Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) - One fisherman uses a bike to deliver
hundreds of pounds of salmon to local markets. A mom who regularly
shuttles her two kids around town once tried to haul a twin mattress
home. And some companies are using the bikes to deliver beer kegs or
pick up recycling.
Cyclists are pushing the limits of what they can
haul on cargo bikes - sturdy two-wheelers built to haul lots of stuff.
The so-called SUV of bicycles are increasingly popular in pedal-friendly
communities, from Washington state to Massachusetts.
Families are using the bikes to do everything they
did on four wheels - schlepping kids to school, hauling groceries or
running errands - without the hassle of finding parking. Some do it to
help the environment in a small way or get exercise, while others say it
is an easier, more fun way to get around.
"(Our) bike has turned into our go everywhere
minivan," said Julian Davies, a Seattle physician who regularly hauls
his two kids in a cargo bike.
Companies also are using bikes to deliver beer
around Portland, Ore., collect recycling in Cambridge, Mass., or pick up
dirty laundry in Philadelphia.
Cargo bikes are common in countries like Denmark
and The Netherlands, but they're catching on in the U.S. Companies such
Xtracycle, Yuba and Metrofiets are catering to this niche, while major
bike makers like Trek are also developing their own lines.
It's still in the early adopter phase, but "it's
picking up steam," said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American
Bicyclists. "It's a reflection of the growing utility of cycling, and
the propensity to use bikes for more and more activities. It's giving
people more options and flexibility."
Cargo bikes can refer to any bike that hauls heavy
loads. Many models out now are built to handle multiple people or loads
up to about 400 pounds on a single frame. They can be a foot or two
longer than typical bikes, and are often outfitted with a
wheelbarrow-like box or shelf, in front or back. Some cost between
$1,000 and $5,000.
"If you want to park your car, this is the way to
go," said Joel Grover, co-owner of Splendid Cycles in Portland, Ore. The
shop opened four years ago mostly to sell to businesses, but quickly
began catering to families who wanted wheels to handle more than one
kid.
"We're reaching a point where all these cities are encouraging people to go places by bike," co-owner Barb Grover said.
Seattle dad Davies has logged about 2,000 miles on
his cargo bike. A rain cover and electric assist helps him power through
Seattle's rain and hilly terrain. His two young kids sit in a large
front box built between the handlebars and front wheel.
It's more convenient to take the bike for errands
because it's easier to park, he said. But he enjoys the social aspect of
being able to chat with his kids as he rides.
Madi Carlson, 41, regularly schlepps her two young
kids along with their bikes on her pink long-tail bike, which has kids
seats mounted over the rear of the bike. The three usually cover about
10 miles a day, riding between school, home, playdates and errands.
The Seattle mom considers it a challenge to carry
absurd loads. She once tried to haul a box spring mattress, and made it
six blocks before she had to call her husband for a lift.
"That damn box spring," she laughed. "That's one of
the problems with cargo bikes. You just want to carry bigger and more
exciting loads. You just want to see what you can do."
As for safety, Carlson said she bikes slowly and defensively and
sticks to dedicated bike paths where possible. "I worry a lot more about
accidents in the car," she said.
Randy Swart, director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety
Institute, said he hasn't seen studies on cargo bike safety, but "most
of them seem very stable." He added: "From what I've seen, not from
scientific evidence, they seem like a pretty reasonable solution for
carrying kids."
The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines
recommends not taking infants under a year old on bicycles. It says
children should ride in a bicycle-towed child trailer, wear helmets and
be strapped in. It warns of risks of serious injury when carrying a
young child on a bike.
Delivering salmon by bike has been good publicity
for Rick Oltman, whose company bikes can be spotted in Port Townsend,
Wash., near Seattle.
"People wave. We have huge fan clubs," said Oltman,
owner of Cape Cleare Fishery. "It's not to save the world. It's mostly
that we enjoy bicycling. My butt was getting flat sitting in a white van
and I didn't want to do that anymore."
Carlson's enthusiasm has caught on. Two friends have bought similar cargo bikes and have started riding.
"Sometimes just seeing one person do it plants a seed," she said.