Cargo bikes are transforming urban logistics in Europe, offering a sustainable alternative to delivery vans.

The surge in online shopping, accelerated by COVID-19, has driven up the demand for package deliveries, and that demand continues to rise.

As traditional delivery methods contribute to urban traffic congestion and pollution, cargo bikes - a staple of bike-friendly countries like Denmark and the Netherlands - are becoming a common sight in cities across Europe as a sustainable and efficient alternative to vans.

These larger, typically electric bikes with separate carriers can transport a wide range of loads, from small parcels to larger items, making them ideal for urban deliveries.

In Europe, it is estimated that up to 50 per cent of motorised trips involving the transport of goods in cities could be made by cargo bikes and bicycles, according to a recent study.

  • 14th_cylon@lemm.eeEnglish
    16·
    1 month ago

    The footprint of a cargo bike is at most a fourth of your average delivery van

    yeah, no. the cargo bike needs width of a car lane and its not four times shorter. it will actually add to congestion when every car behind it has to change lane to go around.

    maybe you have some really generous bike lanes somewhere, but they don’t lead to home of every one of your potential customer and, surprise, they also take a space.

    Cargo bikes are usually e-bikes, giving them a speed of at least 25 km/h.

    that’s top speed. top speed of the car is somewhere else. and the average speed for both of them is somewhere else and if you believe that average speed of a bike is going to be in the same category as average speed of the car, then go, fly back to other pigeons and tell them you won.

    cargo bike is not efficient alternative to a car, because it is far slower and has much lower capacity than the car, so you will deliver less cargo in longer time. or same cargo in same time using a LOT MORE bikes.

    that doesn’t mean and i never said they don’t have its use-cases, but claiming it will solve the traffic congestion is wild exaggeration.

      • 14th_cylon@lemm.eeEnglish
        16·
        1 month ago

        yes, that may be true in specific circumstances.

        if they can fit in between two cars, waiting on light stop, they can get ahead of them. that maybe true in traffic jam in city center.

        this advantage goes away once:

        1. you are outside of traffic jam hour
        2. you are outside of traffic jam area (out of city center)
        3. you are driving cargo bike that does not allow you to squeeze in between two cars.

        so not really useful for discussion about cargo bikes, is it?

    • Bryce@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      1 month ago

      They definitely do not need the width of a car lane. The basket is usually the width of the handlebars so they fit in regular bike lanes just fine. And they’ll often turn a car lane into two bike lanes