International Cargo Bike Festival 2019

9

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 32.000 members and
1700 volunteers, we are the largest cycling advocacy group in The Netherlands.
We welcome you to try some of our best Dutch cycling routes and we invite you
to read our website: fietsersbond.nl/english
2

4 Jos Sluijsmans: “Cargo bikes are booming”
7 Racing with cargo bikes
8 Gemeente Groningen: “Happy with any
Contents
cargo bike that replaces a van”
Colophon: ICBF
Magazine is a publication
of Fietsdiensten.nl,
copyright © 2019.
Coordination:
LA Communicatie
Design:
Avancé Communicatie
Print: Zalsman
Editing: Tom Parr
Information:
info@fietsdiensten.nl
Rear cover photo credit:
Modacity
10 Urban Arrow: “The right bike for every cargo“
12 Urban Arrow: “Electrify your business”
14 DOCKR: “Flexible, sustainable urban logistics”
16 Get the picture!
17 International Cargo Bike of the Year
18 Bogbi: “Cargo Bikes for peace”
20 Service Logistics in cities: Go Electic
22 RYTLE’s revolutionary efficient concept
23 Cycling Without Age
24 RIPPL: “Stadswerkplaats Groningen”
26 CycleSpark: “Cargo Bikes for Circular Cities“
27 Modacity: “The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality”
3

INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2019
4

#ICBF2019
Cargo bikes are booming
Jos Sluijsmans, Director of the International Cargo Bike Festival
On the eve of the International Cargo Bike Festival 2019, to be held in
the Dutch city of Groningen – the ‘G-spot of Bicycle Culture’ – Festival
Director Jos Sluijsmans feels we are on the verge of a worldwide cargo
bike revolution. “There are a lot of people who long for cities that are
not built around cars, but are designed for humans.” The tide is
definitely turning.
After last year’s edition in Berlin, the
ICBF 2019 will be held in Groningen.
What made you decide to hold the
festival there?
Well, the municipality of Groningen invited
me to organise the ICBF in their city. They
were enthusiastic and had great plans, so
I couldn’t resist. With 200,000 inhabitants,
Groningen is by far the largest city in the
north of the Netherlands, and its student
population makes it a vibrant and lively
place. It’s also a global leader when it
comes to cycling. No less than 61% of all
trips in the city are taken by bike!
According to some measures this is the
highest level of urban cycling in the world.
It’s one of the reasons why Copenhagenizer
Mikael Colville-Andersen named Groningen
“the G-spot of Bicycle Culture”. And despite
this success it could use some more “bling”,
some spectacular cycling infrastructure like
the Hovenring in Eindhoven or the Dafne
Schippersbrug in Utrecht; a never-seenbefore
cargo bike parking facility in the city
for instance would be a great idea to keep
the legacy of the International Cargo Bike
Festival alive.
‘Do not underestimate
the amount of people
who want their cities to
be safer, cleaner and
healthier’
What can we expect in Groningen
after the huge success of last year’s
ICBF at VELOBerlin, at the former
airport Tempelhof in Berlin?
Every year we see an exceptional
acceleration of developments in the
world of cargo bikes and cycle logistics;
new products, new organisations, new
initiatives. One of the remarkable things
about this year’s ICBF is the attention from
more far away countries. Before, the ICBF
was mainly an European event. It still is, but
this year it is truly “International”; we have
participants from Hong Kong, Taiwan, the
Philippines and Japan, and we will welcome
a delegation from Colombia. Participants
from Iran, Guadeloupe and Australia have
registered for the Conference.
These are ambitious plans. How
do you think Groningen is going to
achieve all that?
Within the next couple of years Groningen
aims to facilitate and promote the
opportunities of cycle logistics to their
fullest potential. Groningen already has
some great pedal-powered companies
and initiatives, such as Cycloon Post &
Fietskoeriers, Go-Fast Bicycle Delivery
Services, De Stadswerkplaats classic cargo
bike rental, FoodDrop and Dropper, Spaak
cycle cafe, DHL City Hub, PostNL Hub,
GoederenHubs, partners of the Fuel Cell
Cargo Pedelecs project, and more. They are
definitely on the right track and it’s good to
have the ICBF be a part of that.
5

Of course it’s not just Groningen where
these things happen. What’s your opinion on
developments in sustainable transport and
city logistics elsewhere?
There are several developments in the Netherlands,
and internationally too, that will support the increase
of the use of cargo bikes in our cities. Recently the
authorities in Amsterdam launched a plan to forbid
fossil fuel vehicles within “the Ring” (the highway A10,
which encircles the city centre) from 2030. That could
have a great effect on the rise and development of
all kinds of small electric vehicles, including e-cargo
bikes. And cities all over Europe are working on
that, such as Paris, London, Oslo, Edinburgh and
Madrid. This generates a very positive vibe. You know,
five years ago I saw a cargo bike in the streets of
Nijmegen, where I live, just every now and then. The
other day I counted ten cargo bikes during a twenty
minute bike ride to the train station. Surely that’s a
good sign! And another thing: even Mark Rutte, the
fairly right-wing Dutch prime minister, has said he
considers cargo bikes the perfect replacements for
small vans, with zero nuisance and zero emission.
Not everybody is happy to exchange their car
for a bicycle, though.
Maybe not. Or not yet. (laughs) But do not
underestimate the amount of people who want their
cities to be safer, cleaner and healthier places to
live in. There are a lot of people who long for cities
that are not built around cars, but are designed for
humans, on a human scale. That makes low or zero
emission inner cities politically much more viable.
And I don’t think we really have a choice. Cities are
overcrowded with cars.
‘It’s just common sense.
Cargo bikes are a lot
quicker than cars’
Fossil fuels will not be around forever. Besides,
it’s just common sense. Cargo bikes are a lot
quicker than cars these days. Cargo bikes
delivering goods is an everyday occurrence
already – not only for companies such as DHL,
PostNL and Coolblue, but also, in the very near
future, for the likes of Bol.com and Amazon.
Apart from that we can expect a serious amount
of growth in the use of cargo bikes and light
electric freight vehicles in the field of service
logistics.
The tide for cargo bikes is definitely
turning, do you think?
Yes, definitely. Countries all over the world
are interested in developing cycling policies.
And that creates a much bigger international
market for developing, building and selling cargo
bikes. The potential is huge. (smiles) Even car
manufacturers such as Volkswagen are now
producing cargo bikes – low quality bikes for
now, but the fact that they’re interested shows
that cargo bikes are seen as a serious business
opportunity. And another example: Gazelle,
owned by PON Group, started a new cargo bike
line and PON Group also took 20% shares in
the Accell group of Babboe and Centaur Cargo.
Cargo bikes are becoming big business.
6

3, 2, 1 Cargo!
Racing with Cargo bikes
#ICBF2019
Simon Chrobak, cargobikerace.com
Cargo bikes are handy and can be seen more often in everyday life. Whether
for shopping, messenger rides or child transport: they offer a variety of
possibilities for sustainable mobility. But cargo biking as a sport? This is the
story of the young, up-and-coming sport: cargo bike racing!
The route is marked out, the load is ready, the competitors are lined up at the start.
Then someone shouts: “3, 2, 1 ...Cargo!” And off they go!
The course is usually between 200 - 500m long, and a
race consists of several laps. This makes it attractive for
audiences, who can be close to the action. After a few
turns and chicanes, riders enter the loading zone. The
load, usually consisting of crates, car tyres, canisters
or weights, has to be stowed completely, safely and as
quickly as possible onto the bike. The next part is the crux
of the race: The riders have to transport the load - often
including heavy, bulky and fragile items - for another lap.
After unloading the final lap follows.
The mother of all contests is certainly the famous
Svajerløb in Copenhagen, Denmark. People have been
racing cargo bikes there for the past 100 years. These
days there is a growing scene, especially in Germany, with
races in Berlin, Münster, Dortmund and Augsburg. There
are also growing scenes elsewhere, such as in France and
the UK; and of course this year in the Netherlands at the
ICBF!
Anybody can ride fast, but in cargo bike racing is also
about your load-securing skills. The load has to be
transported around sharp turns and over bumps without
loss or breakage. No mean feat. That’s why it’s not only
about muscle power, but also about skilful loading and
cargo bike handling - both with and without a load. Do
I take a large box or do I secure the load with lashing
straps? Cargo bike races offer the audience fast racing
action that is close enough to touch and much more
entertaining than other bike races.
The cargo bike racing at ICBF2019 takes place on the
Sunday afternoon, and is being organised by Cycloon
Post & Fietskoeriers and CargoBikeRace.com
7

“We’re happy with any cargo
bike that replaces a van”
Sjouke van der Vlugt, Urban Development Officer at the City of Groningen,
on how the International Cargo Bike Festival came to Groningen
For three days this June, the city of
Groningen will devote itself to the
International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF).
The Suikerfabriekterrein, a post-industrial
former site of a sugar factory on the edge
of the city centre, is being taken over by
cargo bikes, or in good Dutch ‘bakfietsen’!
Last year the ICBF was held in Berlin, and
before that for six years in the southern
Dutch city of Nijmegen. Now it’s the turn
of Groningen, and according to Sjouke
van der Vlugt, Urban Development Policy
Officer that is a great thing “because whilst
Groningen is a genuine cycling city, it is not
yet really a cargo bike city.”
Cargo Bike Guru
In 2017 during the Dutch National Cycling
Conference in Tilburg, Sjouke spoke to
ICBF Director and “Cargo Bike Guru”
Jos Sluijsmans. “ ‘Isn’t it time the festival
came to Groningen?’, I asked Jos, and told
him about our plans for the city. Jos was
enthusiastic, as were our management
and board. The result? The festival came to
Groningen in 2019.”
Green and safe city logistics
“Holding the ICBF here fits in really well
with our ambitions for green and safe city
logistics; sustainable and
good for public health,” Van der Vlugt
continues, “Cargo bikes are central to this
vision. We need our city centre businesses
to use different supply vehicles. Vehicles
that fit the city better. Vehicles that fit in
with our city centre improvement project
“Ruimte voor Jou” (Space for You), which
says that we need to be smarter with the
space that is available in the city and make
more room for pedestrians and cyclists. The
city council’s political coalition agreement
also states we have to reclaim public space;
something that is very significant indeed.”
Cycle Logistics
In recent years there have been a multitude
of experiments with cycle logistics in
Groningen, and now there are several
pilot projects under way in the city. Van
der Vlugt: “We ran a trial in one of our
busiest city centre streets with cargo bike
delivery and currently have a decorating
and a maintenance business who have
both exchanged their vans for cargo
bikes. In addition, a student at university
in Leeuwaarden, under the guidance
of Edwin de Jager, is carrying out her
graduate internship on the subject of
cycle logistics.
8

#ICBF2018
What do we need to look at? Should we re-engineer our streets? If so, what are the
consequences? What are the bottlenecks? It’s really interesting stuff. An increasing
number of organisations are using cargo bikes now in Groningen: Cycloon, Go-Fast,
DHL, IKEA, CoolBlue, Stadswerkplaats. All developments which we are very happy with.”
Developments
Of course the ICBF is not only dedicated to supply and logistics; it is much broader than
that. Cargo bikes are also increasingly being used to do things like transporting children
to and from school, moving house, or do the grocery shopping. All things in people’s
daily lives. In this area, developments are also moving very quickly.
Festival
Besides serious business, there is also
space during the ICBF for relaxation. Van
der Vlugt: “Friday is the ICBF Conference,
which has a great programme and for
which people from all over the world
have registered. Saturday is the Expo,
primarily for policymakers, professionals
and manufacturers, but also open to
the general public. Manufacturers will
be showing off their latest models and
there will be a test track too. There are
talks and workshops throughout the
day.”
Slow Biking
“Sunday is public day.” Van der
Vlugt continues, “A day for all the
fun things. Everyone is welcome,
with or without a bike. There will be
music, children’s activities, you will
be able to test cargo bikes, there is a
spectacular programme of cargo bike
racing scheduled and... we’re holding
one of the preliminary rounds of the
Dutch ‘Slow Biking’ Championship. In
which you ride as slowly as possible
to over a certain distance - harder
than it sounds!”
999

URBAN ARROW
HAS THE RIGHT BIKE FOR EVERY CARGO.
At Urban Arrow we want cities to remain great places in which to
live and work. That’s why, nine years ago, we’ve set out to define
a brand-new transport category: Smart Urban Mobility.

Our design philosophy is bold and clear: always
ahead. We have been applying this philosophy since we
created our first Urban Arrow back in 2010. Inspired to
build the urban vehicle of the future, we set out to design
an electric cargo bike that will never let you down and
is easy to handle in traffic. Robust yet agile, durable yet
light. The result is our iconic aluminium frame. After
several years of optimisation, we’re proud to say it still
looks essentially the same.
Always ahead also means that we want
your ride to be as smooth as possible. We
are continuously designing new bikes and
accessories to optimise your experience.
For example, even though our Tender can
carry up to 300 kilos, we are looking to
build future models that can comfortably
transport even heavier loads.
By combining the load capacity of a van with
the agility of an e-bike, we’re creating the
ultimate green machine for the first and
last mile. Whether you are carrying your
children or deliver parcels, perishables or
furniture, there’s an Urban Arrow that will
take you smoothly from A to B, and beyond.
Clean, safe, stylish, fast.

Electrify your business
We understand no two businesses are the same, which is why all Urban Arrows are modular.
This gives you the freedom to choose between different cargo-carrying front frames. A bigger
box, or something more compact? Everything is possible. In the same way your needs keep
evolving, so too can your bike.
SHORTY
Roughly the same length as a city bike,
the Shorty’s load capacity will surprise you.
The Shorty has the agility and speed of a
scooter, minus the fumes and noise.
Its futuristic shape, defined by the
expanded polypropylene (EPP) box, makes
it a real eye-catcher. Looking for a short
utility vehicle? Adding the optional hood
maximizes the bike’s insulating potential,
effectively transforming the cargo space
into a lockable trunk. The ideal solution
for your food, valuable deliveries
or working gear.
CARGO L-XXL
Don’t want to waste any more time
stuck in traffic, or looking for a parking
spot? Then this is definitely your ride
for inner-city deliveries. The Cargo
removes noise and air pollution from
the equation and boosts the flexibility of
your delivery fleet. The various available
boxes are spacious enough to transport
large to extra-large volumes.
Whether you are carrying a fragile load
or heavy cargo, or whether you need to
keep it cool or piping hot: we have just
the Cargo to meet your needs.

Need to transport a boatload?
Our three-wheeled Tender is ready to roll.
TENDER
We like to think bigger, all the time. The
Tender’s three-wheel base combines
cycling technology with insights from the
automotive industry, making it agile and
guaranteeing maximum strength and
stability. All Tender models come with a
three-wheel base and dual hydraulic disc
brake technology on the front frame. These
brakes allow for quick and safe stopping of
the massive cargo volume you can transport
with this beast. The wheel suspension
ensures you’ll always have a smooth ride,
no matter the weight.

The one-stop-shop for
sustainable urban logistics
72% of the EU population lives in urban areas and
this figure is rising. Factors like job opportunities,
quality of life and cultural diversity are driving up
urban populations in our ever more dense and
congested cities. These trends have brought with
it a huge growth in e-commerce, food and service
deliveries, contributing to a whole host of
problems in our urban spaces.
These factors make it increasingly difficult for
SMEs to get around. Especially if they are still using
traditional, carbon-emitting delivery vehicles. So
how can SMEs move past these problems?
Step forward DOCKR. We are a Dutch startup
whose mission is to help SMEs navigate the tricky
world of urban mobility. How? Well, we believe
it’s time for a change. The old leasing models are
outdated. That’s why we offer a completely flexible
range of electric mobility options for SMEs that
produce zero local emissions.
For example, the emissions of larger delivery
vehicles affect air quality for everyone in cities.
On top of this, some vehicles are simply out of
scale with historic city centres, making moving
around and parking time-consuming. A lose-lose
situation then, for both small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) and the cities they serve.
Understandably, cities are pushing back in a bid
to increase air quality and reduce nuisance, by
introducing stringent environmental policies,
low-emission zones or access restrictions. In
Amsterdam, where it is claimed air pollution
shortens residents’ life expectancy by a year, city
authorities plan to ban petrol and diesel vehicles
from 2030 and recently doubled parking fees.
WHY CHOOSE DOCKR?
Zero-emission
Maximum uptime
guarantee
Flexible monthly
subscription
Our range of e-hardware goes from the smallest
e-delivery bike, through light electric vehicles and
all the way up to larger e-vans. We’re not tied to
any manufacturers, meaning we can offer the
solution that fits your business best.
It’s not always possible for SMEs to predict how
busy they will be. That’s why at DOCKR we offer a
multi-modal proposition. Cargo bike too small? We
can swap it out for a larger one. Need an e-van for
inter-city trips? We’ll sort it. Got an event coming
up and need some extra wheels? No problem, we
can fix you up with a temporary solution.
Flexibility; the ability to change vehicles, as well
as up- or down-scale on a monthly basis, is in our
DNA. Just tell us what you need. We’ll even hook
you up with charging solutions and other e-related
tools and accessories.
So how does this actually help SMEs? DOCKR aims
to take the headache out of mobility, so you can
concentrate on what you do best. Getting from
A to B can, and should, be a no-brainer. Problem
with your DOCKR vehicle? Simple - we’ll fix or swap
it. Whatever it takes, with maximum up-time and
minimum down-time.
14

We’ve even extended our keep-things-simple
philosophy to paperwork. Complicated small-print
is out; readable, transparent agreements are in.
So DOCKR gets you a mobility solution and
provides you with comprehensive support. We
go further than this though, making your mobility
truly smart. How? We believe in the power of data
to help optimise SMEs, making a difference to
your bottom line.
70% of the costs of delivery come in the so-called
“last mile”. Our smart routing and navigation tools
help you make time and energy savings.
But it’s not all about GPS. On-vehicle telematics
and sensors also provide insights that help you
make better decisions and help us prevent
maintenance issues before they can can occur,
increasing your uptime.
Our rider and driver behaviour influencing tools
work in a positive manner; using techniques such
as gamification. This helps you to bring your
employees with you, protects your brand, reduces
fines, and makes our streets safer for everyone.
We’ve given you a glimpse into the inner workings
of our system, and yes, some of this sounds quite
complex. But the beauty of using DOCKR will be
that, on a day-to-day basis, you won’t have to
think about it. At all. It will just work away in the
background.
DOCKR is the one-stop-shop for sustainable cargo
mobility. Fully flexible. Comprehensive support.
Maximum up-time, minimum down-time.
It’s time for city logistics to change. Interested? Get
in touch with our friendly team for a conversation
about your needs.
For a free trial and more info: email info@dockrmobility.nl or visit www.dockrmobility.nl 15

Get the picture!
Representatives from
the Municipality and
business community agree
to make city logistics in
Groningen sustainable.
Credit:
Gemeente Groningen
A representative of
the next generation
of cargo bikers, at ICBF
2015.
Credit:
Jan van Kessel
Groningen City
Alderman cargo-biking
through the Grote Markt.
Credit:
Gemeente Groningen
Cargo bikes are
really taking off
these days…
Credit: Tom Parr
Cargo Bike
Racers line up at
ICBF 2018 in Berlin.
Credit: Tom Parr
16

International Cargo
Bike of the Year
Munich-based publisher HUSS-Verlag, along with its logistics
magazine Logistra, has created a new award which will recognise
the growing use and distribution of cargo bikes. The International
Cargo Bike of the Year Award, will be handed out on Saturday
afternoon at the International Cargo Bike Festival in Groningen.
The International Cargo Bike of the Year Award (CABOTY) intends
to showcase innovations in the industry, offering publicity to cargo
bike manufacturers and promoting ingenuity. It will honour the
efforts of manufacturers in the development of innovative and
practical bike concepts for professional use, focussing on trends
and development in this fast growing segment.
“We see a clear trend towards the usage of cargo bikes in urban
logistics, not just last-mile but also in trade and craft. There are
hardly any logistics companies not running pilots with bikes or
already using them in daily business. With the rapid electrification
of B2C-bicycles, professional cargo bikes have gained a lot in technical
level and broad potential application”, said Johannes Reichel,
Head of Testing and Technology at Logistra.
Following a rigorous testing process by a jury of experts, CABOTY
will be presented for the first time at the International Cargo Bike
Festival 2019. “With the ongoing growth of deliveries and service
logistics due to e-commerce business, the negative effects are
becoming more and more obvious. Environmentally aware organisations
everywhere are searching for sustainable solutions“, said
Jos Sluijsmans, Founder and Director of the ICBF.
Jury Members
Which categories
will be awarded?
1. Light Cargo Bikes
(up to 100 kg payload,
primarily single-track)
2. Heavy Cargo Bikes
(more than 100 kg payload,
primarily multi-track)
3. Cargo Bike Trailer
(including boxes)
Johannes Reichel
Head of Testing and Technology, LOGISTRA. Specialist
in Sustainable City Logistics.
Satish Kumar Beella
Lecturer Industrial Design Engineering at The Hague
University of Applied Sciences.
Marieke Snoek
CEO of Cycloon Post & Fietskoeriers and co-founder
of Fietskoeriers.nl.
Thomas H.L. Schmitz
Radlogistik Verband Deutschland e.V. (stellv. Vorstand),
Schmitz & Bramer GmbH (VeloCARRIER Mainz)
The International Cargo Bike of the Year award will be handed out on
Saturday afternoon at the ICBF. Check the programme for further details.
Jury Member
Johannes Reichel
of LOGISTRA
17

INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2019
Bogbi - Cargo Bikes for peace
Crowdfunding their way
from Colombia to Norway,
via Groningen...
BOGBI was born as an idea in Bogotá Colombia;
two fathers; Eduardo from Colombia and Sigurd
from Norway wanted to solve their problems of
mobility across the city.
From that moment, and for nearly three years,
we have been working to set up the production
line for one of the world’s best cargo bikes. With
Colombian passion, certified skills and Norwegian
design, we made Bogbi, a perfect vehicle to move
you from A to B without the need for a car.
Why Bogotá?
Imagine a city where the streets are closed for cars
and open for bicycles. It already exists: welcome to
Bogotá, the bicycle capital of Latin America.
Bogotá was the first city in the world to close down
some of it’s main avenues to cars every Sunday, and
open them for bicycles. More than 1,5 million inhabitants
use the so-called “Ciclovía” every Sunday to ride
around the city, traffic-free. Bogotá boasts more than
500 kilometres of bike lanes and more than 900,000
bicycle trips take place every day. These reasons,
together with our own establishment in the city
almost four years ago all worked in favour of our
decision to start our factory here in Bogotá, Colombia.
18

The Bogbi
Our cargo bike is one of the most compact on the
market, and yet still has a large cargo capacity. It
can easily fit two kids and your everyday cargo. “We
decided to use wire steering so the bike can turn
into sharp corners and negotiate it’s way through
traffic with ease”, says Johannes Hegdahl co-owner
and Head of Design & Production, who has spent
two years designing and setting up the production
line in Bogotá. Other features, such as the embracing
frame, adjustable dropouts, the bridge that holds the
steering unit, and the hammock child seat ensure that
riding a Bogbi is always an optimal experience.
More than just a cargo bike...
Bogbi stands for more than just bicycles. We have a strong
mission to contribute to the development of greener cities and
help Colombian society to grow in a peaceful and sustainable
way. As Colombia moves towards a peaceful future after almost
6 decades of civil war in parts of the country, Bogbi wants to
contribute to the country’s future by offering fair employment
conditions and vocational training, integrating the
production with world class training in bike production
as part of our operation.
At Bogbi we will continue working, moving forward and having
fun! A smooth ride for everyone - greener cities, stable jobs
for young Colombians and cycling made affordable for whole
families globally.
Want to get involved?
Bogbi are currently running an Indigogo crowdfunding campaign.
Visit Bogbi.co for more information and save up to 30%.
19

www.hva.nl/gasopelektrisch | gasopelektrisch@hva.nl | Project leader: Susanne Balm, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Service logistics in cities: Go Electric
Service engineers drive back and forth through our cities. Approximately 25% of all vans are for installation, repair
and maintenance; and more often than not these are not the greenest of vehicles. Meanwhile, climate targets are
becoming more and more prominent on the political agenda. For these reasons, Amsterdam University of Applied
Sciences (AUAS) and HAN University of Applied Sciences have embarked on a two-year research project into the use of
electric vehicles for service logistics.
Photo:
Urban Arrow
Ambition: an approach for emission-free city logistics
As more cities strive towards emission-free city logistics in
2025, it is time for service companies to start using alternative,
more sustainable transport modes to reach their customers.
20 partners are participating in this research project, ‘Go
Electric’ (In Dutch: Gas op elektrisch), including several large
service companies. Although these companies are increasingly
deploying sustainable technologies, such as solar panels and
charging stations, their own fleets are often not yet sustainable.
The project connects EV professionals from
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with
each other and with service companies
to jointly develop multidisciplinary
knowledge about the deployment
of electric vehicles (EVs) in service
logistics. The project runs for
two years, from March 2019
to February 2021. The end
result will be an approach,
consisting of concepts and
interventions to achieve
deployment of EVs in service
logistics. This approach supports service
companies in the sustainability of their logistics
operations and provides EV professionals from
SMEs with knowledge of newly developed
services. The final publication (due early 2021)
will describe the knowledge developed during
the project, including:
- The characteristics of service logistics and
considerations when implementing EVs
- The role of service employees in the adoption
of EVs
- Energy supplies for EVs
- EV services that SMEs can (jointly) offer
20
Photos: Vodafone Ziggo powered by Guidion - Urban Arrow

Go Electric Research Team
The Go Electric project is coordinated by the AUAS Urban
Technology research programme, which, in cooperation
with HAN Automotive Research, also makes up the research
team. In addition, 20 parties from the public and private
sectors are involved in the project through the generation,
application and dissemination of knowledge. Professors
involved are Walther Ploos van Amstel (AUAS City Logistics),
Robert van den Hoed (AUAS Energy & Innovation) and Frans
Tillema (HAN Intelligent Mobility).
Obstacles to electric mobility
Although the technology behind electric mobility already
exists, it is still not yet widely used. The project maps out
the current situation and problems that exist. For
example, feedback from service technicians indicates
that the distance electric vehicles are able to travel on
one charge is not yet sufficient. The project combines
expertise in logistical processes, energy-use and the
behaviour of employees in the adoption of innovation.
Service company Unica: “Due to climate targets, we are increasingly associated with sustainability.
This means we can actually no longer arrive at our customers’ doors with a polluting diesel vehicle.”
Research questions
Based on demands and requirements from the field, the research team has formulated the following research question:
With which logistics concepts, loading strategies and behavioural interventions can the use of electric vehicles be realised for
service companies? The research question is answered with five sub-questions:
1. What are the criteria and considerations
upon which service companies are currently
purchasing vehicles and scheduling routes?
2. What innovations do the logistics processes
of service companies require in order to
deploy EV?
3. How can the adoption process of EV by
staff (EV users) of service companies be
stimulated?
4. Which charging strategies facilitate the
deployment of EVs in service companies best?
Methodology
The project participants of Go Electric will:
1. Analyse the current status of service companies on the basis of route
profiles, interviews and energy-use.
2. Formulate new concepts and interventions for the deployment of (light)
electric freight vehicles.
3. Evaluate these new concepts and interventions using
practical experiments.
4. Valorise expertise for the development of new
services for SMEs.
5. What new services can be developed
for service companies who
want to deploy EVs?
Want to know more?
Project Leader Susanne Balm is organising one of the parallel break-out sessions during the ICBF Conference
on 14th June. Several project partners will be there to tell you more about the research and the results so far.
Contact
Susanne Balm (Project Leader) and Walther Ploos van Amstel (Professor in City Logistics): gasopelektrisch@hva.nl.
This research project is partly funded by Regieorgaan SIA, part of the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
21

INTERNATIONAL CARGO BIKE FESTIVAL 2019
RYTLE’s revolutionary efficient concept
aims to free up cities around the world
Easy handling, straightforward, flexible and low-maintenance –
the solution for last mile delivery
Bremen and Groningen are connected
in a specific manner: their empathy for
bicycles. The bicycle is an effective way
of getting around – but more and more,
logistics professionals are facing issues
regarding the ‘last mile’. In many cities
in Germany, as well as around the world,
an effective solution is already in use: the
electrically operated RYTLE MovR25 cargo
bike.
In summer 2017, the idea of Dr. Arne Kruse
and Ingo Lübs, to create a sophisticated
logistics system of the future, became a
reality. Together with a team of experts,
RYTLE – a joint venture of the KRONE
vehicle group and the automotive
consultancy ORBITAK AG in the northern
part of Germany – designed a whole
concept to ensure that the so-called last
mile no longer provides problems for
suppliers.
The innovative system consists of a selfsufficient
mobile depot (HUB), the MovR25
with an exchange function for standardised
transport boxes (RYTLE Box) and an IT platform. The latter connects
all involved parties in real time (IOT) and is already in use by many
well-known international parcels delivery companies, postal and
courier services worldwide.
The idea of creating a chain of efficiency by operating nearly
emission-free, punctually, quietly, stress-free, flexibly and as well as
the possibility of being transparent, offers advantages to providers
as well as customers. Besides all this, RYTLE ensures a crucial point:
costs can be saved on the last mile and goods of virtually any kind
can be transported.
In order to ensure high quality, the MovR has been developed hand
in hand with established parcel delivers and well-known providers
of high-quality parts such as HEINZMANN – which delivers the
wheel hub motor CargoPower RN 111 – the heart of the cargo bike.
Incidentally – besides the love for bicycles there is another
connection to Groningen. Since April 1 of 2019: Citye B.V. offers all
products of RYTLE, with both direct sales and leasing. Furthermore,
service and maintenance are performed by experienced and welltrained
staff to move the last-mile transportation to the next level.
Let’s face it: Are you ready for the future? Come on and let’s RYTLE
it forward!
22

#ICBF2018
Cycling Without Age - Connecting
Generations and Communities
Cycling Without Age (CWA) is a not-for-profit
program that began in Copenhagen in 2012
with a very simple premise: giving free cycle
rickshaw rides to the elderly and disabled.
From a single ride with a borrowed frontpassenger
“trishaw,” we have grown to
more than 40 countries around the world,
with 1,500+ chapters and roughly 2,000
trishaws in service, and have provided rides
to more than 100,000 people.
Impressive numbers, to be sure. But CWA’s
real focus remains as it was during that
first ride with that single borrowed trishaw:
to connect people through the medium
of the trishaw ride. And that happens at a
very human, very personal level with each
trishaw ride our passengers share with us.
To our communities, the trishaw rides are a unique way to
reconnect people who are too often kept apart, and in a very
dignified and approachable way. Our trishaw passengers sit up
front – we quite literally put them first – with nothing between them
and the community except their smiles. With all of our growth, CWA
still reaches a tiny fraction of the elderly and disabled who we could
be serving. As members of the international cargo bike community,
you can help us! When you return home from Groningen, tell your
local nursing homes and senior centers about our program; share
our website (www.cyclingwithoutage.org); put them in contact with
us. We find that all it takes is a single trishaw in a community to
spark growth; seeing CWA in operation on the streets with smiling
passengers and pilots, waving and talking with old friends and new,
is the best advertisement for CWA we know of.
Kelly Talcott is a Board Member and US Captain at Cycling Without Age.
Get in touch at kelly@cyclingwithoutage.org
We’ve learned that these rides are more
than pleasant ways to spend a part of an
afternoon. To our passengers and our
pilots, they are opportunities to share
stories of the past while at the same time
creating new stories to tell in the future.
23

Photo: Modacity
RIPPL: Stadswerkplaats – Groningen’s brilliantly
unassuming cargo-trike hire service
By Tom Parr
In Groningen there has been an unfussy, straightforward
way to get hold of a cargo trike for the day for over 30
years; long before the buzz phrases ‘mobility-as-a-service’
or ‘sharing economy’ were coined. The trikes, instantly
recognisable to any Groninger, are available to hire from
volunteer-run Stadswerkplaats which, although it is an
unassuming organisation, is something of an institution
in this city.
Located in a quiet, leafy square in the historic core of
Groningen it is immediately obvious, as you approach,
which building is occupied by Stadswerkplaats. Outside
the heavy-duty, wooden workshop doors sits a row of
sturdy, old-fashioned cargo trikes (bakfiets, in Dutch),
waiting to be hired for a modest €12 per half day.
This an abridged version
of one of a series of RIPPL
articles supported by
Gemeente Groningen, in
which we take a deepdive
and focus on how
cycle-logistics works in
Groningen: city of bikes.
24
Photo: Tom Parr
Founded in the late 80’s by born-and-bred Groninger
Sven Thieme, Stadswerkplaats (“City Workshop”) isn’t only
a place to hire a bakfiets. In fact according Thieme, who
still runs Stadswerkplaats today, it wasn’t the intention at
all. It’s also a workshop where the people of Groningen
can work on DIY and art projects, offering a range of
affordable metal and woodworking lessons. The first
bakfiets was bought at the request of workshop users
in need of a way of transporting their creations home.
Demand quickly grew: fast-forward to 2019 and the wellused
fleet has grown to eight.
Does anything ever go wrong? As Thieme explains,
inexperienced riders, heavy loads and kerbs sometimes
cause punctures or broken spokes. A €10 fee ensures
you are personally rescued by Stadswerkplaats, which
apparently happens a couple of times a month. He also
tells me with a wry smile about the time a bakfiets ended
up in a canal just minutes after being hired and had to be
fished out by a passing boat.

When a trike does need to be fixed, Stadswerkplaats
naturally do it themselves, in the workshop. Over the
years almost every part of the trikes has been fixed
or replaced in this way by Thieme and his team of
volunteers.
Who hires a Stadswerkplaats bakfiets then? Thieme
states that the most common reason for hiring is to
move house; which makes them much in demand in
student-oriented Groningen. A quarter of the city’s
residents are studying at one of the two universities. It is
therefore quite a common sight to see casually-dressed
twenty-somethings pedalling along with precarious loads
of mattresses, lamps, pot plants and furniture. Hiring
a van isn’t really a great option here. And as you might
imagine, it is not unheard of for large amounts of beer
to find themselves transported from A to B under pedal
power…
However, students aren’t the only users of the service.
The cargo trikes are also frequently pressed into service
by non-students; also known as native Groningers.
They’re mostly used in the city centre and surrounding
neighbourhoods, where a traffic circulation plan in place
since the 1970s intentionally makes it incredibly awkward
to use private motor vehicles. And with a capacity of
250kg, it is possible to carry most items you care to think
of on a Stadswerkplaats bakfiets.
what better than an object which attracts people’s
attention, carries promotional materials and doubles up
as a table?
A Stadswerkplaats bakfiets is even regularly used as a
camera mount by a local TV station - rolling backwards
down Herestraat filming as broadcaster Piet van Dijken
strolls along interviewing Groningers.
Another regular client is the Gemeente (Municipality).
Residents can hire a Stadswerkplaats cargo trike free
of charge to carry heavy waste to collection points. The
Gemeente picks up the fee in a win-win-win arrangement
that saves them time and resources, is free for
residents, and is a valuable source of repeat income for
Stadswerkplaats
Perhaps it’s a sign that Groningen truly is a cycling
city to it’s very core, that an organisation such as
Stadswerkplaats can blend in and seem like just part
of the furniture. They don’t shout about it, maybe they
don’t even think about it, but sustainability is baked in.
It’s an unpretentious organisation which pre-dates many
of today’s smart shared mobility startups by over three
decades, and you wouldn’t bet against it outliving many
of them too. All by offering a simple, affordable service;
a way of moving stuff from A to B on dependable, oldfashioned
trikes.
Over the years, the cargo trikes have also been called
upon to carry out other, more unconventional duties,
including several weddings and funerals. They have been
used for city centre advertising, sales and even political
campaigns;
RIPPL - Register of Initiatives in Pedal Powered Logistics, is a resource highlighting
trends and innovation in cycle logistics, with over 50 real-life case studies.
Get inspired; head over to www.rippl.bike.
Photo: Tom Parr
25

CycleSpark: Cargo Bikes for Circular Cities
By Christian Suurmeijer, Founder, CycleSpark
Last year’s robustly designed e-cargo bikes, in
combination new containers and smart logistical
systems, have proven themselves a realistic
alternative to clean up last-mile deliveries. New
cargo bike innovations are moving forwards. Strong,
lightweight solutions are being developed and new
energy sources explored.
To accelerate the transformation towards cleaner and
liveable cities, we at CycleSpark set out in 2012 to build
the largest cargo bike in the world. A bike with a capacity
of 500kg and up to 5m³. We learned about how to carry
heavy payloads and large volumes on cargo bikes. We
now use this experiences to support small and medium
businesses select the best solution and start using it
in a safe, worry-free way. CycleSpark aims to enable
anybody to use cargo bikes to build up a sustainable
business. We take care of the cargo bike, arrange the
insurance and make sure your cargo bike is always
up and running. No worries; you can focus on your
business. We have built up a fleet of cargo bikes and will
expand the fleet even more the coming years. Investors
who share our sustainable vision help to fund the cargo
bikes and we take care of the rest.
Until now e-commerce has been the most important
market for cargo bikes. Many of the “early adopters”
of the cycle logistics concept have been involved in
delivering packages ordered online. However, we
believe cargo bikes can play a broader role in city
logistics.
Smart and Circular Cities
Many cities are in a process of transformation towards
smart and circular principles, with often ambitious
goals to reduce their environmental footprint. Local
production, repair, upcycling, reuse, redistribution,
remanufacturing and recycling all reduce the need
for long distance transportation. Doing more of
our production and recycling locally is the best
way to reduce the need for mobility. The cleanest
transportation is no transportation at all.
At the same time, an abundance of innovations are in
development to create circular cities. Examples include
vertical farming, plant labs, 3D-printing in all kinds of
materials, the so-called ‘blue economy’, cooperative
robotics and other smart industry developments
enabling production and remanufacturing closer to the
end user. But in the end minimising transportation will
always be necessary and that’s where e-cargo bikes can
play a role. They can take care of the flow of all goods
and materials through the ‘veins’ of the circular city.
They are a fair, efficient and ‘human’ way to move goods
around in town.
Sparking a Revolution
CycleSpark already supports local food suppliers,
city farming and circular building projects and is now
also exploring the use of cargo bikes for local plastic
redistribution and 3D printing of new goods.
Today we offer a range of extra-large rental and sharing
cargo bike solutions that can be used for various circular
and sustainable businesses. Customised containers can
be easily implemented because of the modular way the
cargo bikes are built.
Let’s transform our cities into smart, circular cities.
Circular cities are cycling cities. Let’s bring it all back into
balance. Let’s cycle into a bright future.
For more information, visit www.cyclespark.com
26

Building the Cycling City: The
Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality
By Melissa and Chris Bruntlett
Around the world, countries marvel at the Netherland’s impressive cycling culture and infrastructure
while an insidious “that would never work here” attitude prevents real change from happening. But
the Dutch overcame many of the same challenges as other car-clogged countries, and their story is an
important model for moving the rest of the world toward a more human-scale, bike-friendly future.
Inspired by our initial visit to the Netherlands in the
summer of 2016, Building the Cycling City: The Dutch
Blueprint for Urban Vitality shares the triumphs and
challenges of the Dutch cycling story. In it, we show how
some of their ideas are already being adopted in global
cities, and draw out concrete lessons for other places
to follow their lead. Drawing from historical context,
interviews with local experts, and our own experiences
riding in five Dutch cities, we explore topics ranging
from bicycle style and parking to the relationship
between cycling and public transit. Special attention is
given to less well-known Dutch cities, including Utrecht
and Rotterdam.
In each chapter, we examine how North American
cities are already following the Dutch example and
transforming themselves to include more public spaces,
safer cycling facilities, innovative bike-share schemes,
and other, more inclusive mobility options. In some
cases, these efforts are bolstered by collaboration with
organizations such as the Dutch Cycling Embassy and
PeopleForBikes, which are working to translate what
has worked for decades in the Netherlands into tangible
solutions for the streets of Austin, San Francisco, and
countless other cities.
After being amazed by the transformation of our
own lives following the purchase of a cargo bike, and
experiencing the International Cargo Bike Festival in
Nijmegen in 2017, we dedicate an entire chapter to the
evolution and re-emergence of the humble bakfiets
in the Netherlands and abroad. ICBF Director, Jos
Sluijsmans, among others, gives voice to this growing
movement and how cargo bike have and continue to
change urban logistics.
The stories told prove that city design is not set in
stone, and changing cycling culture can be done even
where it seems impossible. To affect this change,
political courage is needed, and citizen activism is often
required. Building the Cycling City will leave you inspired
and ready to adopt and implement approaches to make
your own cities better places to live, work, play, and - of
course - cycle.
Building the Cycling City: The
Dutch Blueprint for Urban
Vitality (Island Press) is available
for sale at the ICBF, and at all
good bookshops.
27

See you next year
at #ICBF2020!