International Cargo Bike Festival 2020

FOREWORD
The Netherlands is a country of bikes. We have more
bikes than people, and we use bicycles for more than
a quarter of all trips; good news for, among other
things, the quality of life in our cities, air quality
Together,
We Deliver.
We are here to help you
with cargo cycling logistics.
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and the battle against climate change.
In June 2019 the Dutch national Climate Agreement
was settled. The national government, together with
many other parties, has the ambition to reduce emission
of CO 2
by 49% in 2030 (compared to 1990). Logistics
form a fair share of the total of mobility emissions –
about 25% – which is why we aim to deliver an action
picking up goods from hubs and transporting them
through city streets.
These problems are of course felt the world over. And
in cities worldwide more and more cargo bikes are seen
in the streets, becoming a familiar sight and a common
CARGOCYCLING.COM
programme later this year with a set of agreements to
make zero emission freight feasible by 2025.
practice. This however poses new challenges as well.
Should cargo bikes use the main road? Are they safe
enough? How are they developing – is hydrogen the fuel
This is a huge challenge. And it’s important to realise
of the future? – and how can countries and industries
that replacing every single van by a zero emission van
share their cycling technology and expertise? These and
won’t work. Due to our densely populated country, we
other questions – which are addressed in this magazine
have to reduce the amount of vehicle movements as well.
and will be discussed at the International Cargo Bike
We have to think in terms of changing our complete
Festival – need an answer in the near future, to make sure
logistical concept. However, electric vans and lorries
that cargo bikes remain an important part of the solution.
only will not solve this problem. In my opinion the best
solution is to be found in a mixture of different types of
Mariëtte van Empel,
vehicles that will suit city logistics best. The (electric)
Director of Sustainable Mobility at the Dutch Ministry of
cargo bike forms an important part of this mixture,
Infrastructure and Water Management
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