVs in order to gain more insight into market develop-

(1.5 million combined). More and more innovative LEVs

Four categories of LEVs

Engineering and consultancy firm Antea Group have been

ments. With an understanding of absolute numbers on the

are also coming onto the market, including cargo bikes in

In the LEV framework, a distinction is made between four

asked to make an inventory of the different types and mo-

road, it would be possible to better estimate which LEVs

various forms.

categories of LEVs:

dels of EVs that do not meet the requirements of the out-

would have a greater impact if the LEV framework were

• Category 1a; the e-(cargo) bike with full pedal support

line of the LEV framework. They looked at three aspects of

introduced in its current form.

A more focussed framework

lighter than 55 kg.

the requirements for admission to the road: the maximum

These new vehicles have the potential to contribute to

• Category 1b: all other LEVs under 55kg without pedal

dimensions (LxWxH), the permitted maximum mass and

The use of LEVs with trailers in current practice should

social goals such as accessibility, recreation, sustainability

assistance.

the maximum number of persons (driver plus passengers).

also be explored. There are various models of LEVs where

and road safety. But up till now LEVs may only be used on

• Category 2a: LEVs heavier than 55 kg intended for

In total, nine different types of LEVs have been distinguis-

the length of 3 metres is exceeded in combination with a

Dutch roads if they comply with the national regulations

freight transport, and;

hed, which includes 121 different models of LEVs.

trailer. Further research into the use and numbers of LEVs

for the designation of ‘special mopeds’. The Dutch Safety

• Category 2b: LEVs heavier than 55 kg intended for pas-

with trailers will provide a more complete picture of the

Board (OvV) has indicated that there is a need for a more

senger transport.

It is estimated that there are currently about 125,000

LEV market and further substantiatiate any future

focused framework for the different types of LEVs.

e-cargo bikes in the Netherlands. In addition, approximate-

regulation. A large number of imported LEVs are also on

They recommend investigating whether electric (cargo)

In addition, the LEV framework is divided into the method

ly 20,000 e-cargo bikes are sold in the Netherlands every

the road in the Netherlands, which is why it is advisable to

bicycles should also fall under a new national authorisation

of admission and supervision, requirements for admission

year. In the rest of Europe, there are approximately 175,000

conduct further research into this and to inform non-Dutch

framework.

to the road and requirements for use on the road. LEVs

to 200,000 e-cargo bikes on the road and the expected

manufacturers.

that will fall under the LEV framework are exempt from EU

growth is between 15% and 25% per year, depending on

Time to adapt

Regulation No. 168/2013. These are vehicles that currently

the region in Europe.

Finally, the Antea Group recommends periodic and

The aim of the new framework is to ensure that LEVs that

have a national authorisation (for example as a ‘special

coordinated monitoring of developments in the LEV sector.

have been approved are technically safe and are used sa-

moped’), or which are exempt from admission (e-(cargo)

As a result of the impact analysis, Antea Group recom-

The LEV sector is undergoing rapid development, making it

fely within existing traffic. The user requirements will only

bicycles, e-tricycles), or vehicles that are currently not

mends reconsidering the provisional requirements with

increasingly important in the future to have access to joint

apply to LEVs that fall within this framework, are allowed

allowed on the road (for example, monowheels).

regard to the curb mass limit of 55kg and the maximum

and independent data. Such monitoring requires further

on the road under the current rules and are already driving

number of passengers in category 1a. Optionally, other

elaboration, ideally in collaboration with the sector.

around. Consumers can therefore continue to drive on the

ways of regulation can be explored for types of LEVs that

road with these LEVs with new rules for use. Manufacturers

do not comply with the LEV framework. For example,

and sellers will also be given time to adapt to the new LEV

a regulation that currently applies to ‘special mopeds’

framework.

A transitional arrangement will be drawn up for this in

consultation with the relevant stakeholders. The minister

can also be applied to special LEVs.

Insight into the numbers

In addition, further research should be conducted into

Link to the letter of the minister to

the House of Representatives,

including attachments (in Dutch):

the market and value chain (from supplier to distributor)

24


25

Elongation [%]

Chain Elongation

1,0%

0,9%

0,8%

0,7%

0,6%

Measurementpoint I-Evolve

0,5%

Measurementpoint I-RC

0,4%

0,3%

0,2%

0,1%

0,0%

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000

Rotations

UNTAPPED

POTENTIAL FOR

THE CARGO BIKE

IN THE ANDES

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to transfer power on both sides of the tooth, significantly

reducing frictional wear, and improving efficiency and

lifetime for Cargo e-bikes. Specifically:

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Cope with 30% higher loads under

peak tension

A 2018 visit to the ICBF in Berlin inspired David Alcivar of BixiCargo Ecuador.

But it also begged the question, when would cargo bikes come to his home

region; the Andes? He’s on a mission to make sure that happens.

ENDUO

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Today, Cargo e-bikes carry increasingly larger, heavier

loads driven by significantly more powerful motors. As a

result, current chains and belts are breaking as they are not

capable of withstanding these pressures.

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Get in touch

For a free pilot and more information, please

contact: Robert Wood, New Motion Labs

Email us: robert@newmotionlabs.com

Call us: +447947676170

We can serve you from our offices in

Germany and the UK

Back in 2018 I visited the International

Cargo Bike Festival for the first time, in

Berlin. Having insisted to my wife that

we should go, she supported me and,

together, we went. I had followed the

ICBF online, but being there is another

experience entirely - like arriving at

Disneyland for a kid.

It was so inspiring to see all of the

cargo bike innovations, initiatives,

applications, and industry partners,

and to participate in talks and demonstrations

on the front line. We

joined the cargo bike parade and saw

families, entrepreneurs and dreamers,

living intensely with great joy. For Latin

Americans, this still represents a utopia,

but as we watched the last cargo

bike disappear, we asked ourselves the

unavoidable question; when will we

have them in our Andean countries?

INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL NIJMEGEN 27

Rich history

What is a dream for many Latin

American cyclists was once a reality.

The concept of cargo bikes is not new

to our region. Photos from around

100 years ago show that there were

trikes on Ecuadorian city streets. In

1937 there was even a 12km long trike

race involving 100 riders. Although

the romanticism of this era has now

been lost, it can be recovered again; by

incorporating pragmatism, utilitarianism,

and adapting the evolution and

innovation that has occurred in some

European countries to our own reality.

The status quo

Even for those of us who have developed

a certain ability to handle cargo

bikes in Quito, it still feels unsafe on

the roads, and we are limited by insufficient

parking places. For most people

here, the cargo bike is something

totally new and perhaps even risky.

Changing this mentality is a challenge.

A number of startups have begun to

use cargo bikes, but there is no training

for operators. Manufacturers are

scarce and imports difficult, and our

current cargo tricycles are technically

basic in design. In Colombia, Mexico,

and Chile however, things are more

developed.

The use of cargo bikes in the Andes is

currently limited to those already

convinced. But the stars are aligning.

Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic,

the “15-minute city”, high fuel

prices and projects such as Solutions-

Plus are all combining to create a

favourable environment. An environment

in which, for example, cargo

bike prototypes can be generated,

or awareness campaigns waged

communicating their versatility, utility

and efficiency.

Untapped potential

Some say we’re not ready, that we’re

not Europe, but I think we have to take

steps, sustain them, apply them, hold

festivals, and learn from those who

have done it before. Many of their

strategies, actions and success stories

can be adapted to our situation.

The potential for cargo bikes in the

Andean region is huge. To realise

this potential across a wide range

of sectors, we need to generate and

consolidate a public-private-academic

ecosystem. Factors such as the

pandemic, climate crisis and the use of

public space all open up this potential

and present opportunities to promote

change. And so we dream of seeing

cargo bikes parade, which will make us

all children again.

CARGO-TRICYCLES IN BUCHAREST

PICK UP RECYCLABLE MATERIALS

RECICLETA is a green and social enterprise launched by ViitorPlus in

2009 that offers a service for the collection of recyclable materials

- by cargo bike. Since 2006, Romanian NGO ViitorPlus (FuturePlus)

has developed social entrepreneurship, environmental education,

volunteering and environmental infrastructure programs.

© Melissa & Chris Bruntlett

© Melissa & Chris Bruntlett © Melissa & Chris Bruntlett

CARGO BIKES IN

THE PICTURE

RECICLETA offers collection services for paper and card-

Triple pressure

board, plastic, aluminum foil, and cans for recycling. The

The main challenge is to ensure sustainability. This

collection service, only available in Bucharest, employs

difficult task is three-fold – referring not only to financial

many people from vulnerable groups. The business model

sustainability, but also to offering solutions for social

has received several awards in the past few years, including

and environmental challenges. These green and social

a grand prize in 2013 in the environment section of the

objectives also mean higher costs compared to other

Social Innovation Tournament, organised by the European

companies from the industry.

Investment Bank Institute. In 2020 they earned Gold status

in the Community Index for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Reduce – Reuse – Repair - Recycle

RECICLETA aims to act as a role model for public instituti-

A unique innovatie service

ons, adopt a complex model of education for both respon-

RECICLETA aims to serve mainly business clients - it’s

sible consumption (Reduce – Reuse – Repair - Recycle) and

easier to collect recyclable materials from them than from

transport to collect materials correctly and separately, to

households. In 2020 over 200 companies, 20 schools and

capitalise as much as possible through recycling. Providing

© Remco Kroeze


600 apartment blocks were clients. For schools and

green jobs is also important, increasing the quality of the

apartment blocks, the costs are covered throughout

environment and public space, proactively improving the

sponsorships or CSR programs.

quality of life in cities. Gabriela Iordan explains: “A holistic

and fair approach for municipalities is needed to solve the

The uniqueness of this

social enterprise is ensured

through green and social

innovation.

complex crisis we are facing as humanity - social, ecological

and economic.”

By the start of 2022, RECICLETA aims to have prevented

1 million kg of materials from reaching landfill, nature or

being incinerated. This was generated and separated by

over 70,000 of our environmentally conscious, educated

beneficiaries in Bucharest.

© URBAN ARROW

“Our service is unique and innovative in that we approach

the logistical principle of first-mile pick-up of small

quantities of recyclable materials”, explains Gabriela Iordan,

responsible for Customers and Communication at RECICLE-

TA. “We store these in style containers from where they

are collected by larger vehicles. In addition, the means of

transport we use are electric; the latest model of cargo-

tricycle being produced in Romania.”


www.recicleta.ro

www.viitorplus.ro


© Tom Parr

29

IN THE MAKING:

THE CARGO BIKE EXPERTISE

& INNOVATION CENTRE

The city of Arnhem is launching the Hydrocargo

bike: a hydrogen fuel cell powered cargo bike. It’s

main advantage? It can be fully refuelled with

hydrogen in just a few minutes, making changing

batteries and long charging times a thing of the

past. And it doubles the range of the cargo bike.

HYDROGEN:

A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE

FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

More and more European cities are switching to sustaina-

able to replace lithium batteries entirely.

The International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) has, in recent

ble city logistics in which cargo bikes are used for last mile

deliveries. However, in some cases the limited range of

The bike’s hydrogen cylinder is currently refuelled from larger

storage cylinders, but later this year tests will be carried

years, been the annual event where the professional cargo

bike community gets together to meet, inform and inspire

these bikes might be an issue. In the Dutch city of Arnhem,

cargo bike manufacturer Urban Arrow, local couriers ‘The

Green Riders’, the University of Applied Sciences Arnhem

out with special hydrogen filling stations. Naturally, safety is

a top priority. The cargo bike has been developed according

to European regulations for hydrogen-powered vehicles

each other. The corona crisis - festival cancellations in

both 2020 and 2021 - made us think again about possible

Nijmegen and consultants ‘All About Hydrogen’ have come

together to develop a solution: the Hydrocargo bike.

and uses only hydrogen certified parts. It also features an

extensive safety system, triggering an alarm and switching

to safe mode in the unlikely event of a leak occurring.

alternatives. How do we ensure the enormous potential of

the cargo bike is fulfilled? Here’s our idea...

Unlike conventional cargo bikes, the Hydrocargo bike is a

hybrid; powered by both batteries and renewable hydrogen.

A compact hydrogen range extender, which powers the

Other initiatives

This is not the only Hydrogen-powered cargo bike project

electric engine and charges the lithium battery, has been

in The Netherlands. Another hydrogen-powered cargo bike

We’ve noticed that there is a clear need to maintain

designed by the group. When using hydrogen, no CO 2

is

is already riding the streets of Groningen. And the Inter-

the momentum and energy we see at the ICBF throughout

released, only water vapour.

reg North-West European Fuel Cell Cargo Pedelecs Project

the rest of the year. This desire has been given an extra

- Exhibitors: manufacturers and other parties from the

(FCCP) aims to pilot the use of hydrogen fuel cell last-mile

boost by the corona crisis, as the ICBF could not be held

market who are interested in presenting their products

Field testing

delivery vehicles in seven cities across Europe from Q3

in either 2020 or 2021. For this reason, Fietsdiensten.nl,

or services at the CargoBEIC physical location (for more

The Netherlands - a true cycling country, is very flat

2021, including The Hague.

in partnership with social entrepreneurship agency

information, see the information on the reverse);

compared to the rest of Europe, but Arnhem is a hilly city.

Lentekracht, is launching the Cargo Bike Expertise &

- Knowledge, research and cooperation partners, including

By testing the Hydrocargo here, it’s possible to assess

Starting this summer, the prototype Hydrocargo will hit the

Innovation Centre (CargoBEIC).

manufacturers and users of cargo bikes, plus knowledge

whether the hybrid hydrogen concept might be suitable for

streets of Arnhem, delivering packages to customers. And

and educational institutions and local governments that

use elsewhere. “We want to show that hydrogen can be a

if the Arnhem field test proves to be a success, Hydrocargo

Picture this!

want to join us in projects under the CargoBEIC umbrella

serious sustainable alternative for powering cargo bikes”,

will be deployed in more Dutch cities in the near future. In

A centre where the cargo bike industry can share knowledge

to further develop the successful use of cargo bikes in our

says Frank Mietes of ‘All About Hydrogen’.

this way, more packages can be delivered sustainably and

and promote their products and services. A structure in

cities;

the general public can become familiar with some of the

which research and knowledge about cargo bikes and their

- Investors and other financiers who can contribute in the

Of course, it would also be possible to simply add a se-

sustainable possibilities that hydrogen has to offer.

use comes together and is shared. We think a centre like

start-up phase (eventually CargoBEIC will be financially

cond battery. But by building a prototype the group gained

this can fulfil a meaningful addition to existing initiatives.

self-sufficient).

practical experience on this new hydrogen technology. And

Frank Mietes

We’re aiming to establish CargoBEIC in both physical and

perhaps one day sustainable hydrogen technology will be

Alles Over Waterstof (All About Hydrogen)

virtual locations. The physical location will take the form of

Partnerships

a permanent exhibition, where players from the cargo bike

We’ve already carried out a lot of research and held discussi-

industry can display their products, services and ideas.

ons with numerous potential partners. Many companies and

In addition, the centre will facilitate the organisation of

organisations have already expressed their interest.

meetings and the testing of cargo bikes. CargoBEIC’s virtual

component will provide the cargo bike community with an

online presence through a social media community, website,

knowledge base and, in time, an online exhibition.

Join us!

CargoBEIC is currently still in development. To take the

To name a few: VeloMotive, labour development company

Scalabor, the HAN University of Applied Sciences, the

Multiple Value Creation Center and the LEV Knowledge

Centre. These are all Dutch initiatives, but of course we are

also keen to embark on international collaborations.

So if you are interested in the CargoBEIC concept and think

you can play a role in its further development, please contact

Changing batteries

and long charging

times are history

concept to the next level, we are specifically looking for the

us: Jos Sluijsmans, Fietsdiensten.nl: jos@fietsdiensten.nl

following:

Bram Lamberts, Lentekracht: bram@lentekracht.com

30


31

- ADVERTORIAL -

BECAUSE YOUR CARGO MATTERS!

Cargo bike expert Citkar uses the versatile Hivebox for their Loadster model. The Pedelec and

GRONINGEN -

CARGO BIKE CAPITAL

the Hivebox complement each other perfectly for urban delivery service. Hiveboxes are light and sturdy

boxes used in cycle logistics. These clever boxes made in Europe can be fitted to all cargo bikes.

How will we supply the city of the future? The Dutch city of Groningen considers

The Loadster cargo bike from Berlin-based cargo bike manufacturer

Citkar combines the comfort and safety of a car

with state-of-the-art e-bike technology. The Loadster is slim

enough for bike paths while protecting both cargo and rider

from all types of weather. It offers freedom without traffic

jams or fuel costs.

When carpenters and cyclists unite

The clever design of the Hivebox is what you get when

innovative free-thinkers, manufacturers and designers put

their heads together. The carpenter’s workshop Bächer

Bergmann GmbH is the driving force behind envisioning,

constructing and manufacturing the box. This is where the

indestructible lightweight box is made, both with modern

CNC technology and by hand.

The Cologne-based workshop can also offer the box as a

customised mass product in almost all sizes. You can even

choose attractive enhancements: A side door, adjustable

shelves or special attachments for securing the load can all

be added on demand.

Exclusive lightweight plastic boxes

The boxes are well-conceived: the thin but durable walls of

the Hivebox are easily recyclable honeycomb panels with

a built-in ventilation grille. The corners and edges are protected,

which ensures durability, and the sturdy doors are

forgiving towards couriers in a hurry, who may occasionally

slam them. Only the Hivebox is that light and sturdy.

Made for

+ Pharmacies

+ Vegetable deliveries

+ Courier, express and

parcel services

+ …and many more

Hooray!

Here comes

the Hivebox!

the role that cargo bikes will play in urban logistics as one of great potential,

which makes a considerable contribution to a more liveable environment.

The Municipality of Groningen is working on a future-proof and accessible city centre

that invites you to walk and cycle in an environment with as few obstacles as possible.

Obviously, a lively inner city cannot do without supplies, but they think it should be

organised in a cleaner, smarter way. That’s why Groningen’s new urban logistics policy

paves the way for zero-emission logistics in 2025, a larger zone with time windows and

a new system for exemptions. These new measures are also specifically designed to

stimulate the use of cargo bikes.

Still a lot to gain

There is already an incredible amount of cycling in Groningen: some even say it’s the

cycling capital of the world. In terms of individual transport, the bicycle is undisputedly

number one in Groningen, but when it comes to transporting goods, a lot of progress

still needs to be made. The city’s next goal is to become a cargo bike capital by optimising

cycle logistics in order to replace as many vans as possible with cargo bikes.

In order to reach its goals, the municipality participates in several national and international

projects such as: “Warenhuis Groningen” in which 200 local shops participate;

Surflogh Interreg, which was just extended into 2023; ULaaDS, Urban Logistics as an

on-Demand Service; StadLogistiek Groningen; Hive.Mobility, the Innovation Center for

Smart and Green Mobility, The Cargo Bike Talks series and the ‘Cargobikathon’ innovation

competition. Groningen was also the host city for a memorable International Cargo

Bike Festival and Conference in 2019.

Check out the urban

logistics projects

Groningen is

involved in here:

warenhuis.groningen.nl

northsearegion.eu/surflogh

ulaads.eu

stadlogistiek.nl

hivemobility.nl/en/

logistieknoord.nl/cargobiketalks

cargobikathon.nl

All you need to know about the Hivebox:

www.hivebox.bike

info@hivebox.bike


33

HOW CARGO BIKES ARE CONQUERING

THE STREETS OF LISBON

The 2021 edition of Velo-city, the world’s largest cycling conference, is set

to take place as a hybrid online and in-person event in Lisbon, Portugal from

6-9 September 2021. The conference will celebrate #CycleDiversity and the

many different shapes, forms and uses of bicycles, including, of course,

THE VELO-CITY 2021

HOST CITY CELEBRATES

cargo bikes. For four days, the cycling community will turn its gaze to the

host city, Lisbon. In the last few years the so-called city of seven hills has

#CYCLEDIVERSITY

shown great dedication to becoming a cycling-friendly environment, and an

exciting cargo bike movement is also in the making.

4. Infrastructure: The Lisbon municipality

is constantly increasing its

cycle path network and bicycle

Lisbon’s emerging cargo bike

Federation. “The high purchase price,

2020, 25 families tried a cargo bike

parking facilities. The short term

Cyclists’ Federation in collaboration

+ E-commerce Boom: Cargo Bikes

culture

the lack of parking, theft insurance

for at least a month, and five ended

on-street parking network tri-

with the City of Lisbon and Empresa

to the Rescue – September 9,

Last year, the City Council of Lisbon

and proper infrastructure are all bar-

up purchasing one after the experi-

pled in the last 2.5 years, while a

Municipal de Mobilidade e Estaciona-

10:15-11:15, Room 3. This session

released its strategic mobility vision

riers for the inhabitants of Lisbon to

ment.

long-term bicycle parking network

mento de Lisboa (EMEL). The four-day

will turn the spotlight on how cargo

for 2030, MOVE Lisboa, reaffirming

take the plunge.”

3. Green procurement: The Lisbon

is currently being developed. De-

conference offers a rich programme,

bikes offer a solution to the

its commitment to renew Lisbon’s

municipality leads by example with

signed to welcome cargo bikes, it’s

featuring more than 200 speakers

drawbacks and bottlenecks of

transport options. Back in 2001 Lisbon

With notable success, the municipa-

its own fleet:

also sheltered, closed and guarded.

across over 50 different sessions. An

traditional logistic models.

inaugurated its first 3km of bike lanes.

lity is now on a mission to boost this

+ Eight cargo bikes: loaned to families

5. Communications: Cargo bikers are

exhibition, technical visits exploring

Now, the city is working towards

young movement and to break down

or put at the service of the municip-

encouraged to post pictures using

Lisbon’s cycling infrastructure, a bike

Velo-city 2021 Lisboa tickets

reaching 200 kilometres of bike lanes,

the barriers that keep people from

ality in projects such as “Comboios

the hashtags #CCCBLisboa, #Cy-

parade and a variety of side events will

Velo-city 2021 Lisboa offers stan-

aiming to give 93% of the populati-

riding cargo bikes. As part of the

de bicicleta” (bike trains to school)

clelogistics and #CML on social

accompany the programme.

dard, ambassador, group and one-day

on access to a cycle lane within 300

European City Changer Cargo Bike

or SELIM (repair and exchange of

media.

tickets. The Velo-city team is also

metres of their home. And a few years

(CCCB) project, they have been

used bikes). During the COVID-19

Cargo bikes at Velo-city 2021 Lisboa

committed to making the conferen-

ago, Lisbon Municipality started to tap

implementing various measures to

pandemic, they were also used to

Cargo bikes make everyday life easier,

Velo-city 2021 Lisboa has two sessions

ce available to as many people as

into the potential of cargo bikes.

stimulate their use:

deliver goods to the elderly.

more efficient and fun! But they need

dedicated to cargo bikes:

possible by offering discounted tickets

+ One electric bicycle trailer: used at a

the right environment to thrive in.

+ Exploring the Endless Potential of

to students and participants from

“Lisbon doesn’t have a long history

1. Subsidy schemes: In 2020, Lisbon

local farmers market to raise aware-

There are a lot of ways for municipa-

Cargo Bikes – September 7,

developing countries. Those who are

with cargo bikes. It’s only during the

introduced a €3 million bicycle

ness about micro-logistics.

lities to introduce and support cargo

11:00-12:00, Room 1. Project

unable to travel to Lisbon can

last year that we experienced a boom

subsidy scheme, reserving half a

+ One trike: carries people and is used

bikes in their city, and that’s the track

partners from the City Changer

purchase a digital Velo-city ticket.

in the capital, mainly with longtails,

million euros specifically for cargo

as an on-street promotional tool.

Lisbon has chosen to ride.

Cargo Bike project will share best

some Long Johns and three-wheeled

bikes. In 2021, a new subsidy

+ Four longtails: available to

practices and case studies of

ECF, the City of Lisbon and EMEL

cargo bikes. Lisboetas still know very

scheme will see the light,

municipal staff.

About Velo-city

successful cargo bike measures

hope to see you in Lisbon

little about the existence of cargo

including maintenance and acces-

Velo-city is the annual flagship

from across Europe.

this September!

bikes as a mobility alternative”, say

sories vouchers as well as cargo

conference of the European Cyclists’

Gonçalo Pais and Miguel Cambão,

technicians from the mobility planning

and studies division, from Lisbon

Municipality Mobility Board, in an

interview with the European Cyclists’

bike subsidies for businesses.

2. Cargo bikes loans: The municipality

has been offering long-term loans

of cargo bikes to families, by far

the most successful initiative. In

Federation (ECF), at which the global

cycling community gathers every year

to share knowledge, ideas, best practices

and influence decision-makers in

favour of more cycling.

This year’s edition, Velo-city 2021

Velo-city, Lisbon,

6-9th September 2021

www.velo-city2021.com

velocityseries

velocityconference

velocityconference

showcase/velo-city-conference


Lisboa, is organised by the European

35

WILL THE CARGO BIKE BAN THE

DELIVERY VAN FROM OUR STREETS?

Irfan Iskender is a Spatial Planning and Mobility Graduate from Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

in the Netherlands. From February – May 2021 he conducted research into the perspective of the cargo bike

commissioned by the Province of Utrecht. In this article he offers us a summary of his findings.

The irritating delivery vans racing

through our streets and a desire to

live towards a more sustainable future

brought me to the following question:

“Which developments come with the

rise of the cargo bike and how can we

prioritise the cargo bike – a potential

replacement for the delivery van – in

traffic?” To answer this question,

I will briefly discuss climate goals and

thereafter the cargo bike itself.

Green Deal-ZES

Firstly, an important initiative here in

the Netherlands that supports the

promotion of the cargo bike is the

Green Deal-ZES. This gives Dutch

cities the opportunity to introduce

zero-emission zones for delivery vans

and trucks from 2025. The goal is to

make city logistics smarter and cleaner.

This deal is in line with the

Climate Agreement, which requires

49% less CO2 emissions in the

Netherlands compared to 1990 levels.

Secondly, we are living in a time where

the cargo bike has never been so

popular. One estimate says that there

are approximately 100,000 delivery

and cargo bikes in the Netherlands.

A figure that is predicted to rise to at

least 400,000 by 2025. Although

cargo bikes are seen as a substitute

for the delivery van, they do have

some disadvantages, such as the

maximum cost-effective delivery

range; often 10km (or 15km in

exceptional cases).

Direct and indirect policy measures

During my research, I found out that

the cargo bike policy is limited. Some

government agencies are more active

than others with regards to drawing

up cargo bike-friendly policies. This

entails not only direct policy measures

such as granting exemptions for

cargo bikes in pedestrian areas, but

also indirect policy measures such as

announcing zero-emission zones by

2025.

Cargo bikes can also be given priority

at junctions by using Traffic Control

Devices (TCD). Options include a

phone app connected to a TCD - a

system which can help to identify a

bicycle courier and grant them a green

light as soon as possible, or even a

system which can identify other

vehicle types too.

Cargo bikes are the future!

To conclude, the cargo bike can make

a major contribution to the challenges

that are faced by government

agencies, companies, and entrepreneurs.

The research confirms it:

Cargo bikes are the future!


Photo: Babboe Pro

Model; CargoBike Cruiser Long Steps

37

FINGERS CROSSED FOR

A CARGO BIKE EMOJI

If we are lucky, at some point in 2023 we will be able to use a new

emoji. That’s thanks to the hard work of David Majarich who has his

heart set on a cargo bike emoji. Let’s find out why...

Gives you a head start

Content & campaigns

Design & realization

A couple of years ago I spent a year living in Denmark with

my family and we were lucky to have owned two cargo

bikes. My wife and I enjoyed transporting our young boys

and shopping in all weathers to all sorts of destinations. We

were hooked on the benefits and joys of cargo bike life. Here

we are heading into town for ice cream.

Emojis as a communication tool

Earlier this year during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK,

my brother Pete and I were collaborating on some projects

and started to look at emojis as a communication tool

alongside our interests.

proposal and draft design were submitted in April 2021 to

the Unicode Consortium. That’s the organisation responsible

for universal character encoding, which provides the

basis for digital processing, storage and interchange of

text data in any language. This includes emojis - which are

ultimately deployed and seen on every mobile phone, tablet,

laptop and computer across the globe.

Positioning & development

Strategy & communication

avnc.nl

Some of the most popular emojis are ‘face with tears of joy’

, ‘thumbs up’ and ‘red heart’ - note all relevant and

should be used with your local trusted and friendly bike

mechanic . There is of course a ‘bicycle’ emoji as

well as ‘person biking’ and ‘person mountain biking’

(note that for each, there are person, male and female

Waiting for approval

At the time of writing, the submission is under review by the

Unicode Emoji Subcommittee against their extensive criteria

for new emojis. If successful, it will form part of version

CARGO BIKES IN THE PICTURE

The ICBF Magazine would not

have been possible without

the support of our advertisers:

versions, in five corresponding skin tones).

15.0, with an estimated release date at some point in 2023.

DOCKR

cover and p2

However, there is no cargo bike emoji...

Each platform (eg iOS, Google, Samsung, Twitter) will

develop their own emoji version based on this draft design.

Urban Arrow

Hivebox

p7

p10, 32, rear

Research

The current total of emojis stands at 3,521 (as of Sept

Cargo Cycling

p15

The combination of ‘bicycle + package’ does a somewhat

OK job of representing the cargo bike, so I decided to

do some research. Readers of this magazine will already be

aware of the growing use globally of cargo bikes for families,

2020, the latest release), and in recent years approximately

200 new emojis have been added annually. Each day, 92%

of the online population use emojis, with over 10 billion

being sent via social media daily. As the saying goes:

CycleSpark

Rad Power Bikes

New Motion Labs

p19

p22

p26

communities and business, as well as their environmental,

‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.

Gemeente Groningen

p33

economic, and health benefits. I felt that this, along the

high number of online search results for ‘cargo bike’ and

I’m hopeful and positive that the submission will be


Bakfiets.nl

p37

of course #DecadeOfTheCargoBike, justified it’s very own

approved and that in 2023 we can all SMS, tweet or

official emoji.

whatsapp - a cargo bike emoji .

Proposal to the Unicode Consortium

Me, I’m looking forward to messaging: ?

Next, I put together a detailed proposal and my brother did

the creative design for a cargo bike emoji. Via a twitter poll

we found that the ‘box/trike’ design was most popular. The David Majarich is an Australian cargo bike fan living in

North East England. Join the #CargoBikeEmoji


conversation with him on Twitter: @davidmajarich

© Tom Burdyny © Melissa & Chris Bruntlett


39

Address

hivebox.bike

c/o Bächer Bergmann GmbH

Bonner Wall 27

50677 Cologne

Germany

Contact

Phone : +49 221 165 331-33

Email: info@hivebox.bike

Individual CARGO SYSTEMS

for urban vehicles

Hiveboxes are extremely light, durable and

weatherproof boxes used in cycling logistics.

These clever boxes are made in Europe

and can be fitted to all cargo bikes.

Let’s make one for you now!

International Cargo Bike Festival 2021

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