I Want a Cargo Bike

Cargo bikes are being used more and more in the U.S. For many decades a mainstay of transport and hauling in many other parts of the world, from Danish Postal Delivery to food vendors in Mexico, the working bike or cargo bike has a much thinner history in the U.S. In recent years, however, the numbers of cargo bike users and bikes has grown tremendously. The variety of cargo bikes one might see range from DIY cargo bikes created in garages, to European imports of professional work bikes, to customized solutions like the Xtracycle, to factory models designed specifically for the cargo bike enthusiast: Kona Ute, the Yuba Mundo, and Madsen Cycles.

There are many ways to go with cargo bikes and I've lately been leaning towards the newly improved Yuba Mundo, although I haven't been able to ride one yet. If you buy a cargo bike you are going to spend some money, from $600 to $3000 or more. These bikes are built to last and involve more materials. Ideally, for me, I'm aiming to be able to haul a full load of groceries for Cathy and I, with Cathy pitching in with her non-cargo bike. And, then, there are bike trailers, which is a story for another day.

Anyway, to get a good idea of the variety of cargo bikes out there, take a look at these two great Flickr groups (below): "Working Bikes and Trikes" and "I Carried This on my Bike."

Bikes with Lights at Parade of Lights

Members of Champaign County Bikes join the Parade of Lights, being creative with their bike lighting efforts. Watch the slide show but also take a look at Gary Cziko's video, where he does his best Maurice Chevalier impression: