The most popular family cargobikes in Utrecht
Hello everyone,
Welcome to Issue #6 of Cargobike Culture!
The reception to last week’s issue in which we learnt about the dog cargobike of Amsterdam was great. I was a little annoyed that I missed this pun that Brandon supplied:
This week I’ve been thinking about the types of family cargobikes I see around Utrecht and why they’re popular.
The family cargobikes of Utrecht
A few weeks ago, mid winter at a swimming pool in Utrecht, I tweeted this video.
It was around the time I started this newsletter, and probably one of the first times I really stopped and looked at the cargobikes in my city. This was at a kids swimming session, so all those bikes brought children to the pool. All of them cost over €5000 new, some a lot more.
I thought it would be interesting to break down the most common models I see around. Both at swimming lessons, and at the elementary school our daughter goes too. All of this is based on what I spot out and about, though as you’d expect, I do pay a lot of attention to the cargobikes on the cycle paths.
The prices listed below are the best price I could find today (Feb 2023) online. They’re in-stock, in the Netherlands at reputable online stores. Where there are different ‘levels’ of model, I’ve gone with the cheaper, most basic version.
But first, a note on terminology. The most popular type of cargobike in the Netherlands is the bakfiets, so that’s what I’ve focused on. There are plenty of other types of cargobike and in many areas, long tail bikes (like that of issue 4’s interviewee Nicolai) are hugely popular.
Finally, the models below are just a few of those you could go and buy. However, these are all reputable brands, with solid dealer networks and easy access to spare parts. Most of them are manufactured in the Netherlands or Europe. You can find much cheaper bikes imported from China and other markets, but I’m not considering those because I really don’t see many around.
Non-electric bakfiets
The market for acoustic bakfiets is now quite small. Of all the major brands, there’s only Bakfiets.nl still selling one.
Bakfiets Classic Long - €2050
Shimano Nexus 7 hub gears, roller brakes, weight 45kg
Ah, the classic. Bakfiets.nl. In 1999, they brought the idea of a family cargobike to the masses. And not much of the design has changed since. With the classic wooden box, and relaxed riding position, they were very popular and for a long time, the only option.
We actually owned one of these until we upgraded to our electric version. Whilst it was just about manageable in the Netherlands, I could not recommend one if you’re anywhere with hills. The bike is already 45kg before you add the rider and cargo ontop, which is a lot to peddle yourself. And the new price is only €1500 cheaper than the electric model. I’m sure someone is still buying manual bakfiets, but it won’t be me.
Electric bakfiets
Urban Arrow €5290
Hydraulic disc brakes, Enviolo Heavy Duty gear hub, Bosch Performance Line motor, weight 51kg
Without doubt, the most common bakfiets I see around Utrecht is the Urban Arrow Family. A local bike shop told me that they sell around 2 a week on average, but in 2020 once sold 40 in a month. And that’s just one independent bike store in Utrecht.
They’ve been selling the Family model since 2010 with no huge design changes, so it’s quite hard to tell a modern one from an older one unless you know what to look for. But I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them are 5 to 10 years old. They are very well built, and hold their value extremely well, you’ll still pay €3500+ for a second-hand 5 year old model with tens of thousands of KMs.
The design is old, but it still looks great, and I assume that matters to a lot of buyers. The safety story is also a big selling point for this bike. It uses a tubular aluminium frame with EPS foam (the same sort you find in bike helmets) to form the cargo box. What you’ll also notice is that the child sits inside the Urban Arrow, compared to the older Bakfiets.nl design. Put all that together and it's easy to see why Dutch families still love the Urban Arrow.
Bakfiets.nl €3589
Hydraulic disc brakes, Nexus 7 hub gears, weight approx 50kg
No I didn’t make a mistake with the photos, that is the electric version of the first bike on the list. And yes, it looks basically the same. But for good reason, it’s a Dutch design classic, it’s incredibly robust and they last forever.
I’m a little bias here as we own this bike. But, I think it’s great for a few reasons.
Firstly, I think it looks good. I love the mix of traditional wood construction with a modern electric drivetrain.
The box is made from 9mm plywood, compared to the steel frame and EPS foam of competitors. This means the ratio of bike width to inside space is the best around. And we use our bakfiets for cargo and child moving duties, so the large inside space was important for us. It’s also easy to modify, so if you want to add a dog door, or install a cup holder, it’s really easy to do with basic tools.
The riding position for the kids is more on the bike, rather than in the bike like newer models. There’s a reason for this - safety. The bakfiets.nl was designed in an era where safety was less of a concern and for the Dutch market, where cycling is a very safe activity. So compared with the other models, the kids get a better view and feel a bit more ‘in the environment’.
If I was a gambling man, I don’t think this model will be around another 30 years. With the explosion of cargobike use outside the Netherlands, companies needs to be able to appeal to wider markets. And I don’t think this does. It doesn’t look safe and in places with little or no separated cycle infrastructure, that’s a big barrier for people. In response, bakfiets.nl actually launched a new cargobike last month which is a lot more in common with the other bikes on this list.
I don't love the aesthetic, but you can see what direction they're heading in.
Dolly 2.jpeg
Dolly Bakfiets €4699
Hydralic disc brakes, Enviolo Cargo gears, Bafang motor
We very nearly chose a Dolly. They’re local to Utrecht, and will bring one to your house in a van to test ride it. And when it needs a service, they’ll come and do it at home too. This is actually a really nice detail. Lots of bike shops really don’t want to deal with bakfiets, even in Utrecht. They’re big, heavy and clutter up the workshop. They’re also very heavy to push if you need to transport it to a mechanic.
Unlike the other brands, they use a double walled plastic box for the cargo box. This is good, as it’s strong and flexible, but is quite thick and takes up a lot of room. I found the usable room inside of a Dolly is surprisingly small.
What I did love about the Dolly is the riding. It was so much fun. I couldn’t track down how much the bike weighs, but it felt light, and I think the plastic box helps with the lower centre of gravity.
You can also choose the colour of the box and the frame, leading to some amazing colour combinations.
Lovens €5499
Belt drive, Bosch motor, hydraulic brakes, all the bells and whistles Weight = 45kg
This new bike on the scene only launched in 2021. Despite that, I see Lovens everywhere.
First up, it’s a beautiful bike. They clearly spent a lot of time (and money) perfecting the look. Lovens is a sub-brand of the established Dutch company Optima Cycles. So they’re not starting from scratch and have a lot of experience already. And I think it shows. I had a chance to test ride one at last years International Cargobike Festival and the bike is polished and rides great.
I think a big target market for Lovens are people who are considering a cargobike to replace their primary or secondary car. It's a very car-like bike. There’s a lot of painted aluminium. There’s an LED light strip. The interior of the cargo section is plush, with brown leather-like materials. It looks modern, it looks premium and it looks safe. Compare it to the bakfiets.nl above. The differences are night and day.
Saying that, it’s got a premium pricetag too. Spec it out with automatic gears, a raincover and a large battery and you’ll be spending over €7000. Though I think most people are leasing them, which is an increasinly popular way of buying cargobikes in the Netherlands. You can lease a base level Lovens for around €180 a month.
Summary
So what can we learn? I think we can make some assumptions.
I think we can say that the Dutch seem to be quite brand loyal. All of the brands in this list are Dutch companies.
People are spending serious money on these bikes, and therefore see them as serious forms of transport.
In Utrecht, it’s a very normal way to transport your kids around.
But as my day job I am a design researcher. And for me writing this has just raised more questions:
Why do people choose one bike brand over another?
How are people paying for them? Or are the famously credit adverse Dutch leasing them?
Is there an economic divide between those using cargobikes, and those who do not? To own a cargobike costing thousands of euros assumes a few things:
First that you can pay for it, or have a credit rating good enough to get a lease. Second that you have somewhere to store it securely
Or that you live in an area with a low enough crime rate for it to be where you left it in the morning.
And I’m certain there’s a host of other super interesting questions about what motivates cargobike owners to purchase their bikes, which we’ll look at in future issues.
Cargobike of the week
This issue’s cargobike of the week is the community project of Londoner Amy Scaife.
HubRen is a cooperative project that’s:
Part information desk, part art installation, painting the picture of the resilient, post fossil-fuel future and the pathways there.
Local artists and communities invited to participate in the co-design of resources, facilitating community co-ownership and the amplification of a diversity of voices.
Printed onto robust canvas, the library of resources becomes a portable creative commons; replicable, flexible and scalable.
Hubs connect and create a network, sharing stories, knowledge and resources.
It looks like the perfect use for a cargobike to me!
Other links of interest
Wandsworth council’s cargobike trash collectors
I saw this post on Linkedin about a London council using an Urban Arrow to empty the bins in a park.
I looks like Wandsworth council is doing some really interestisting things to encourage cargobike use in the borough. They have a scheme to hire out cargobikes to local businesses and families, and even a map of local cargobike friendly workshops.
Twitter corner
I loved this tweet from my friends at the international cargo bike festival which highlights how bikes with trailers are being used to distribute aid to those in need following the deverstating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
And Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer from Manchester had this awesome thread about all the things she carries in her cargobike. The list includes sisters, paralympic tricyclists and cellos, which is pretty good going!
Thanks for reading! And if you’d like to support the newsletter for just $5 per month, you can below!