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The ICBF is also about networking. ‘It’s still<br />
a young industry. But people are - despite<br />
a growing sense of competition - willing to<br />
share their knowledge and work together to<br />
innovate.’ With pride Sluijsmans continues:<br />
‘It would be bold to claim that the idea for the<br />
DHL Cubycicle was born here. But the parties<br />
involved in developing this concept, Velove,<br />
DHL and Flevobike, met at the ICBF. That<br />
speaks for itself, I think.’<br />
He’s a bit shy to admit it, but Sluijsmans<br />
is also proud of the fact that in the US, in<br />
Oklahoma, a cargo bike has been named<br />
after him: the JosExpress. ‘Two years ago<br />
I took Keith Reed on a tour of Nijmegen. I<br />
showed him all sorts of bikes. He was really<br />
interested in the latest developments and<br />
my activities. He obviously found the tour<br />
inspiring, because he went on to create the<br />
JosExpress. Amazing, don’t you think?!’<br />
Obviously, Jos Sluijsmans is a passionate<br />
entrepreneur. There is much to complain<br />
about; the fossil industry which is<br />
systematically favoured, the lack of<br />
structural support for sustainable<br />
initiatives or the threat represented<br />
by diminishment of the human<br />
dimension. But his vision for a<br />
better world is what keeps him<br />
going. ‘I think it’s fair to say:<br />
I’m a bit of an idealist.’<br />
5
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