Tag Archive: cargo bikes

  1. Electric cargo bikes grow in popularity in the US

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    Source: Electrek

    The market for electric cargo bikes is expanding in the US – a country traditionally known for its affinity with motor vehicles. Factors such as transportation efficiency and practicality, decent carrying capacity, and low running costs are helping to boost cargo bikes’ popularity.

    The growing US popularity could be partly attributed to the influence of European cities which have made cargo bikes an integral part of many residents’ daily life, supported by bike-friendly urban planning. US cities have been investing more in bicycling and walking infrastructure, with a large uptick in spending seen in 2022 and beyond – helping to drive the uptake of cargo and other bikes.

    Events such as the inaugural Coffee & Cargo Bike Show in Bend, Oregon, are designed to help residents explore the benefits of cargo bikes in an informal and accessible way. Sponsored by non-profit organisation Bend Bikes and Bend Electric Bikes, it invites cargo bike owners to share their experiences and showcase their bikes with those who are yet to experience the cargo bike lifestyle.

    Elisa Cheng, President of Bend Bikes, says, “One of our goals at Bend Bikes is to get more people in Bend riding bikes. Cargo bikes are a great way to do that. These bikes are handy for hauling groceries, transporting kids and pets, or lugging outdoor gear.”

    Micah Toll of Electrek highlighted key factors which are influencing the growing popularity of electric cargo bikes, especially in urban settings.

    • Transportation efficiency, in terms of energy, time and space. Traffic is easier to navigate, parking is easier to find, and destinations can often be reached more quickly during peak times.
    • A zero-emission transport solution has high appeal to those looking for greener travel options.
    • Electric cargo bikes’ storage capacity has improved in recent years, enabling the carrying of both passengers and other cargo simultaneously.
    • The return on investment is high compared to cars and other motor vehicles, thanks to minimal fuel costs, lower maintenance requirements and expense, and no mandated need for insurance or registration fees.

    Sterling McCord of Bend Electric Bikes said, “Cargo bikes are the most versatile, family-friendly option out there, especially for growing families. And there is no denying the fun factor.”

  2. Medipoint highlights green benefits of Fulpra electric cargo bikes

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    Source: Medipoint

    Dutch healthcare aids provider Medipoint spotlights their fleet of LEVA-EU member Fulpra’s electric cargo bikes, as a part of the ‘Week of the Circular Economy’.

    Fulpra’s electric cargo bikes have been used by Medipoint mechanics and delivery drivers in the centre of Amsterdam since 2021. Medipoint – which provides disability aids and mobility equipment to support daily living – have been proactively using this sustainable transport solution, making it possible to efficiently deliver small orders and provide service throughout the Dutch capital.

    Delivery driver Louis Hoffman of Medipoint is happy with the electric cargo bike. “It’s nice to keep moving in the open air. In addition, you avoid all kinds of parking problems in busy cities.” Hoffman’s colleague Jason van Beusekom agrees that the Fulpras remove many of the issues associated with delivering by van or truck in busy city streets, all of which brings other benefits too. Hoffman remarked: “It’s also nice that you have just a little more time for the customer.”

    In a social media post the company wrote: “With the electric cargo bike and other sustainable steps, we are greening our fleet, encouraging electric driving and investing in charging stations. Together we work towards a greener future!”

  3. Registration open for ICBF 2025

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    Source: International Cargo Bike Festival

    The International Cargo Bike Festival will return to Utrecht in the Netherlands from 13-14 October 2025 with a new B2B focus and special early bird pricing until March 31st.

    The International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) is set to reunite the cargo bike industry, showcasing its forward-looking vision for urban mobility. Returning with a renewed focus on industry visitors, the 2025 edition of the event aims to attract over 40 exhibitors in global cycling city Utrecht. Scheduled for a mid-week timeframe, the festival will offer an accessible venue featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, and an outdoor test track for hands-on demonstrations.

    Numerous exhibitor benefits

    Exhibitors attending the ICBF can look forward to several benefits. The organisers have announced a freeze on 2025 floor space prices, which will include essential amenities such as electric connections, Wi-Fi access, and test track usage. Responding to feedback from past participants, the event will focus on fostering innovation while creating a more business-oriented environment. By shifting to a mid-week schedule, the festival aims to better accommodate dealers, distributors, fleet managers, policymakers, investors, and developers. Exhibitors interested in learning more can access the official exhibitor pack here. While the focus is industry-centric, B2C visitors will still be welcome at the event.

    New Product Pitch feature for 2025 event

    A notable new feature for the 2025 festival is the introduction of the New Product Pitch. As part of their exhibition package, all exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their latest cargo bike, product, or service innovation in a two-minute pitch to festival audiences, at no additional cost. These presentations will also be published on the ICBF YouTube channel, offering exhibitors extended digital exposure. To facilitate seamless presentations, ramps will be installed for easy transportation of cargo bikes on and off the stage. Exhibitors seeking more time can opt for a presentation slot of up to four additional minutes for an extra fee.

    By adapting to the needs of the global cargo bike industry and embracing innovation, the International Cargo Bike Festival 2025 promises to be a dynamic and impactful event, driving the future of sustainable urban transport.

  4. Invitation for cargo bike industry to join Taipei Cycle Business Trip

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    Source: Nieuws Fiets

    In late March 2025, the Taipei Cycle show will take place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. As Asia’s largest cycling trade fair, this event will highlight the rising prominence of cargo bikes. To celebrate this development, NieuwsFiets.nu, in collaboration with the International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF), is organising a business trip to Taiwan for industry professionals.

    Nieuws Fiets has partnered with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the organiser of Taipei Cycle 2025.

    Taipei Cycle, alongside Eurobike, is one of the premier trade fairs for the global cycling industry. It attracts leading international suppliers of components and finished products and welcomes a large number of overseas visitors annually. Although the event is held in Taiwan’s capital, it is firmly focused on global markets, providing opportunities for worldwide exports.

    Driving international business growth

    A key highlight of the fair is Bike Vision, a new initiative by Taipei Cycle that showcases groundbreaking innovations and supports startup growth in the cycling industry. This platform provides selected startups with opportunities to display their developments, connect directly with industry leaders, and establish partnerships that can accelerate global business growth, particularly in the Asian market.

    As global awareness of environmental sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives grows, electric bikes and light electric vehicles have become preferred transportation and logistics solutions in Europe and the Americas. Recognising this potential, Taipei Cycle 2025 will dedicate the fourth floor of Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, to the E-Bikes & Drive Units and Cargo Bike & Micro-mobility Pavilion. This area will feature a comprehensive showcase and test zone for e-bikes, motor systems, cargo bikes, e-scooters, and light electric vehicles.

    Limited seats for the exclusive business trip

    To align with the focus on cargo bikes, Nieuws Fiets and ICBF are organising an exclusive business trip for representatives of the cargo bike industry. Other industry professionals are also welcome to join this fully arranged trip to Taipei Cycle 2025.

    Please note: Only 20 spots are available for the Taipei Cycle Cargo Business Trip, so early booking is essential to secure your place.

    The package costs €2,895 and includes flights, accommodation at a 5-star hotel, breakfast, dinner on exhibition days, local transport, and airport taxes. This trip is open exclusively to professionals in the cycling or retail industries and is not available to consumers.

    Click here for more information and booking.

  5. International Cargo Bike Festival goes mainstream

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    Source: Nieuwsfiets / Fietsberaad

    Photo credit: ICBF / Tom Parr

    The International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) takes place on 25-26 October at the Jaarbeurs Expozaal Beatrixgebouw event venue in Utrecht, and sees a focus shift from purely B2B, with family-friendly activities alongside panel discussions and the chance to check out cargo bikes from a wide variety of exhibitors

    The ICBF was founded in 2012 with the intention of demonstrating that cargo bikes are suitable for transporting children and can also be effective in ‘last mile’ city logistics as an alternative to traditional vans. Organisers Jos Sluijsman and Tom Parr stated, “Our goal is to inspire the world to stop using cars and vans and start using cargo bikes instead. That’s why we’ve declared the 2020s the decade of the cargo bike. Why? We believe that the cargo bike will become mainstream in this decade. The potential impact is huge, so join us and let’s make it happen together.”

    The event brings together manufacturers, designers, engineers, logistics partners and other users to exchange ideas through a program of panel discussions. The annual festival started out in 2012 as ‘BakfietsTreffen’ in Nijmegen, and has become increasingly international over the years. It took place outside the Netherlands for one year in 2018; the next year, when the festival took place in Groningen, there were representatives from 40 countries. Last year in Amsterdam, participants from India and African countries were present for the first time.

    Panel discussions and keynote speeches

    On Friday 25 October, Karen Vancluysen from POLIS Network will deliver a keynote discussion on the evolution of urban mobility networks.

    On the topic of diversity, a panel including Nüwiel founder and CEO Natalia Tomiyama, Angela van der Kloof from Mobycon and others will share experiences from underrepresented groups in the cargo bike industry, and explore how to facilitate their contributions and remove barriers to participation.

    Two separate panels will examine the role of cargo bikes in inner cities’ zero-emission zones. This hot topic for both entrepreneurs and policymakers will be discussed by speakers from, among others, the municipality of Utrecht, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and ARUP. Additionally, Dr. Tom Assman from the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, will present his research on autonomous cargo bikes.

    On Saturday 26 October discussions begin with a panel led by Cycling Industries Europe exploring and reflecting on the results of the European survey on bicycle logistics service providers. This will feature representatives from the French, Belgian and German national bicycle logistics federations.

    An afternoon session welcomes speakers from Mali, Nigeria and South Africa to look at developments in African cargo bike and bike logistics, while community organizer Cathy Tuttle offers insights into Portland’s ‘Weird, Wild and Wonderful’ cargo bike culture.

    All panel session and speeches will shared on the ICBF YouTube channel after the event.

    Several side events take place alongside ICBF, a LEVA-EU parallel session on Friday 25 October at 12:00, which aims to guide participants through the complexities of LEV standardisation.

  6. New Utrecht venue and dates for ICBF 2024

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    The International Cargo Bike Festival will take place on 25-26th October at Jaarbeurs Utrecht

    The International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) has announced its 2024 edition, which will be held at Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands, from October 25-26. This marks the festival’s first time in Utrecht, a city celebrated for its robust cycling culture and cargo bike-friendly infrastructure. The event will be held independently, rather than as part of a larger conference as in previous years, yet it will still align with Dutch Cycling Week, an initiative promoting cycling across the Netherlands.

    Jaarbeurs, located in the heart of Utrecht, offers an ideal venue for the festival, with ample space for exhibitions, test tracks, and networking opportunities. The festival will showcase the latest innovations in cargo bikes, reflecting their increasing importance in sustainable urban mobility. Attendees can expect a dynamic program that includes demonstrations, discussions, and opportunities for both industry professionals and the public to engage with the latest trends in cargo biking.

    ICBF 2024 aims to further the conversation on the role of cargo bikes in transforming urban transportation. With Utrecht as its new home, the festival is poised to attract a broad audience, from local enthusiasts to international stakeholders, reinforcing the city’s status as a leader in cycling innovation.

    For more information, visit the official ICBF announcement.

  7. Bicycle logistics industry expects stable growth

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    Source: SAZ Bike

    The German Bicycle Logistics Association (RLVD) has released its 2024 industry report, revealing promising developments in the bicycle logistics industry. Despite facing global challenges, the sector is demonstrating steady growth and maintains an optimistic outlook for the future.

    Tom Assmann, a board member of the RLVD, emphasizes the organization’s ambitious goal: “We aim to shift 30 percent of urban commercial traffic to cargo bikes or trailers by the end of the 2020s.” Assmann notes that the report highlights the industry’s resilience in pursuing a sustainable economy, even under challenging conditions. However, the report forecasts an average annual growth rate of 10 percent, which may not be sufficient to fully achieve CO2-neutral urban logistics. To address this, Assmann urges policymakers to establish fair conditions that foster sustainability and innovation. He advocates for the inclusion of cargo bikes in public procurement policies, the revival of federal subsidies for cargo bikes, and consistent funding for expanding cycling infrastructure.

    E-cargo bikes: A growing market with significant potential

    In 2023, approximately 5,400 individuals were employed in the bicycle logistics industry. The report reveals that the majority of companies within the sector are small to medium-sized enterprises. Last year, the industry generated a turnover of 183 million euros, reflecting a stable to slightly increasing trend compared to the previous year. In total, 37,650 cargo bikes and trailers were sold for commercial use in 2023, with 95 percent featuring electric drive support. Cargo trailers are becoming an increasingly important part of the market, with around 12,000 units sold.

    Nicolas Schüte, the lead author of the study from Wildau University of Applied Sciences, underscores the long-term potential of cargo bikes for commercial purposes: “The use of cargo bikes is not just a passing trend; it’s a sustainable concept with vast potential. We’re seeing an expanding range of applications, from mobile coffee bars to outpatient care, that can benefit from bike logistics.“

    Bicycle logistics: A key contributor to climate protection

    The report highlights the significant impact of bicycle logistics on climate protection. In 2023, cargo bikes covered around eight million kilometres, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2,100 tons of CO2 emissions. The survey also indicates that bicycle logistics significantly improves road safety, with no serious injuries or traffic fatalities reported since the survey’s inception. Martin Schmidt, another RLVD board member, addresses concerns about the safety of cargo bikes and trailers: “The negative headlines surrounding cargo bike tests are often misleading and taken out of context. Our daily operations demonstrate that these vehicles are indeed safe.“

    The full 2024 industry report is available here.

  8. Over half of Dutch people ride an e-bike, survey shows

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    Source: Nieuwsfiets

    Recent study reveals that 54% of Dutch people ride an electric bicycle

    Various insights into the behaviour and attitudes of Dutch cyclists are available in the results of research commissioned by Netherlands-based e-bike refurbishers Upway.

    The online survey, conducted by research agency iVOX between May 8 and May 17, 2024, gathered answers to a range of questions from 2,000 Dutch people on a variety of cycling-related topics. A number of insights can be gleaned from the results:

    Age: 61% of people over the age of 55 choose an e-bike, while for those under 35 the figure is 51%.

    Ownership and frequency: 54% of Dutch people currently use an e-bike, with 39% doing so at least weekly.

    Stated preferences for e-bikes: 32% of respondents cite ease of use; 20% answered ‘Because it gets me to my destination faster’; 25% answered ‘because I can cover greater distances with it’.

    Cargo bike usage: Of those surveyed, 7% rode an electric cargo bike, and 4% rode a non-electric version. Riders of electric cargo bikes cited two notable reasons for their use: 22% said ‘Because it is economically more advantageous than a car’, while 19% said ‘Because it is so easy to use’.

    Cycling infrastructure: Overall, the respondents are generally positive towards the cycling-friendliness and layout of roads in their area, with 77% reporting a positive opinion, though cargo bike users are a little more critical with 61% having a positive opinion.

    Feelings of safety: 94% of e-bike riders reported feeling safer than average in traffic, while 57% of these said they feel safer on an electric bike than on a traditional bike. In contrast, 80% of traditional-cycle riders felt safest on a non-electric bike.

    Risk-taking behaviour: Only 10% of Dutch people say they always wear a helmet when cycling. 36% of e-bike riders ignore a red light – more often than non-electric bike riders. Dangerous situations involving electric bicycle users involve excessive speed (31%), inattention (15%) or lack of control (13%), while tradtional bike riders sometimes create dangerous situations by violating traffic rules (21%), inattention (28%) or cycling where it is not allowed (11%).

  9. Fulpra unveils new 2024 models

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    The Dutch manufacturer of heavy-duty and large-volume cargo trikes has given an update on new models that will be launched soon, as well as discounts for current stock.

    Fulpra’s new 2024 models will be launched on June 24th, and will come with an updated design, suspension and weather kit. The remaining stock of Fulpra’s 2023 models and a number of lightly used and ex-sample cargo bikes are currently being sold at competitive prices.

    New Fulpra 2024 models and specifications:

    The following models also share the following features: a FULPRA E-XACT DRIVE™ (20% slope, 70km range), a front and rear suspension and “Key-less entry” sliding doors.

    Visit Fulpra’s website for full information about models.