March 26, 2025

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Buys Sweet New Cargo Bike From Toronto Shop

This week, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, added a new addition to his already impressive bike collection: a Black Iron Horse Polly electric cargo bike, purchased from Pedaal, a Toronto bike shop that’s been supplying him with bikes for years. While Singh is known for his advocacy of sustainable urban transportation, this isn’t just […]

Written by: Ron Johnson

Pedaal co-owner Eric Kamphof (along with Timm Harding) has been selling bikes to Singh for over two decades, first at Curbside Cycle, a shop he ran for 22 years, and now at his new store Pedaal.

“Jagmeet and I became fast friends back when he was a city councillor,” he said. “At Curbside I converted a ramshackle used bike store into an import business selling bicycle transportation solutions. Over time, I imported a lot of brands into Canada, including Brompton, Bullitt, Black Iron Horse, Linus, Batavus, the list goes on. These bikes weren’t available in North America at the time (well, they were but in small patches), and Jagmeet was a real early adopter, partly because importing these bikes was also importing a different value system about what a bike means and what it can do to our cities. When you ride a Danish city bike you feel like you’re helping pave new bike lanes while you ride. I think for Jagmeet it’s always been as much about the philosophy behind these bikes as it is that these bikes are amazing design objects and pretty good looking too!”

Singh’s new ride comes after a trip to Copenhagen, where he test-rode the Black Iron Horse Polly and immediately fell in love with its unique design and functionality, according to a Pedaal blog post. The cargo bike, which uses rear-wheel steering for excellent handling.

“Jagmeet bought this bike because he wants to ride his family around. Including his wife sometimes! That meant it had to be a pretty spacious bike. The bike he got is a Black Iron Horse Polly, a bike that can be set up in a two, four or six-kid configuration. It’s actually used throughout Europe as a bicycle schoolbus!” Kamphof explains. “He got the four kid version because it can fit a full grown adult much better. If you do your research into cargo trikes you quickly find out that most trikes have “pivot steering.” This is where the whole box steers, with the wheels attached. It’s cumbersome and kind of horrible. Black Iron Horse are real mavericks.”

Eric and Tim with Jagmeet and the Black Iron Horse Polly cargo bike

Singh plans to use it to navigate his own neighborhood with his family, adding a personal touch to his environmentally-conscious lifestyle. After a delay thanks to a port strike in Montreal, Singh’s new cargo bike finally arrived, marking the latest addition to his collection, which has included more than a dozen bikes from Pedaal over the years.

“Jagmeet was sold on all of this and also loved that there was a reliable Shimano motor, since many cargo trikes seem to use off-brand motors that might not be bad, but sure aren’t globally serviceable,” he says. “He also liked the fact that the bike is completely manufactured in Copenhagen, including the frame welding, painting, and even the impact-resistant box, which is constructed of recycled plastic. They’re just a cool company with great values and vision and it’s hard not to get behind that.”

For Kamphof, selling bikes such as the Black Iron Horse Polly to customers like Singh is what they’ve always envisioned—bringing practical, sustainable European bikes to Canada. The shop has become a hub for those who are passionate about urban cycling, and Singh has been a supporter since day one.

“He’s a great guy. Really genuine and authentic, no schmoozy politician in any way. Every time he swung by the shop he was genuinely interested in jumping out of the bike conversation to answer questions from people on the street or in the shop,” he says. “You can tell he lives for that and it’s something I’ve always admired.”

With elections on the horizon, Singh’s new cargo bike purchase highlights more than just a personal preference for sustainable transportation. It would be great if it brought attention to the ongoing issues surrounding Canada’s patchwork e-bike regulations, particularly when it comes to electric cargo bikes as well as the lack of visibility around the climate crisis issue heading into a new election.

Photos courtesy of Pedaal.