Are cargo bikes harder to ride?

As urban dwellers increasingly turn to bicycles as a primary mode of transport, cargo bikes are becoming a common sight on city streets, offering distinct advantages and some challenges when compared to traditional bicycles. Here’s a deeper dive into how they compare, especially in scenarios involving riding with children.

Riding Experience

Typically lighter and more agile, traditional bikes are easy to handle and quick to maneuver, making them ideal for short solo trips. Their responsiveness is particularly appreciated in dense urban environments where riders might need to make quick stops or navigate through tight spaces.

Cargo Bikes: While bulkier, modern cargo bikes are designed to ensure that the extra weight does not compromise the riding experience. The integration of electric assist has largely neutralized the challenge of additional weight. Cargo bikes are generally equipped with gears specifically calibrated for heavy loads, making them surprisingly efficient over longer distances or when climbing hills.

Moreover, many cargo bikes, especially those described as “short tail,” are much easier to steer and ride than a larger box bike capable of carrying three or four kids. Don’t overbuy. A potential cargo bike rider should consider max needs and work back from there.

Here are a few short- and mid-tail cargo bike options:

• Tern Short Haul
• Specialized Globe Haul ST
• Xtracycle RFA

Steering

With only the rider’s weight to manage, steering is straightforward on a traditional two-wheeled bicycle. The bike’s lightness allows for quick directional changes and can be an advantage when dodging obstacles.

Cargo Bikes: Initially, new riders might find steering a cargo bike slightly cumbersome, particularly when fully loaded. However, many models are designed with steering systems that compensate for the bike’s size and weight. For instance, linkage steering (where the front wheel is connected to the handlebar by a mechanical linkage) provides a smoother, more stable ride, reducing the jerky motion that can occur with direct steering systems.

Steering systems in cargo bikes vary significantly depending on the type and design of the bike:

• Long and Mid-Tail Bikes: These types often steer just like regular bicycles, as the steering tube is directly connected to the fork, offering a familiar ride feel that is easy to adapt to for anyone who has ridden a standard bike.
• Front-Loading Cargo Bikes: The longer, front-loading cargo bikes with two wheels may include one or two steering linkages that connect the handlebar steering to the front fork, which could be located two or more feet away. This setup can also be connected via a chain or cables, offering precise control but requiring a slight learning curve to handle the different steering dynamics.
• Cargo Trikes: Trikes designed with cargo space up front may utilize a central pivot where you push or pull the cab to steer. Others incorporate more complex steering mechanisms akin to those found in go-karts or cars, providing stability and ease of control, particularly when the bike is heavily loaded.

Electric assist, or e-assist, deserves a special mention. It revolutionizes the cargo bike experience by providing a boost with each pedal stroke, thereby reducing the effort needed to accelerate and climb hills. For urban cyclists, this can mean arriving at your destination without the sweat and strain typically associated with traditional cycling.

Moreover, some cargo bikes have the option of removing bulkier items such as the front box, or guard rails and extra accessories on a long tail, making the bike easier and more fun to ride for fun or short transportation trips.

For a round-up of box bikes, check out this article.

Handling

Riding a three-wheel cargo bike, such as a bakfiets, requires some adjustments from traditional biking, particularly when cornering. It’s essential to turn the handlebar away while leaning slightly into the turn and maintaining a slower speed to manage the larger turning circle. For effective control, take wider curves, lean towards the higher side on sloped roads, and always look ahead to anticipate your movements. Be cautious over bumps, and in sharp turns, you might need to release the outer hand while keeping it near the brakes for quick stops.

Overall, ensure that your cargo is stable, securely attached, and evenly distributed on your bike without exceeding the maximum carrying capacity. Although longer cargo bikes are inherently stable, be mindful of the rear wheel’s position when turning to avoid cutting corners too closely.

Here are some additional riding tips from Tern.

Safety Features

When it comes to safety, particularly involving children, both types of bikes have their merits and considerations, but cargo bikes take it to the next level.

Adding a child seat to a traditional bike is a common practice, and something we all do as parents. While this works well, it significantly changes the bike’s center of gravity, making it more top-heavy and potentially affecting stability. Extra caution is required, especially when mounting or dismounting.

Cargo Bikes: Designed with stability in mind, cargo bikes often come with dedicated child seats, complete with harnesses and barriers. Lowered cargo areas help keep the center of gravity low, enhancing overall stability. Trike models, with two wheels at the front or back, offer even greater stability, which can be particularly reassuring when carrying children or heavy loads.

Really, cargo bikes are fantastic at ferrying children to school and soccer practice, providing fresh air, a great view of the city, and solid protection.

Infrastructure Compatibility

Both bike types benefit from, and are at times limited by, urban infrastructure. Traditional bikes have the advantage in less-developed cycling cities due to their ability to navigate through traffic more easily. However, cargo bikes shine in cities with well-developed bike lanes and parking facilities, where their size and the nature of their use are better accommodated.

One of the biggest issues in cities is bicycle theft. While some cargo bikes are very expensive, they are also very heavy and often come with safety features that are very good at preventing theft. Whereas bicycles are easy targets because the locks never do much and it is easy to swipe because the lightweight and non-distinct character and lack of theft-prevention features.

Again, this will depend on the type of cargo bike, as some lightweight, short-tail cargo bikes are just as easily targeted by thieves as a traditional bicycle. Check out this article for further information.

Practicality and Lifestyle Fit

Choosing between a cargo bike and a traditional bicycle often comes down to lifestyle needs. For parents and those transporting goods regularly, the cargo bike is unmatched in its capacity and safety features for carrying children or heavy loads securely and comfortably. For quick commutes and greater flexibility in mixed-traffic conditions, a traditional bicycle might be preferable.

But in between, there are a myriad of options that combine the best of both worlds. Or, if possible, invest in a good cargo bike and have bicycle handy as well, or use bike share.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, both cargo bikes and traditional bicycles offer unique benefits for city travel. For those with children, the enhanced safety features, stability, and carrying capacity of cargo bikes make them an appealing choice, despite their larger size and initial learning curve in handling. As urban infrastructure continues to evolve to support more diverse forms of cycling, the cargo bike stands out as a highly practical option for a sustainable, family-friendly urban lifestyle.