Is the adoption of cargo bikes the next step in America's evolution towards a European model of bikeability?
Already popular in emerging economies and European cities such as Copenhagen, where an estimated 30,000 such bikes ply the streets, Caitlin Zacharias looks at the attraction, and potential obstacles, to the increasing use of cargo bicycles in the United States.
Owing partly to entrepreneurs, cargo bikes are already "growing in popularity in the U.S. says Zacharias. "NPR," for example, "reported that while most cargo bikes are imported from Europe or China, domestic manufacturers are on the rise."
"The majority of cargo bike customers, however," observes Zacharias, "are those simply looking to haul groceries or children. Cheaper than cars, SUBs (sport utility bikes) offer a promising alternative to our beloved SUVs. Buc Syski of Kasper's Cargos,
which distributes cargo bikes throughout the East Coast, cites rising
gas prices, improvements to cargo bike technology and cultural shifts
among the reasons he sees for their rise in popularity."
The high cost of cargo bikes, which can reach well into the four-digits at the top end, and safety concerns, "especially among parents transporting children," may provide an obstacle to their wider market penetration.
FULL STORY: Daily Functional and Economical, Cargo Bikes On the Rise

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie