Pedaling through history: The resilient legacy of cargo bikes

Cargo bikes are having a moment. Around the world, in cities big and small, you’ll find couriers, families and businesses taking to the streets on bicycles designed to carry everything you can imagine. But the things we see as new and modern often have deep roots. Cargo bikes, it turns out, have been around in one form or another for over a century. So why are we seeing them everywhere now? And what can we learn from their past? This is the story of how cargo bikes have persevered through the years and continue to shape our cities.

The popularity of cargo bikes is surging, reflecting a growing awareness of their benefits not only for individuals but for whole communities. The global cargo bike market was valued at approximately $1 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $2.4 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% from 2021 to 2030, Future Market Insights reported.

Sales figures further illustrate this growth. According to Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), sales of cargo bikes in the European Union have seen a steady increase with an estimated 18,000 units sold in 2018, a number that almost tripled to around 45,000 by 2020.

The cargo bike market is continuing to boom more every day. In Germany, cargo bike sales have shown impressive growth, reaching approximately 103,000 units in 2022, according to Statista. Trust and reliance on cargo bikes as a reliable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional delivery vehicles seems unstoppable.

Modern companies have already started tapping into the potential of cargo bikes for their fleets. DHL Express, for example, has integrated cargo bikes into its GoGreen fleet, as part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Similarly, in Belgium, online retailer Coolblue has launched its own bike delivery service, exploiting the versatility and efficiency of cargo bikes in urban delivery environments.

Renu Jinturkar, Senior Product Marketing Manager, comments on the importance of this versatile approach to modern logistics: "Introducing two wheels, or just expanding the fleet mix to include different kinds of vehicles, is about more than just offering more opportunities to be efficient. Bikes play a big role in cities where transport heavily depends on two-wheelers. Where you must constantly keep up with customer expectations. [Cargo bikes] can reduce barriers such as delivery time and increase ease of operation [compared to motor vehicles].”

But where did it all begin?

Cargo bikes, also known as freight bicycles or utility bicycles, can trace their lineage back to the late 19th century. European businesses had been using freight tricycles for deliveries for some time but after the safety bicycle was invented in the 1880s, entrepreneurs began to experiment with different ways of hauling goods on two wheels. The most well-known of these early bikes is the bakfiets, or “box bike,” which originated in the Netherlands at the turn of the century.

An example of an early 1910s cargo bike, crafted by the Bergrijer brothers in Amsterdam. This model highlights the practical design used for transporting goods in urban settings during that era.

In the United States, cargo bikes came into their own during the “Great Bicycle Craze” of the 1890s. The craze was driven by the introduction of the affordable safety bike, which had two wheels of the same size and pneumatic tires for comfort, making cycling accessible to a wider audience. The popularity of cycling as a leisure activity created a boom in manufacturing and innovation and among the many inventions of the era were the sort of rugged, hard-working bicycles that could handle the rough roads and heavy loads of urban life – leading to the types of bikes that we now call cargo bikes.

Across the pond, cargo bikes had another important role: around Rotterdam and Amsterdam, fresh milk and various groceries were delivered by cargo bikes until just after the Second World War. In bustling marketplaces across Asia and Europe, freight bicycles were essential for vendors and traders. During times of war, cargo bikes proved their worth as part of logistics and resistance operations, capable of covertly and cheaply delivering payloads.

A milkman in Haarlem with his bakfiets, showcasing the practical design for transporting goods, commonly seen in urban areas during the early 20th century. - © transportfiets.nl

From the steel-framed contraptions of the 20th century, cargo bikes have evolved into a diverse and colorful collection of designs and types, thanks to innovators who have reimagined what’s possible with some wheels, pedals and a sturdy frame. One of the most famous examples of a modern cargo bike design is the Christiania bike.

In the 1970s, Lars Engström, a Danish blacksmith and his wife Annie Lerche, wanted a way to transport their children around Copenhagen. “It was intended not really meant to be in production, it was intended to make a good gift for Annie,” Lars Engström said in a video interview. They built a prototype that quickly became popular with other parents in their neighborhood and now the Christiania bike is a common sight in Denmark and around the world.

In the diverse world of cargo bikes, the lowtail often flies under the radar, but it's a gem worth discovering. Essentially, a lowtail bike is like the Swiss Army knife of bicycles; it's versatile, practical and capable of easily hauling heavy loads without compromising handling. The story goes, during a visit to Vietnam, Mike Burrows, who's responsible for making many types of bikes over the years, came across a long bicycle, a type once used by the Vietcong for transporting supplies on the Ho Chi Minh trail. Inspired by this efficient design, Burrows returned to Norfolk, UK with a vision. He adapted this concept to create a versatile utility bike tailored for the modern world — the 8Freight was born.

A child sits comfortably in a 8 freight cargo bike, exemplifying its versatility and practicality for urban logistics. Inspired by designs seen in Vietnam, the 8 freight bike is ideal for modern city transport, offering a flexible solution for families and urban fleet warriors alike. Credit, ShareAlike, photo taken by: Jez Higgins, https://www.flickr.com/photos/75006911@N00/3037170515

However, the history of cargo bikes hasn’t always been so fruitful or plain sailing. Their popularity has constantly been challenged by motorized transport and vehicles capable of carrying larger loads and traveling further. In the mid to late 1900s, cargo bikes fell out of favor as delivery people chose to use vans, milk floats and other motorized vehicles instead.

Despite this, cargo bikes remained remarkably resilient. In the 1960s and 70s, due to the oil crisis and rising environmental pressures, various groups began looking back toward the cargo bike as a solution for more sustainable and cost effective inner-city transport and deliveries. While they remained on the fringes for a while, in the modern day, cargo bikes are becoming increasingly common on our city streets for similar reasons. And with their popularity growing manufacturers are once again innovating to bring more choice and possibility to what cargo bikes can do and haul, catalyzing their popularity further.

A cargo bike parked in front of the Dutch Middle Class Bank office, in Utrecht, in the 1960s. Credit, The Utrecht Archives, https://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/beeldmateriaal/detail/840ca545-71ec-8187-e053-4701000aab1c/media/19ce4028-1add-ea84-72d9-e05fbb862346?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=bakfiets&rows=1&page=19

Ring, ring! Cargo bikes are evolving!

“Cargo bikes are revolutionizing urban transport by reducing emissions, easing traffic congestion and providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional vehicles. Their environmental benefits are significant, especially in today’s climate where reducing carbon footprint is critical for fleet businesses,” Renu explains.

Companies like FedEx, DHL, UPS, Amazon, DB Schenker, DPD, GLS and Hermes have begun integrating cargo bikes into their fleets, recognizing their efficiency in urban logistics. These companies use cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries, reducing traffic congestion and improving delivery times. Cargo bikes are particularly effective in dense urban areas where traditional vehicles struggle with emissions regulations, width restrictions and parking.

The UK government supports this shift through its Transport Decarbonization Plan, promoting electric cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries. Also, Transport for London (TfL) has introduced the Cargo Bike Action Plan, to highlight cargo bikes as cost-effective, safe and clean options for city logistics.

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The modern fleet is evolving rapidly due to the undeniable benefits of cargo bikes. They are cost-effective, environmentally friendly and incredibly convenient for urban settings. They not only lower operational costs due to lower fuel consumption but also boost operational efficiency and customer satisfaction by offering faster and more flexible delivery options.

Renu Jinturkar

Senior Product Marketing Manager

It’s not just businesses that are paying attention to cargo bikes, the general public is also taking note.

A recent study by Michael Bissel and Sophia Becker, the two chairs of Sustainable Mobility and Transdisciplinary Research Methods at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, explored the impact of shared cargo bike schemes on car ownership. The findings highlight that the availability and use of shared cargo bikes can play a substantial role in decreasing car ownership, as many users find cargo bikes to be a more flexible, environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to their car. But there is more to the story: with the rise of electric cargo bikes, we're seeing improvements in how much they can carry and how far they can travel. As a result, we see more modern innovations like those in the 1890s, 1970s Copenhagen and Burrows’ Norfolk workshop.

The California-based Xtracycle, founded in 1998, is a good modern example. Xtracycle makes a range of cargo bikes and accessories designed for everyday use and are credited with helping popularize the idea of the “longtail” cargo bike, which has an extended rear frame that can be outfitted with all kinds of cargo-hauling racks and baskets – yet another variation on the format.

The extended frame of an Xtracycle allows a cyclist to carry large loads. These bikes are now more efficient, eco-friendly and versatile.

Riding the past, pedaling towards the future

As we look back at the history of cargo bikes, it’s clear that innovation and necessity have driven their evolution into the versatile vehicles we know and love today. From the early adaptations for reliable and efficient transportation to modern designs that have electrical assistance and can accommodate families, traders and delivery services, cargo bikes have consistently adapted to society’s changing needs. This evolution has been driven by a blend of practical need, environmental consciousness and a desire to rethink urban mobility in a more sustainable, accessible way.

The integration of modern technologies and the evolution of traditional cargo bikes are intertwining paths, hopefully leading towards a future of sustainability. Indeed, as two-wheeled deliveries increase, how we support them with navigation and fleet management solutions will have to keep pace to further imbue their ease of use and inner-city effectiveness.

This ongoing transformation underscores the global readiness to adopt more sustainable transport options, such as the increasingly popular e-cargo bikes globally. By adopting advanced tracking and logistics solutions, we can further steer urban transportation towards greater efficiency and eco-friendliness, enabling smarter choices for businesses and individuals alike. Just as cargo bikes have done for over 100 years.