Choosing the bicycle over the car for everyday transportation needs presents some clear obstacles. You can only ride your bike so far in a given time, load capacity is limited, and of course there’s the question of where to seat the passengers.
The cargo bicycle offers some solutions, and while it may not solve all of your transportation needs, they offer utility value that far exceeds the conventional two-wheeler. There’s no doubt that incorporating bicycle mobility into your lifestyle will require some adjustments. However, the latest batch of multi-purpose bikes is attracting more interest than ever from people just like you and I that want to live healthier, cleaner, less expensive, lower-stress lives.
Is this a real option for you?
This could be an option for me in the future. Right now, I live so close to the office that it would take longer for me to collect my bike from my place, ride to work and lock it up than it would to just walk.
Exactly, why ride when you can walk.
Pretty slick, well produced video.
I’m inspired by the notion of being able to take cargo on my bike. I’m equally apprehensive about the notion of regularly shuttling my children around in such a bike.
Yes, there’s definitely a risk involved when taking kids. When I think about the tripswe take, to the convenience store and sports practice, it might work. My older kids are able to ride their own bikes safely and would be too heavy to taxi around anyway. For the right age it would be a great option.
I am a bike enthusiast and I am in favor of bicycling. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is bike unfriendly. I look forward to the day when bicycling can coexist with cars. My commute to work is only 7 miles and I take surface streets to work. I often thought about riding to work, however I would need a shower. I am also concerned about safety.
Cars and bikes coexisting, I look forward to that day too. There is definitely a risk of serious injury every time you take to the streets on a bicycle. It worries me sometimes. Showers would be a big change for most businesses to implement for their employees. I agree, this is a major limiting factor.
Bikes are great. I take the bus everywhere so I just bike to the beach for fun. With all the hills in SF it’s a lot easier to jump on a bus than huff and puff up a big hill.
-Sydney
Bikes are fun, I agree. My kids and I often bike for fun. I’ve spent some time in SF and those hills are punishing. Is it only the tourists that ride the trolleys?
I’ve looked into the cargo bikes and they look like a great alternative for hauling heavy items or children. However, not many places sell these bikes and they are a little expensive. And I agree with Krantcents, Los Angeles is not bike friendly. Most drivers just can’t handle bikes on the street right now. There are just so many distractions already that adding bikes would completely confuse them!
Oh, in comment to Krantcents shower dilemma. The first year I biked to work, I biked 5.5 miles one way. I didn’t have a shower available, but what I did was wear a crummy shirt and bring a change of shirt with me. That worked out pretty well. Now I’m only biking one mile so that isn’t an issue anymore.
Well done video. Like KC said, LA is very bike unfriendly. I’m in the middle as I am using my car less and using public transportation more. Since you are a blogger and a biker enthusiast, would you make a bike video blog like the director asked?
Nah, this wouldn’t be an option where we currently live, very bike unfriendly. How fitting that the documentary would be produced in the Bay Area, birthplace of the mountain bike.