Many of my car journeys are within a mile of my house, hauling toddlers and groceries to and fro. It would be much easier, more fun, and better for the environment, if I could replace at least a few of those trips with an electric cargo bike. However, a few hurdles stand in my way.
The first is cost. I loved the versatility and power of the R&M Load[1], but at $7,000, it costs as much as my current car. Going completely carless would justify the price, but it’s hard to make the commitment. I don’t know what my mom would say if I picked her up at the airport and strapped her into a cargo box to ride home. But I can picture her face, and it’s not pretty.
The second is convenience. Yuba[2], Riese & Müller, and other e-cargo bike manufacturers only sell through preferred retailers. Since I live in a city that is positively infested with high-end bike shops, I find picking up an electric cargo bike to be a simple, if time-consuming, task. But for many others, stopping by a shop and riding your new bike home is a lot harder. If Yuba's preferred retailers aren’t in your city, you might be stuck taking a train and biking 50, or 100, miles back home.
Animation by Rad Power Bikes
Seattle’s Rad Power Bikes[3] operates on the principle that everyone who wants an electric bike should be able to get one. The RadWagon, their e-cargo offering, starts at $1,599. It costs only a fraction more than a decent road bike. And since they’re direct-to-consumer, they will deliver a bike directly to your door.
In terms of price...