8
INTERNATIONAL
CARGO BIKE
FESTIVAL 2018
Tempelhof, Berlin
13 - 15 April, 2018
Protecting
your cargo
since 1975
In The Netherlands we love cycling. Some
people even say that it is in our DNA. But
that is not true. Building a cyclists’ paradise
requires hard work, a clear vision and
defiance. We should know, because keeping
The Netherlands a safe and happy cycling
country is our main goal, ever since we
started, more than forty years ago.
We are Fietsersbond, the Dutch Cyclists’
Union. Thanks to our 34.000 members and
1.650 volunteers, we are the largest cycling
advocacy group in The Netherlands, and we
welcome you to try some of our best Dutch
cycling routes.
You can find more about us and cycling in
The Netherlands on our website:
fietsersbond.nl/english
2
Colophon: ICBF Magazine is a publication of Fietsdiensten.nl, copyright © 2018.
Coordination: LA Communicatie Design: Avancé Communicatie
Print: Zalsman Editing: Tom Parr Information: info@fietsdiensten.nl
4 New impetus for the ICBF
6 Cargo Bike in Oklahoma
Contents
7 Cargo Bikes in Rotterdam
8 ICBF @ VELOBerlin
10 RIPPL Project
12 The Ultimate Electric Cargo Trike
14 How cities can speed up containerisation
16 Cargo Bike Festival
18 The future of cargo bikes
20 Nijmegen, the Green Capital of Europe 2018
22 Carefree delivery
24 Futures for cycling you never saw coming
26 LEVV-LOGIC Project
28 Greenpack Pilot Project
29 Cargo Bike Poland
30 Destination City Centre - Groningen
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INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
New impetus for the ICBF
Text and photo Karin Veenendaal
Director Jos Sluijsmans felt it was time for a change. He wanted to reinvigorate
The International Cargo Bike Festival. What he didn’t foresee was a whole new
partnership and a new location. This year the ICBF is hosted by VELOBerlin.
From the oldest Dutch city to a German capital brimming with both innovation
and history. Speaking of impetus…
Teaming up with VELOBerlin;
how did it come about?
Our two events sometimes have overlapping
dates. This has hindered us in the past and as
it turned out, we were once again planning the
same dates for 2018. VELOBerlin contacted
me to see if we could change our dates and I
had to tell them that unfortunately this wasn’t
possible. To my surprise they suggested a kind
of merger. At first I was a bit hesitant to be
honest. For sure there were advantages, but I
wasn’t sure whether or not ICBF participants
would embrace the change.
So what made you say ‘yes’?
Tempelhof. The moment I found out this
would be the new location for VELOBerlin, it
clicked - it just felt right. This former airport
near the city centre is highly atmospheric.
Picture this; an historic place as a backdrop
for innovation. Despite this, cargo bikes are
really an old means of transportation and, for
me, this juxtaposition of old and new makes
Tempelhof the perfect venue. Not insignificant
was VELOBerlin’s offer to take on part of the
costs and organisation. The combination of
these things made me say ‘yes!’
How will ICBF and VELOBerlin benefit
from linking up?
I think everyone involved will benefit. ICBF
visitors will have a richer, more diverse
experience. ICBF exhibitors will have access
to a larger, more generic audience; Germany
is one of the biggest markets in the world for
cargo bike manufacturers. Cargo bikes are still
seen as something strange, we still occupy a
niche and I really want to change that. Linking
up with VELOBerlin has given the ICBF a higher
profile, which is great. I mean Berlin, that’s
quite something!
VELOBerlin benefits by hosting ICBF; the
best, most diverse gathering of cargo bike
manufacturers in the world. Until now
VELOBerlin has been primarily focussed on
local consumers and visitors. It has been
their wish for some time now to include
cargo bikes and introduce an element of
Business-to-Business. Furthermore VELOBerlin
also benefits from adding an international
component to what is a local festival.
How about you and Berlin?
It’s amazing, but until very recently Berlin was
a blind spot for me. I find the city enthralling.
Very relaxed. A bit un-German, if I may say so.
What fascinates me are those rough, old sites
right in the heart of the city. The combination
of the old and the new, establishment and
counter-culture all so close together is
extraordinary. But I also like the spacious,
clean streets and sidewalks. Pedestrians and
cyclists share space in harmony.
Nijmegen is European Green Capital
2018. Wasn’t it more logical to stay put?
No, not necessarily. To clarify this I would
like to quote the European Commissioner
Karmenu Vella. In his foreword in the
brochure Nijmegen, Green Capital of Europe
2018 he states: “The centre of the cargo
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#ICBF2018
bike movement, developments in this area
pioneered in Nijmegen, can change the
way we view transport in urban areas. The
European Green Capital Award is not just a
singular award for one city. It is a showcase of
best practices to inspire other cities to build a
more sustainable future.”
With that in mind it is my pleasure to put the
values and ideas of Nijmegen Green Capital
2018 under the spotlights here in Berlin.
Besides, it’s a great opportunity to reach
eastern- European countries such as Poland,
Hungary, Romania and the Balkans. Their
cities are also suffering from excessive air
pollution and traffic congestion. I would like to
demonstrate to them that freight distribution
by cargo bike offers a solution.
Next year: same time, same place?
No. In 2019 the ICBF will return to The
Netherlands. But to a different location:
Groningen. The municipality of Groningen is
very keen on sustainable city distribution and
is looking forward to our presence. They are
eager and already have many great plans.
Very motivating! I think this will be the future
for the ICBF: joining like-minded initiatives and
promoting Nijmegen’s green values and ideas
elsewhere.
5
Cargo Bike in Oklahoma
By Keith Reed
Isn’t it fun how the unplanned chance
meetings can sometimes have the most
profound influence on us? Three years
ago, as I was concluding a bike tour from
Milan to Nijmegen, I had the good fortune
of being introduced to Jos Sluijsmans by a
mutual friend. As a bicycle advocate back
home in the central United States, I was
already overwhelmed by the bike culture,
especially the remarkable infrastructure.
Spending a day with Jos touring the city and
experiencing one of the most progressive
commitment to bikes on the planet has to
offer was just about more than I could
take in.
Of course, part of that day was spent
talking about cargobikes. After a couple of
very brief test rides, the hook was set!
Fast forward to one year ago…. My dream
of owning a cargobike was finally achieved.
Since the nearest stocking dealer was more
than a 1000 kms away, I worked with a
local frame builder (Scissortails Cycles in
Norman Oklahoma) to create a front loader
cargobike, the Jos Express.
I wish I could say riding my bike around
the state has created a fire storm of
demand for similar bikes. While my bike
immediately led to the construction of its
twin and the purchase of a Yuba Super
Marché, frontloader cargobike demand
is not sweeping the area, at least not yet
anyway. Only time will tell if the locals
catch on to the incredible practicality a
cargo bike can offer.
What I can say with absolute certainty
is the cargobike is the most remarkable
advocacy tool ever devised, at least for
our part of the world. In the year I’ve been
riding my bike almost daily, including an
800km tour across our state, I have yet to
have a negative interaction with anyone on
the road. Instead, I find myself regularly
having the most amazing conversations
with people from all walks of life about the
bike, and riding in general. (yes, including
monster-sized pickup trucks with Trump
stickers all over them).
If you are reading this magazine, thank you
for what you are already doing. Please keep
up the fantastic work of changing the world.
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#ICBF2018
Cargo Bikes in Rotterdam
By Tim Sjouke
Cargo bikes in Rotterdam to make the urban distribution more sustainable; it is an inspiring
vision of the future, yet it is one that is slowly turning into reality. The use of human-powered
vehicles in urban distribution is increasing, but to what extent should we remodel the city
to accommodate these newcomers? What infrastructural changes are necessary and what
opportunities arise in the design of public spaces?
The first step in improving the operability
of cargo bikes is simply following the
guidelines for the design of cycling
infrastructure. The Dutch guidelines are
managed by CROW; the Dutch technology
platform for transport, infrastructure
and public space. The Recommendations
for traffic provisions in built-up areas 1 are
also available in English and German.
Additionally, an upgrade in the design of
urban public spaces can also benefit a
sustainable way urban distribution.
It focuses primarily on reconfiguring the so-called urban traffic
environments. This allows the problems in the infrastructure to
be identified and addressed.
In addition, local opportunities can be found through a spatial
design framework. This framework, Functional Ambiance 3 , makes
the connection between traffic and the public space itself.
Flows and places come together within this framework. These
frameworks aid the integration of the cargo bike into the urban
traffic and show which local optimisations are possible. In Cargo
bikes in Rotterdam, seven streets in Rotterdam are analysed to
explore the opportunities in practice.
Two innovative design frameworks are used
to examine the infrastructural complexities
and to inspire a smarter design of the
public domain.
The traffic-based framework, Urban
Mobility 2 , is a new approach to the design
of urban public space.
1. CROW. (1998). ASVV – Recommendations for traffic provisions in built-up areas. Ede, The Netherlands: CROW.
2. Immers, Egeter, Diepens, & Weststrate. (2016). Urban Mobility. The Hague, The Netherlands: ANWB.
3. Verheijen, & Smidt. (2013). Functional Ambiance. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Research Centre Sustainable Solutions,
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.
4. Hoogendoorn, van Lonkhuizen, van der Ree & Sjouke. (2018). Cargo bikes in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands: University of Applied Sciences.
7
ICBF @ VELOBerlin 2018
Interview with VELOBerlin founder Ulrike Saade
By Christoph Schulz
The VELOBerlin was established in 2011
by Messe Friedrichshafen, organiser of
world’s leading trade fair EUROBIKE,
and the Berlin based bicycle agency
Velokonzept Saade as the leading public
bicycle show in the German capital, with
an impact not only on consumers, but
also on politics and the media. This year’s
VELOBerlin does not only move to the
fancy location of Tempelhof Airport,
Ulrike, what was your intention in
integrating the ICBF in this year’s
VELOBerlin?
I first met ICBF founder Jos 2015 at the
Velo City Conference in Nantes. In fact our
festival dates unfortunately coincided in the
upcoming editions and already in that year
we tried to find a solution – two years later
we found it! I am really happy that the most
important gathering of cargo bike brands,
manufacturers, dealers, associations
and groups will take place in Berlin!
It will expand the cargo bike focus
we have established throughout
the years, especially in the direction
of smaller manufacturers, DIY
builders and non-profitorganisations
as well as
the expert programme.
but also co-hosts the International
Cargo Bike Festival ICBF.
8
What do you think Berlin will gain from the ICBF?
Cargo Bikes are a big issue in our city – we see more and more
families and delivery services on cargo bikes in the streets,
and at the same time the state government is also very
pro-cargo bike. We hope on a buyer’s premium as already
exists in Munich for example. There is a large community
in Berlin that organizes shows, races and demonstrations,
so Berlin is taking the right steps I guess. ICBF will
help to show many great international examples of
new products, innovative ideas and inspire people
to get on a cargo bike themselves.
Is there a personal ICBF highlight you are
looking forward to?
To see 50 different cargo bikes in one place will definitely
be unique for me and many visitors. But on the other hand
the professional exchange, meetings and tours on the day
before our festival, welcoming people from all over Europe,
maybe the world, who are really deep into the topic – I am
really excited what will come out of that!
9
Register of Initiatives in Pedal Powered Logistics
RIPPL Project
By Tom Parr
As a visitor to the International Cargo Bike
Festival, you’re probably aware that there
are many, many examples of businesses,
initiatives and projects around the world
doing exciting and innovative things with
cargo bikes, trikes or pedal-power.
RIPPL (Register of Initiatives in Pedal Powered
Logistics) is a project in which ICBF
Director Jos Sluijsmans and I (researcher
and writer Tom Parr) aim to highlight and
share examples of these initiatives. We’ve
hand-picked the most interesting case
studies and presented each in a short,
readable article. Along the way, we also
identify trends in cycle logistics and share
best practices.
With this in mind we’ve recently relaunched, with a new website
which will act as a resource for those interested in all aspects of
cycle logistics. There are now over 40 case studies available at
www.rippl.bike. We’ve made it easy to navigate by location or trend,
and for those interested in looking closer at particular initiatives
we’ve included links for further reading. Since RIPPL has been
running for over a year now, the International Cargo Bike Festival is
a good moment to look back at some of the trends we’ve
picked out.
Rita bringt’s and Marleen Kookt
use fleets of cargo bikes to deliver
healthy food to their customers in Vienna
and Amsterdam; not because they love bikes,
but because it’s the most efficient way to do it.
Food
[READ: RIPPL #16 and #38]
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Multimodality
We covered a
pair of initiatives combining
boats and bikes to deliver
to city centres. In Amsterdam, DHL
have done this successfully for over
20 years. Meanwhile in Paris, Boat-
Bike initiative Vert Chez Vous didn’t
get off the ground; we explored the
reasons why.
[READ: RIPPL #36 and #37]
A hot topic at the
moment; in the same way
that containers revolutionised
shipping, many people think a revolution
will happen in cycle logistics, but
with smaller containers. Swedish manufacturer
Velove are developing containers
compatible not only with their own cargo
cycles, but also with those of other manufacturers.
Containerisation
[READ: RIPPL #33]
[VISIT @ ICBF: Velove]
A recent
phenomenon from the
US is community movement
‘Disaster Relief Trials’, which
organises off-road races training
local people to respond effectively
to earthquakes using cargo bikes.
[READ: RIPPL #20]
Disaster Relief
Many local
authorities are experimenting
with pedal
powered waste collection and
street cleaning. Pilot schemes in
Hamburg and Waalre (a small town
near Eindhoven, in the Netherlands)
have seen larger vehicles replaced
by pedal power.
Waste
[READ: RIPPL #21 and #35]
London-based
startup Pedal Me
is taking on the likes of
UBER with a fleet of custom
built Urban Arrows; tests have
shown that their service is
faster.
Mobility as a Service
[READ: RIPPL #17]
[VISIT @ ICBF:
Urban Arrow]
So as you walk around the ICBF, try to keep these trends in mind.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on current and future trends in
cycle logistics; we’ll both be present throughout the festival, feel
free to come and say hello.
RIPPL is supported by Topsector Logistiek and Connekt. Visit the
RIPPL website at: www.rippl.bike and follow us on Twitter: @RIPPL__
Photo credits: Vert Chez Vous, Velove, Pedal Me, Radio Hamburg,
Kelley Stangl, Rita bringt’s
11
The Ultimate
Electric Cargo Trike
Always have the wind behind you
Details make the difference
At first glance, most cargo bikes seem quite
similar to each other. But take a closer
look and you’ll discover that details make
the difference. soci.bike surprises you with
smart solutions that make your daily commute
safer, easier, more comfortable and
more enjoyable. Day after day, month after
month, year after year.
The soci.bike story
soci.bike is no ordinary cargo bike; it’s a cargo
bike with a story, a social purpose. The
owners themselves have experienced the
feeling of standing on the sidelines in life
(either themselves or somebody close to
them); perhaps people who feel no reason
to get out of bed in the morning or who,
when they get home every evening, feel no
pride about what they have done that day.
This is our social purpose; we don’t hire
people to build cargo bikes, we build cargo
bikes in order to hire these people.
Take a test ride
Want to test a soci.bike? No problem. Test
one thoroughly, listen to the experiences of
real users, compare it to other cargo bikes
and draw your own conclusions.
Request
a free test drive
in your area via
www.soci.bike.
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Hatch open, hatch closed!
Our must have feature!
Children and dogs keep getting heavier. Thanks to the front
hatch, loading and unloading is easier than ever; even easier
than a car.
Bafang mid-drive
Comfortable and safe
Electric bikes can be fitted with two types of motor, a mid-drive (bottom-bracket)
type or a front wheel hub type. So why a mid-drive on the
soci.bike? A mid-drive system reacts quicker to your pedaling input,
leading to a more natural feel to your bike. The motor only gives you
assistance when you need it, it stops when you stop. The result is a more
comfortable and safe riding experience.
NuVinci Harmony automatic gearbox
Shifting is so 1996
Each soci.bike is equipped with a NuVinci Harmony automatic gearbox
as standard. Whether you’re driving in traffic with a heavy load,
or you want to go fast on the flat, the soci.bike has got you covered!
Tektro hydraulic disk brakes
Hopefully they won’t lose their breakfast
Sometimes there aren’t enough minutes in the day and you need to go
fast. Luckily the soci.bike is fitted with hydraulic disk brakes, a technology
originally developed for Formula 1, so you can stop quickly and
precisely. Take comfort in the knowledge that you’ll be able to react
quickly to the unexpected.
Specially developed mudguards
Its always good to look after your fingers
One of the nicest things about children is their curiosity. For example,
what happens if I put my fingers in the spokes? This is why we specifically
developed the soci.bike mudguards to protect you from spray
whilst simultaneously protecting the curious ones from the wheels.
Fits through any door
Easily get your cargo bike indoors
Your indoor bike storage area is your safe zone. soci.bike is designed
to easily fit through any door so you can store your bike safe and dry
behind closed doors with minimal fuss.
13
How cities can speed up urban
logistics using containerisation
By Johan Erlandsson
Specialised last mile delivery vehicles, like cargo bikes, have numerous advantages
and also great potential to replace a large portion of todays standard vehicle for last
mile delivery - the van. If cities would actively support city logistics containerisation,
a lot of this potential could be unlocked!
Cargo bikes have a higher productivity as
they don’t get stuck in traffic like vans do,
they can take shorter routes and they never
have a parking problem. They also have a
lower total cost of ownership than vans.
Cargo bikes are particularly competitive in
cities with bike infrastructure.
Cargo bikes reduce congestion, eliminate
noise and emissions to air and also replace
vehicles with faces in the city - all of which
contributes to a more liveable city!
Todays standard process for last mile delivery -vans both bring the goods into the
city and do the last mile delivery.
Cargo bikes use only 6 % of the electricity a
small e-van uses, for doing the same transport
work. The reduction in material use
for the vehicle is similar. As long as we do
not have 100 % CO2 free electricity, energy
efficiency should be in everyone’s focus
and here is an opportunity for cities to save
energy!
Until now, the use of specialised last mile
delivery vehicles has however been limited.
The van still stands strong, partly because
shifting the goods to a smaller vehicle
has been too difficult, time consuming
and expensive.
Enter the city container. By borrowing ideas
from shipping containers, which increased
productivity in loading and unloading
vessels by a factor of 15, shifting of goods
between ships, trucks and trains is now a
breeze, especially if cities support
containerisation.
Containerised city logistics. Containers are loaded in the terminal, brought
into the city with big vehicles, dropped off at terminals/handover points
where last mile delivery vehicles pick them up for last mile delivery.
City containers are loaded in terminals
outside the city, transported by big vehicles
(replacing many smaller vans) to terminals
in the final distribution area. Here, specialised
last mile delivery vehicles collect the
containers in seconds and off they go.
The goods have been safely locked,
weather protected and monitored during
the whole process.
14
There is an important precondition to make
this work: container terminals or some sort
of handover points within the distribution
area. We suggest that the city actively
support the setup of these terminals/
handover points. By staying in control of
terminals/handover points, the city:
• can make sure each carrier and goods
owner is treated fairly and given access
-no matter the amount of goods. This
will enable more businesses to
containerise.
• can subsidise the facilities (just like
public transport is subsidised) to make
them more attractive
• can decide where the terminal should
be located
• can argue more strongly for vehicle
regulation, as it also offers a solution for
last mile delivery
If your city has waterways - congratulations!
This makes finding terminal facilities very
easy, as floating terminals can be used
which dock during the day. All trucks can
be directed to a point well outside the city
centre, where the goods are loaded onto
the floating terminals. These terminals are
then taken to different points in the city.
#ICBF2018
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INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
“My dream of owning
a cargo bike was finally
achieved.”
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#ICBF2018
“The aim is a city for
people, not cars.”
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INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
“The future of cargo bikes:
bigger and stronger!”
An interview with Bradford Vidal, Designer and Engineer at Urban Arrow’s Cargo Division.
Could you introduce yourself?
Hi, I‘m Bradford Vidal, 46 years old. I have
a background in mechanical engineering,
architecture and industrial design. At Urban
Arrow I coordinate our manufacturers and
suppliers and manage the in-house assembly
of the Tender. I’m also responsible for
some custom builds and developments
such as the Taxi-bike or Cargo Small.
I see Urban Arrow bikes everywhere I
go. You seem to be doing very well.
Thank you. A lot of the Urban Arrows you
see are from the Family division, but our
Cargo bikes are growing in number,
meaning they are more and more visible.
Our bikes are popular because they are
high quality and sturdy. This makes them
perfect for every day heavy use, from
school runs to hauling cargo.
What developments do you see in the
world of cargo bikes?
At the moment mobility is changing rapidly.
Especially in the city where air quality and
traffic congestion means that environmental
zones and restrictions on freight traffic
are becoming more commonplace. We are
slowly beginning to see in what direction
mobility will develop; bicycles seem to be
taking a more and more important role.
On one hand there is the somewhat traditional
two-wheeled cargo bike for the lighter,
less bulky cargo that can move through
traffic easily. At Urban Arrow, we meet this
demand with our Shorty, Cargo L, XL and
the quite big XXL.
On the other hand, there is increased
demand for bigger and much sturdier cargo
bikes that have very large capacity in terms
of both volume and weight. These bikes
are for city centre use by couriers; that
demands a strong bike which can withstand
rough use. For this we have the Tender
1500 and 2500. I’m also developing the Tender
1000, which is narrower and has a little
less volume, but keeps the same sturdiness
and weight capacity.
The Tender is enormous; why was it
necessary to create such a large bike?
Until the Tender there wasn’t a cargo bike
that could transport such a large volume
and weight which was also strong enough
to withstand the rough daily courier use.
Urban Arrow
Tender 1500
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#ICBF2018
We saw that occasional rough treatment of the bikes already on the
market would often result in damage or breakdown. So one has to
be very careful with them and of course couriers aren’t always able
or willing to do that.
It has been my view for a long time that for cargo transport in the
city it is not necessary to use big and heavy trucks and vans that are
capable of highway speeds. This can be done with more economical,
smaller, less polluting and lighter vehicles that can transport
the same cargo with speeds which are appropriate for urban
environments. There is an existing and growing demand for these
larger cargo bikes, but they need to be strong enough for their task
in reliable every day use.
The Tender still uses our already existing rear frame albeit with the
very powerful Bosch CX, and very strong Rohloff hub. I designed
the front end to withstand the forces and abuse it will encounter in
daily use. To be able to do that, the design is inspired by custom automotive
techniques and solutions.
During the design process, the steering geometry
and front suspension received extra
attention; we wanted to make it very strong
and give it safe handling characteristics. The
result is a robust, stable bike that is up to the
task with an almost maintenance-free front
end.
Now that you have the Tender, what’s
next?
The future is bigger and stronger still. There
is demand for even larger, more powerful
cargo bikes, and that is possible. Weight,
capability and volume will have to double
whilst keeping the overall dimensions of the
vehicle as small as possible. The size will
still be smaller and the energy consumption
much lower than the vehicle it replaces: the
delivery van.
“Our bikes are popular
because they are high
quality and sturdy.”
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INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
Nijmegen, the Green Capital
of Europe welcomes you!
By Klaas-Jan Gräfe
The city of Nijmegen, in the east of the Netherlands, is proud to be the 2018 European Green
Capital. We have a year full of activities for both businesses and residents with a focus on five
themes: Vital City, Energy Transition, Climate Change, Circular Economy and Smart Mobility.
According to the report of the European
Green Capital Award Jury: “Nijmegen has an
extensive cycling network, including cycle
superhighways, which link to surrounding
towns, and thousands of bicycle parking
places, some of which have dynamic
referral. Mobility is an important theme
within Nijmegen’s sustainability agenda.”
Nowhere is the cycling culture of the Netherlands better
represented than in Nijmegen. It is a city where cycling has priority.
37% of journeys up to 7.5 kilometres are taken by bike, including
more than 65% of inhabitants travelling to the city centre and
Heyendaal university campus. 70 km of cycle superhighways
have been constructed with 10 km still to be completed. The city
was awarded best Cycling City of the Netherlands in 2016 / 2017
by Fietsersbond, the Dutch Cyclists’ Union. Ambitious, long term
mobility policies brought this award to fruition and we showcased
our achievements, in conjunction with the nearby city of Arnhem,
when our region hosted the global cycling summit ‘Velo-City’ in 2017.
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#ICBF2018
Nijmegen is home to the Dutch Bicycle
Centre at the “Honigcomplex”, a hub where
20 independent cycling business work
side by side in sales, maintenance, design,
innovation, consultancy and advocacy. Here
you can see bikenomics in practice. This is
also the site where Jos Sluijsmans started
the International Cargo Bike Festival. We
are proud that this fabulous event went
international this year to reach even more
visitors and cargo bike enthusiasts.
During the European Mobility Week
(16th - 22nd September) in our Green
Capital year we will be focussing on smart
mobility. We are organizing a programme
of public events and campaigns - with a
different theme each day.
If you want to experience our cycling culture
and infrastructure for yourself, you are very
welcome to visit Nijmegen this year. For
more information about our programme
for Nijmegen European Green Capital 2018,
please visit greencapital2018.nl.
21
Carefree delivery
They are fast, they are durable and they are
trendy. The Ebike4Delivery is taking over
Europe. Big chains like Domino’s, Burger
King and Subway are already using our
solution for door to door delivery.
With 16 years of E-Bike experience, we
have developed the Ebike4Delivery. The
Ebike4Delivery is specifically designed
for delivery services and is continuously
improved with the latest technology. The
Ebike4Delivery offers a cost-effective,
sustainable, and innovative solution for
delivering pizzas, meals, packages, etc.
Every Ebike is developed in our Ebike Development Centre in Cuijk,
The Netherlands. Engineers use top quality components from well
known brands to ensure that the bike is solid, safe and durable.
Our Ebike is specially designed for delivery and is sturdy as well
as strong. With the battery positioned within the frame, the
cables safely hidden inside the bike frame and solid grips on the
handlebars, we’ve minimised the chance of accidental damage.
Equipped with an automatic 2-gear hub, the bike
accelerates very swiftly.
With over 7,500
bikes already on the
road, and an average of
30 km per day per deliverer,
we provide about 225,000
clean instead of polluting
kilometers per day
22
Using the Ebike4Delivery brings many advantages. It has a modern,
trendy image and it’s easy to park. The Ebike4Delivery reaches
speeds of over 25km per hour and no driver’s license is necessary.
Because you can use bike paths, you are unlikely to get stuck in
traffic, enabling you to reach your destination on time.
Every Ebike4Delivery has a unique look because the bike is
completely customisable. With a wide range of delivery boxes
and bags to choose from, there’s always a combination that fits
your needs. Want to add your company name, logo or contact
information? No problem! We take care of this for you.
And now, in addition to our classic Ebike4Delivery, we’ve developed
a whole new bike: the Ebike4Cargo. The Ebike4Cargo is a highly
customisable tricycle that greatly expands delivery possibilities.
Interested and ready for a test ride? Visit www.EBike4Delivery.com
and request your free week-long test.
23
INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
Futures for cycling you
never saw coming
By Dr. Steven Fleming
For a clearer perspective on the future of shopping, we should look to the country
where most of it happens, the United States. Amazon are making it something you
do on a phone screen and that the merchant provides with a warehouse and drone.
As socially isolating as life in cars seemed, at least people used to have malls!
Some will resist. They will patronize
main streets in their hipsterish enclaves
where everyone cycles. However, most of
humanity is along for a very different ride.
They’ll forget the time when attractions
were added to shopping districts—cinemas
and fountains, for instance. The shops
themselves will be the added attractions,
attached to places that still have a reason
for being, such as airports, train stations
and speculative real-estate ventures.
These are all privately owned places, and,
as such, are ruthlessly managed. You’ll
never see private cars there. You might,
however, see bikes. Staff inside airports
already use them. Thousands cycle each
day into the bike entries of Utrecht train
station. How long before train stations
encompass so many real estate ventures
that the only practical way of navigating
their caverns is on a bike?
Those buildings should, if we think about,
be organised around cycling. Apartments
and hotels should spiral upward along
bikeable corridors. Their concourses should
be giant shared spaces, undulating to help
cyclists speed up and slow down.
Shops in mega buildings could be brilliant
to visit by bike, or a cargo bike with children
on board. Amazon’s grocery store, Amazon
Go, shows how it would be possible to use
your cargo bike as a shopping trolley. Just
ride in, fill your bike from the shelves and
ride out with paying. Motion sensors know
what you’ve taken and bill you while you’re
riding away, unaware cycling is something
that ever used to happen outside.
Those who like bikes the way they like
anything old, would rather cycling vanish
than be a part of this future. Those who like
bikes for what they can offer—health, time
savings, equity and low energy transport—
will be interested in ways cycling could work
in mega buildings, particularly in climates
that keep everybody indoors.
Dr. Steven Fleming is an architect and
bicycling futurist working with an international
client base to reveal the full potential of
bicycle transport. His books include Cycle
Space and Velotopia.
24
#ICBF2018
25
www.hva.nl/levvlogic | levvlogic@hva.nl | Project leader: Susanne Balm, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
The LEVV-LOGIC project explores the use of light
electric freight vehicles (LEFV) for city logistics
Researchers and students from Universities of Applied Sciences
in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Arnhem/Nijmegen work together
with professionals from the logistics and automotive industry
and the public sector. Together they develop and apply
knowledge on new logistics concepts and business models with
LEFVs, supporting the ambition towards zero emission transport
in 2025.
Next to electrically assisted cargo bikes, the
project also explores non-pedal vehicles with
an electric motor such as Stint and small
electrics vehicles like the Goupil. The variety of
small, zero emission city distribution vehicles
is growing. This offers great opportunities for
experimentation and evaluation in daily practice.
Experiment in Maastricht – procurement subsidy for local entrepreneurs
Maastricht Bereikbaar (“Maastricht Accessible”) has offered local
entrepreneurs a subsidy of EUR 4.000 for the procurement and
use of an electric cargo bike. The condition is that they should
make daily journeys in and around Maastricht during a trial
period of six month, which would otherwise be made by car
or van. To ensure this condition is met, each e-cargo bike has
a GPS tracker, which provides insights in user behavior. The
participants are very diverse and have different motivations to
use the cargobike:
PP Events: an artistic performer – “passing
by and arriving by cargobike brings a smile to
peoples’ faces which adds to my image as clown”
HairVisit: a hairdresser that visits its clients
at home – “the bike fits with my ambition to
use sustainable products. And, cycling makes
me happy and healthy! On average, I cycle 26
kilometer per day, 6 days a week”
Blanche Dael: a coffee roasting factory
with daily trips between the store and
the office – “the cargobike is much faster
in the inner city and we save time
searching for a parking lot”
Photo by Jean-Pierre Geusens
Jules: a student-support
company with many field
service trips – “the bike is
more cost-efficient for small
deliveries and maintenance
tasks than a delivery van”
Experiment in Amsterdam – LEFV Battle: a practical competition with
students, teachers and researchers
The LEFV-Battle was organised for the first time in December 2017.
Two teams, each consisting of four students and two teachers/
researchers, experimented with LEFV in Amsterdam under real circumstances.
The competition started and finished on the premises
of logistics service provider Deudekom, just outside the environmental
zone. Both teams had to deliver 10 shipments in the city of
Amsterdam with three different LEFVs: an Urban Arrow cargobike,
a Stint and a Goupil. The shipments included a fruit basket, pillow,
boxes of coffee, printing paper, and a Christmas tree. The students
used the planning software of RoutiGo, which enables logistics
service providers to choose between cycling routes and car routes.
The teams experienced that cycling routes
can be much shorter than car routes. Using
the cycling path saved one of the teams 15
minutes as compared to the car route,
because of the many one-way streets.
Despite this saving, the other team won
the battle because their better score on
vehicle-efficiency.
Student, participant
LEFV battle:
“Finding the most efficient route and
navigating through the city was
challenging and fun. Being part of a
competition made it even more excited.”
Student, participant
LEFV battle:
“It was nice to experience
logistics in practice,
instead of leaning
theory all the time”
27
INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
Greenpack Pilot
Project “Infrastructure
with Battery Swapping
Stations”
By Tobias Breyer
One of the biggest challenges in electromobility is the
limited range of electric vehicles in combination with
what is still comparatively long charging duration.
Interchangeable batteries could be a solution to this. A
new pilot project is looking into the feasibility of joint use
of standardised battery modules and the infrastructure
necessary to support this.
Berlin-based startup GreenPack has initialised the pilot project
“Infrastructure with battery swapping stations – use of standardised
battery modules with various usages and different partners from
various sectors”. Partnering with them on the project are eMO, the
Berlin agency for electromobility and the Bundesverband Solare
Mobilität (German Federal Solar Mobility Association). One of the
core aims of the pilot is to work out the potential fields of use for
the battery-swapping concept.
In order to test out the advantages of the joint use of standardised
battery modules, GreenPack will set up a network of battery
swapping stations. On the ground, this means there will be at least
5 stations at different locations in Berlin.
Further partners wanted
GreenPack will also link up many different participants during this
nationwide unique pilot project in the next two years. As part of the
project, firms from the fields of energy, logistics, administration,
trade and other areas will be able to test out the advantages of
the joint use of an infrastructure of battery swapping stations for
e-bikes, e-scooters, e-cargo bikes and other electric vehicles, as well
as equipment for professional green space care.
Partners are still being sought, so if you think your organisation
would like to participate in the project please visit GreenPack’s
stand at the ICBF for further information. www.greenpack.de
28
Cargo Bike Poland
By Krzysztof Gubanski
Did you know there is a growing cargo bike community in
Poland? In 2015 a group of Warsaw families established
a cooperative to share a cargo bike. This very same year
we organized together the first Polish Cargo Bike Festival,
which was followed by annual editions in Kraków and
Wrocław. This September we are going to meet in the city
of Łódź. Each year we gather in a different city, in order to
promote cargo bike culture throughout Poland.
Being members of experienced cycling advocacy groups we are
using our resources to promote cargo bikes and introduce them
to local delivery companies and public institutions (libraries,
museums, city halls), while simultaneously encourage inclusion of
cargo bikes in public bike sharing systems all over Poland. They are
already in Łódź, Warsaw, Słupsk, Gdynia, Opole, Sosnowiec and we
are just getting started!
Since imported bikes are usually too expensive for our pockets,
more and more people are opening their own workshops (Wrocław,
Kraków, Łódż, Warszawa, Gdańsk) where they focus on true
craftsmanship and produce small numbers of high quality bicycles.
While our movement is still widely seen as a curiosity, we believe
that an avalanche starts with one snowflake. Come and meet us at
the ICBF non-profit area and find our FB group (Cargo Bike Poland).
29
INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2018
Destination City Centre
By Jeroen Berends
The city of Groningen, with a population of 203,000, is by far the largest city in
the north of The Netherlands. A historic trading centre, Groningen’s Hanseatic
roots are still evident from the many historic buildings and warehouses in this
compact, lively city, and today it is a major hub of urban life. Groningen is as
vibrant as ever, much of which can be attributed to a large student population.
The University of Groningen, established in 1614, has 30,000 students whilst
the Hanze University of Applied Sciences has 25,000.
Groningen is also a global leader when
it comes to cycling. 61% of all trips taken
by bike in the city and according to some
measures this is the highest level of
urban cycling in the world. For students in
Groningen, this figure rises to over 70%.
A city for people
Residents, students and visitors from the
region and further afield live, work and
play in the historic heart of the Groningen.
The old city centre is an attractive,
liveable and inclusive destination, and
this desirability has in recent years seen it
become increasingly busy. To retain this
attractiveness and welcoming atmosphere,
some thorough rethinking as well as
reshaping of public space has become
necessary. As the municipality of Groningen
we have therefore taken the decision to
redesign a number of streets and squares.
The objective is to increase pedestrianised
space by 20% over the coming years.
At the same time we will be working to
stimulate the economy, quality living spaces
and leisure activities. The aim is a city for
people, not cars.
Zero Emission City Logistics
The city centre’s significance is projected to
increase further in the future in line with a
growth in demand for goods and services.
For this reason, we are making concerted
efforts to find and implement sustainable
concepts for city logistics. If current policies
remain unchanged, the status quo: growing
numbers of delivery vehicles clogging up
narrow streets, will remain. We know that
this is likely to be at the expense of the
accessibility, quality of life and safety in the
city.
If maximising efficiency whilst minimising
adverse spatial impacts is key, growing
concern over emissions is also a major part
of the story. With that in mind, back in 2014,
54 parties in The Netherlands including
municipalities, logistics companies, car
manufacturers and research institutes
signed the Green Deal for Zero Emission
City Logistics. As one of the signatories, we
in Groningen are committed to achieving as
much emission-free city logistics as possible
by 2025.
30
#ICBF2018
Cargo bike logistics
The challenges surrounding logistics in
our city form a complex, interconnected
web. Logistics involves many different
‘stakeholders’, many of whom have
differing, and often contradictory,
objectives and priorities. With this in mind,
we need to adopt a new approach to city
logistics; one that focuses on doing more
with less. This means fewer transport
movements, smaller vehicles and lower
emissions.
That’s where cargo bikes come in!
Groningen is already a cycling city, and
we believe that using bicycles for lastmile
delivery can cut emissions without
compromising on efficiency. For example,
pedal-powered logistics via a network of
local delivery hubs or centralised facilities
could provide a way to improve the overall
efficiency of logistics in Groningen.
Welcome to Groningen: ICBF2019GRNGN
Within the next couple of years the city of Groningen aims to
facilitate and promote the opportunities of pedal-powered logistics
to their fullest potential. As a city in which cycling is already second
nature, this approach not only complements our compact city
strategy, but would also give a boost to our already robust cycling
network and diverse cycling economy. As host city for the 2019
International Cargo Bike Festival we are delighted to invite you to
our city as we explore and push the boundaries of what can
be achieved with pedal-powered logistics.
31
CYCLING CITY
INTERNATIONAL
CARGO BIKE
FESTIVAL
GRONINGEN
14 - 16 JUNE 2019
32
GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS
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