4 ms·

Also, there was a recent episode by the YT channel "Not Just Bikes" that really opened my mind to the possibility of 80% of these situations being comfortable a

Also, there was a recent episode by the YT channel "Not Just Bikes" that really opened my mind to the possibility of 80% of these situations being comfortable accommodated by cargo bikes. They're really amazing and a bike-centric future in cities is actually pretty realistic.

aqme28 4y ago
As someone who bikes everywhere, I'd say 80% of these situations don't even need a cargo bike. The cargo bike covers maybe another 15%, and the rest you can deal with by renting a van once or twice a year.
- OJFord 4y ago
  I agree with this - unless you have a single item that almost fills the cargo bucket, panniers are fine. Most cargo bikes I've seen don't have any more carrying capacity than a regular one laden with panniers. It's like truck vs. estate or something - sure there's some added convenience, and it's easier for single big things, but is it worth the specialised vehicle if you have/otherwise need (people capacity, maneuverability, whatever) the other one anyway?
LunaSea 4y ago
Cargo bikes are far too expensive for this to work.
- petriw 4y ago
  Most cargo bikes cost quite a bit less than a car though.
  - LunaSea 4y ago
    Not if you account the price per capita.
    - petriw 4y ago
      I can't even piece together how this could be true. A family probably only needs one cargo bike. An brand new _expensive_ cargo bike costs around the same as the yearly cost of a car. If you think your car costs less, calculate your TCO.
      - LunaSea 4y ago
        And the other 3 members of the family are walking?
        petriw 4y ago
        For what a single car costs in taxes, insurance, fuel, and maintenance for a year your could get 5 used bicycles and a nice cargo bike trailer off amazon.
- occz 4y ago
  That is maybe the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard when comparing cargo bikes to cars.
  - LunaSea 4y ago
    Cargo bikes cost between $2k and $5k, can be easily stolen, take as much space to park as a car, and carries one person. Cars carry 5 people and can cost between $5k and $10k. So cargo bikes are really no match.
    - detaro 4y ago
      > take as much space to park as a car They really don't. I'm not sure why you need 5 people for the things listed above, like carrying groceries? > can cost between $5k and $10k. And how much per year in insurance/tax/maintenance?
    - petriw 4y ago
      So let us assume 2 adults and 3 kids. $5k for a _very nice_ cargo bike capable of transporting 1-2 kids too young to cycle on their own. $4k for _nice_ bikes for each adult. ($2k x 2) $3k for _good_ bikes for each kid as they grow out of the cargo bike. ($1k x 3) $1k a year on maintenance for the bikes if you don't want to do it yourself. $1k for locks and a crash course on how to lock your bicycles to stuff making it too much of a pain to steal. That's $15k, or the cost of your lower end for a car for 3 years. So between year 3 and 4 you can start either just replacing the bicycles with new nice ones because you like brand new, get yourself even more expensive electrified bikes, or spend it on other stuff. And all the while here you could also settle for just "decent" bicycles which cost way less.
      - LunaSea 4y ago
        What kind of math is that? That car will last you 10 years something you can hardly say about the cargo bikes. You don't need a new car every year.
        4y ago

aqme28 4y ago

As someone who bikes everywhere, I'd say 80% of these situations don't even need a cargo bike. The cargo bike covers maybe another 15%, and the rest you can deal with by renting a van once or twice a year.

OJFord 4y ago
I agree with this - unless you have a single item that almost fills the cargo bucket, panniers are fine. Most cargo bikes I've seen don't have any more carrying capacity than a regular one laden with panniers. It's like truck vs. estate or something - sure there's some added convenience, and it's easier for single big things, but is it worth the specialised vehicle if you have/otherwise need (people capacity, maneuverability, whatever) the other one anyway?

LunaSea 4y ago

Cargo bikes are far too expensive for this to work.

petriw 4y ago
Most cargo bikes cost quite a bit less than a car though.
- LunaSea 4y ago
  Not if you account the price per capita.
  - petriw 4y ago
    I can't even piece together how this could be true. A family probably only needs one cargo bike. An brand new _expensive_ cargo bike costs around the same as the yearly cost of a car. If you think your car costs less, calculate your TCO.
    - LunaSea 4y ago
      And the other 3 members of the family are walking?
      - petriw 4y ago
        For what a single car costs in taxes, insurance, fuel, and maintenance for a year your could get 5 used bicycles and a nice cargo bike trailer off amazon.
occz 4y ago
That is maybe the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard when comparing cargo bikes to cars.
- LunaSea 4y ago
  Cargo bikes cost between $2k and $5k, can be easily stolen, take as much space to park as a car, and carries one person. Cars carry 5 people and can cost between $5k and $10k. So cargo bikes are really no match.
  - detaro 4y ago
    > take as much space to park as a car They really don't. I'm not sure why you need 5 people for the things listed above, like carrying groceries? > can cost between $5k and $10k. And how much per year in insurance/tax/maintenance?
  - petriw 4y ago
    So let us assume 2 adults and 3 kids. $5k for a _very nice_ cargo bike capable of transporting 1-2 kids too young to cycle on their own. $4k for _nice_ bikes for each adult. ($2k x 2) $3k for _good_ bikes for each kid as they grow out of the cargo bike. ($1k x 3) $1k a year on maintenance for the bikes if you don't want to do it yourself. $1k for locks and a crash course on how to lock your bicycles to stuff making it too much of a pain to steal. That's $15k, or the cost of your lower end for a car for 3 years. So between year 3 and 4 you can start either just replacing the bicycles with new nice ones because you like brand new, get yourself even more expensive electrified bikes, or spend it on other stuff. And all the while here you could also settle for just "decent" bicycles which cost way less.
    - LunaSea 4y ago
      What kind of math is that? That car will last you 10 years something you can hardly say about the cargo bikes. You don't need a new car every year.
      - 4y ago