Freight bicycle

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Traditional Dutch cargo tricycle
Traditional Dutch cargo tricycle
Old-fashioned Dutch freight tricycle
Old-fashioned Dutch freight tricycle
Modern long-wheelbase freight bicycle from Amsterdam
Modern long-wheelbase freight bicycle from Amsterdam
Danish Long John freight bicycle
Danish Long John freight bicycle
Industrial Trike produced by International Surrey Company
Industrial Trike produced by International Surrey Company

Freight bicycles, carrier cycles, freight tricycles or cargo bikes are human powered vehicles designed and constructed specifically for transporting large loads. Vehicle designs usually include a cargo handling area consisting of a steel tube carrier, an open or enclosed box (cabinet), a flat platform, or a wire bracket basket. These are usually mounted over one or both wheels, low behind the front wheel, or between parallel wheels at either the front or rear of the vehicle. The frame and drivetrain must be constructed to handle loads several times that of an ordinary bicycle. Other specific design considerations include operator visibility and load suspension.

More on the subject, along with some duplication, can be read in the article "Workbike".

Contents

[edit] History

Historically, freight bicycles were heavy-duty standard bicycles, typically with heavy carriers at front or rear. During the early part of the 20th Century these were commonly used by tradespeople for local deliveries (in the UK this style is still sometimes known as a butcher's bike, although the Post Office have by far the largest fleet). Modern freight cycles vary much more widely, often being tailored to particular applications.

The recent long bike or 'longtail' bike has a long wheel base for more space on the rear luggage rack, and strong frame and wheels to carry more weight on and around the rear wheel. The look of this bike is more appealing to the average non cyclist and so much more useful than a normal bike. It is also more stable due to its long wheelbase and fat tyres. There are two manufactures at present Kona (the ute) and yuba (the mondo); Surly Bicycles have developed a frameset which has just been released in the USA.

[edit] Pros and cons

An obvious limitation of a human-powered utility vehicle is the relative weakness of its "motor", leaving a very narrow scope for balancing tare weight, payload, geographical and topographical range against each other. Because of the unavoidable physical demands on a driver who also has to propel the vehicle, and the lack of protection against either the elements or other traffic, there is also a potential for working conditions becoming a serious problem. This can be very real in the Third World, which also has by far the greatest proportion of human-powered transport. Technical efforts to improve conditions are hampered by the need for low weight and sturdy simplicity to achieve low costs in small-scale operations. In some countries the use of cycle lanes is restricted to two wheelers and small width trailers only.

Yet, they have much to commend them. Non-motorized vehicles are particularly attractive where motorized vehicles would:

  • become stuck in traffic congestion
  • create air pollution problems (e.g. enclosed warehouses and industrial plants)
  • create safety problems (e.g. crowded pedestrian areas)
  • cost too much to operate at a profit
  • be limited by fuel availability
  • be limited by the availability of on-street parking
  • be restricted for environmental reasons (e.g. protected lands)
  • prove inefficient for short order production or distribution schedules or for the last mile phase of delivery

Non-motorized vehicles do not generate sparks[citation needed] (having no electric components or combustion engines), therefore, they are used in refineries, chemical, petrochemical, and many other industries where due to fire hazard and presence of combustible chemicals, only non-motorized bicycles or tricycles can be used for transportation.

[edit] Common Usages

Common usages include:

  • delivery services in dense urban environments
  • food vending in high foot traffic areas (including specialist ice cream bikes)
  • transporting trade tools, including around large installations such as power stations and CERN
  • airport cargo handling
  • recycling collections
  • warehouse inventory transportation
  • mail (The UK post office operates a fleet of 33,000 bicycles, mainly the Pashley MailStar)

Because of the strong economic advantageous realizable by widespread proliferation of freight bicycles, Oxfam has designed the OxTrike and established local production at community workshops in non-industrialized countries for use in non-industrialized countries worldwide. Dangdang, China’s biggest online bookseller, uses 30 bicycle courier companies in 12 cities to deliver goods and collect payments.

[edit] See also

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[edit] External links

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