I love the idea of a cargo bike, but I think that most people would still be better off with a normal bike + a trailer and/or panniers.
Why?
Much, much more affordable.
Easier to store.
Easier to maintain a regular bike.
More flexibility.
You can take a regular bike to more places (off road, on a train, into a shop, etc.).
You can travel with a regular bike or folding bike.
It’s easier to get around with a regular bike.
But cargo bikes have their uses, especially if you’re hauling kids all the time, or your primary use is to carry cargo. I love seeing people using cargo bikes, I’m not going to lie. 🤗
There’s some things that frustrate me about panniers. For instance, let’s say I’m going to visit a friend, and then might do some grocery shopping on the way home. Now I need to bring my panniers, and since they’re valuable alone, I don’t want to leave them on the bike when it’s locked. So I carry them with me to visit my friend, and then have to reattach them coming back. Then, same thing bringing them into the grocery store, or it could turn out I don’t have time that day.
A cargo bike basically seems to keep more options open for a lot of trips, just like the versatility of driving around the city with a 4-person car.
There’s some things that frustrate me about panniers. For instance, let’s say I’m going to visit a friend, and then might do some grocery shopping on the way home. Now I need to bring my panniers, and since they’re valuable alone, I don’t want to leave them on the bike when it’s locked. So I carry them with me to visit my friend, and then have to reattach them coming back. Then, same thing bringing them into the grocery store, or it could turn out I don’t have time that day.
I can certainly appreciate this. There are a few ways around that, depending on your needs.
For example, a front basket (either permanent or detachable) might work in that scenario. A pannier backpack is also another option to consider. More outside the box would be a packable/stuffable backpack, which could fit in your pocket and open to a full size (albeit, thin) backpack. For some basic grocery stuff, it would work.
I like to bring the Arkel Metropolitan if I’m going to be somewhere, and I might need to run some errands afterwards. It’s a stylish bag that doubles as a functional pannier. It can expand if needed, but the size is smaller than a messenger bag if left as-is.
The Burley Travoy is yet another option if you need a trailer, but also need to be able to take it with you off the bike (either folded or as a handcart). This has been one of my favorite bike things over the last two months.
I do plan my bike trips so I know what gear to bring, but I’ve been in situations where I’ve been over (and under) geared, so I do appreciate that these things happen.
A cargo bike basically seems to keep more options open for a lot of trips, just like the versatility of driving around the city with a 4-person car.
Absolutely, but to me, it’s like driving around to visit friends in a large pick-up truck “just in case” you need it to run to the Home Depot for 500lbs of lumber.
If I had a cargo bike, I’d probably only take it around if I knew for certain that I would need the carrying capacity. Pretty much the same as leaving the panniers and bike trailer at home unless I know I’m going to need them.
Electric ones are crazy expensive. Like, “more than a car”, expensive.
If you can still find a non-electric version, and you’ve got the leg strength to move it, they are generally less than < $3000 Canadian. Not terrible, but still way more than a regular bike + extras to add cargo capacity.
The biggest problem I have is that cars are incentivized all the time, especially electric cars. But most places don’t have e-bike or cargo bike incentive rebates at all, and the ones that do are frustratingly bad.
If governments were really serious about reducing car dependency; traffic; pedestrian safety; and getting people to move more, then we should try to make it easier (more affordable) to buy these bikes.
I love the idea of a cargo bike, but I think that most people would still be better off with a normal bike + a trailer and/or panniers.
Why?
But cargo bikes have their uses, especially if you’re hauling kids all the time, or your primary use is to carry cargo. I love seeing people using cargo bikes, I’m not going to lie. 🤗
There’s some things that frustrate me about panniers. For instance, let’s say I’m going to visit a friend, and then might do some grocery shopping on the way home. Now I need to bring my panniers, and since they’re valuable alone, I don’t want to leave them on the bike when it’s locked. So I carry them with me to visit my friend, and then have to reattach them coming back. Then, same thing bringing them into the grocery store, or it could turn out I don’t have time that day.
A cargo bike basically seems to keep more options open for a lot of trips, just like the versatility of driving around the city with a 4-person car.
I can certainly appreciate this. There are a few ways around that, depending on your needs.
For example, a front basket (either permanent or detachable) might work in that scenario. A pannier backpack is also another option to consider. More outside the box would be a packable/stuffable backpack, which could fit in your pocket and open to a full size (albeit, thin) backpack. For some basic grocery stuff, it would work.
I like to bring the Arkel Metropolitan if I’m going to be somewhere, and I might need to run some errands afterwards. It’s a stylish bag that doubles as a functional pannier. It can expand if needed, but the size is smaller than a messenger bag if left as-is.
The Burley Travoy is yet another option if you need a trailer, but also need to be able to take it with you off the bike (either folded or as a handcart). This has been one of my favorite bike things over the last two months.
I do plan my bike trips so I know what gear to bring, but I’ve been in situations where I’ve been over (and under) geared, so I do appreciate that these things happen.
Absolutely, but to me, it’s like driving around to visit friends in a large pick-up truck “just in case” you need it to run to the Home Depot for 500lbs of lumber.
If I had a cargo bike, I’d probably only take it around if I knew for certain that I would need the carrying capacity. Pretty much the same as leaving the panniers and bike trailer at home unless I know I’m going to need them.
Cargo bikes are nice…but man they are not affordable for the average Joe.
Electric ones are crazy expensive. Like, “more than a car”, expensive.
If you can still find a non-electric version, and you’ve got the leg strength to move it, they are generally less than < $3000 Canadian. Not terrible, but still way more than a regular bike + extras to add cargo capacity.
The biggest problem I have is that cars are incentivized all the time, especially electric cars. But most places don’t have e-bike or cargo bike incentive rebates at all, and the ones that do are frustratingly bad.
If governments were really serious about reducing car dependency; traffic; pedestrian safety; and getting people to move more, then we should try to make it easier (more affordable) to buy these bikes.