The secret is out: cargo bikes for individuals or families offer a real alternative to motorized vehicles for getting around town. In Europe, more and more local authorities are equipping themselves with shared cargo bike systems to offer their residents low-carbon modes of transport. In this article, Qucit takes a look at the development of these services and explains why!

What is a shared cargo bike system?

A shared cargo bike service is a system in which bikes specially designed to carry goods or heavy loads are made available to users in public space. Unlike traditional bicycles, cargo bikes are equipped with large front and, in some cases, rear racks capable of carrying bulky objects or passengers.

This type of service generally operates in the same way as a shared bike rental scheme. Users can locate available cargo bikes via a mobile app, unlock them with a code or subscription card, and use them to carry passengers, run errands or make other trips requiring the transport of heavy loads.

Use case: CargoVélo'v in Lyon

While they can be stand-alone services, shared cargo bikes can also be integrated into conventional shared bike systems and public transport networks. This is the case for the Lyon metropolitan area.

In fact, since March 2023, 20 CargoVélo'v have been added to the Vélo'v fleet, enabling Lyon residents to test these new vehicles for a year. Unlike conventional Vélo'v, CargoVélo'v are available at 20 stations and have a reserved space. They must be picked up and dropped off in the same place, so that each neighborhood has its own cargo bike. Available only from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., CargoVélo'v bikes can be rented for 8 cents/minute.

How do you explain the boom in shared cargo bike systems?

“We need to think big, but we need to start small”

— Anita Benassi, THINK (Velo-City 2023 conference, Leipzig)

More and more local authorities are setting up shared cargo bike services. For the most part, these systems involve just a few vehicles. They are often pilots, designed to raise awareness and test the use of these new vehicles with users. These include the city of Leipzig in Germany, which had launched a system of 30 shared cargo bikes in July 2022, and the city of Turku in Finland, which is preparing to inaugurate its first 3 shared cargo bikes this summer.

A real alternative to the car in the city: thanks to their loading capacity, cargo bikes make the car less indispensable. Like all bicycles, they produce no greenhouse gas emissions when in use. Cycling with a cargo bike therefore helps reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.
Minimal cost for the user: the main advantage of shared cargo bikes lies in the ease of access to this type of vehicle, without the need to own one personally. Indeed, the costs of owning a cargo bike are high. The average purchase price is around 4,000 euros. The main price difference lies in whether or not the bike is equipped with electric assistance. Entry-level prices are around 1,400 euros for models without electric assistance, versus 2,700 euros with electric assistance. To this must be added the cost of maintaining the vehicle.

What are the obstacles to the introduction of shared cargo bike services?

Shared cargo bikes may appear to be a providential solution to urban mobility, but a number of obstacles need to be overcome before they can be developed.

Raising awareness: In some regions, the use of cargo bikes is not yet widespread, and there may be a lack of awareness and understanding of their benefits. Motorists and pedestrians may also be unaccustomed to sharing the road with cargo bikes, which can lead to safety problems.

Inadequate infrastructure: Urban infrastructures are not always suited to the use of cargo bikes. Cycle paths can be narrow or non-existent, making it difficult to move around with a large cargo bike.

A bulky vehicle: Cargo bikes are generally heavier and bulkier than traditional bicycles. This can make handling and parking more difficult, and ultimately clutter up public space.

An inspiring example: The Hague, Netherlands

The Hague is the most densely populated city in the Netherlands, with 6,700 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it an ideal location for urban mobility experiments! Two companies are offering shared cargo bikes to residents: Cargoroo and Baqme. Convinced by the success of these two systems, the city aims to have 1,500 shared cargo bikes on its territory by 2027! To achieve this, the services must remain affordable for all residents, and provide operators with an income to ensure the sustainability of the service over time. The ultimate goal? To have a shared cargo bike on every street in La Haye!

Qucit Bike helps shared cargo bike operators!

Qucit helps operators of shared cargo bike systems to optimize their fleet management and battery swapping tours with Qucit Bike software. The software consists of two modules: