This week I’m bringing you an article from Velo called 5 Reasons You Should Ditch Your Car for an E-Bike. In many other parts of the world, e-cargo bikes are already a significant, sometimes dominant, way to haul kids and small loads. In some densely populated cities, it make more sense to deliver packages by large cargo bike than by van. “For most American households, the majority of car trips are under three miles. Grabbing takeout, running to the post office, picking up prescriptions, and other short trips are where cargo bikes shine brightest. A longtail cargo bike can carry 150-200 pounds of cargo on top of the rider and bike weight, which translates to a week’s worth of groceries, multiple bags of mulch, or camping gear for a quick overnight trip. Front-loader style cargo bikes can haul even more.”
As bike infrastructure improves, cargo bike trips become safer for the “interested but concerned” crowd. They’re also great for hauling kids, and kids love riding them. “Even if you don’t have kids or your kids have aged out of riding along, a cargo bike remains remarkably practical. One bike can replace countless car trips, saving fuel and insurance costs and parking headaches while giving you exercise you didn’t have to schedule separately.” So what are the 5 reasons?
- Everyone loves riding a cargo bike, but kids love it more
- A cargo bike doesn’t need to carry just kids
- Bike infrastructure is often better than it used to be
- A cargo bike can save you time, particularly at the drop-off line
- Even a high-end cargo bike can save you money