Features

By Finley Fagan

When Morris Worksman established Worksman Cycles in 1898 he believed that a well-designed cargo bike could replace the horse and wagon. Henry Ford begged to differ, and so King Car all but killed the fledgling cargo bike. The towns, cities and suburbs of North America grew to revolve around and to rely upon the convenience of the automobile; bicycles were relegated to the role of recreational toys, and the culture of cargo cycling didn’t evolve much beyond the paper boy.

But in the late 1990s, almost a century after Worksman Cycles built their first cargo trike in New York City, cargo biking started making a comeback on the streets of North America with hot spots in Portland, Seattle, the Bay Area, New York City and Colorado. From one- and two-wheeled trailers (B.O.B./ Burley) to longtail frame extensions (Xtracycle); the tried and true Dutch box bikes and Danish trikes (Bakfiets, Nihola); longtail bikes (Surly Big Dummy/ Yuba Mundo); and open source DIY cargo bikes (Tom Labonty in Portland) – nowadays there is a cargo hauling option for almost every terrain, use and budget.

So what do we know about this curious breed of cyclist with a fetish for weight? Sales figures indicate that cargo cyclists are split 50 percent female, 50 percent male and that they are more than just couriers and small business owners. Vik Banerjee, the Lazy Randonneur, has noticed two more groups of cargo cyclists: “1) bike geeks who want to ride bikes more” and “2) families and individuals who are trying to be green and not drive ... not necessarily bike people in general, but they see cargo bikes as a way to replace car trips.”

Nicole and Anthony Stout are two parents that have taken cargo cycling one step further, recently celebrating their third anniversary of car-free living. So how is “car freedom” going for them and their two young children? “At first we thought we’d have to save up and buy a Prius or something, then we discovered (cargo) bikes do the job nicely. ... Living car-free is very healthy for our kids. They see so much more, smell so much more, notice so much more than when they go someplace via car.” But Anthony acknowledges that living car-free in suburban USA has not always been easy. “Like most things, there is a point of diminishing returns. Living 80 percent car-free is VERY doable, going the next 20 percent up to totally car-free requires at least as much effort if not more than the first 80 percent.” But Anthony is quick to add, “There are few experiences that we don’t enjoy more by bike than we did by car.”

For those wanting to get a taste of cargo cycling, the good news is that it is not so different from riding a regular bike. Extra weight makes for slower starts and slower stops, but is not a big deal on flat terrain once you have momentum. For hillier terrain, consider stronger brakes, lower gearing and choose between an electric assist or an extra buff pair of legs. Fatter tires, beefier rims and more spokes will help cushion loads, and extra stability can be achieved by keeping your weight low and balancing it from side to side.