MEET THE CARGO REVOLUTIONARIES
Businesses using cargo bikes are the heart of this revolution, here are just a few examples of the pioneer businesses we’ve been working with.
Aaron Fleming-Saheed, Cycling Sparks
IG: @CyclingSparks
How did you get into Cargo Bikes?
They weren’t really a thing in the UK when I started in 2017 so I carried on using a regular bike until I had the funds to think about buying one. After I did, it made my life a lot easier.
How have Cargo Bikes impacted your business?
They have allowed us to widen the range of services we can offer over further distances.
What is your advice for other businesses that are considering switching to using Cargo Bikes?
Try and get one to try out for a week or two. Several councils are offering a rental service. If you can sign up and see if it’s of benefit to you.
What is the funniest reaction you’ve ever received from the public on your bike?
The one I like the most is from my fellow trades in vans at lights.
They read the sign on the side of the bike, frown, mouth the name of our company then nudge their mate to say “Look, there’s a sparks on a bike” It happens all the time, it’s very funny.
To be fair, most of them now really like the idea and some come up and say so.
If your cargo bike was an animal, what would it be and why?
A shark. It glides effortlessly through the city and it commands its own space while it does it.
Joe Sharpe, Zhero
X: @zherolondon IG: @zherolondon
How did you get into Cargo Bikes?
I'd seen how they were being used in Scandinavia when I lived there, and knew we needed them back in London. Once I started trying different versions out, and discovering how useful they are... for pretty much anything you need to move... I was hooked.
How have Cargo Bikes impacted your business?
Cargo-bikes are our business! Without them we'd not be able to do what we do!
What is your advice for other businesses that are considering switching to using Cargo Bikes?
Try them out before you buy them and speak to other riders you see on the streets, there's now loads of places to give them a trial/hire before you make a big purchase. See what works, what doesn't and you'll quickly discover they're more appropriate for the majority of your transport needs in city centres.
What is the funniest reaction you’ve ever received from the public on your bike?
A bloke stopped whilst crossing the road in front of me on Regents St, and with a massive grin on his face shouted "YOU ARE THE FUTURE!" It was about 3 years ago when I'd just started Zhero, so a pretty good morale booster!
If your cargo bike was an animal, what would it be and why?
A bird, maybe a Hawk - flying through the city. We've named each of our bikes in the fleet after native birds in the UK
Evelini Quarrell, Monkey Music
How did you get into Cargo Bikes?
My business Monkey Music is a music class, so I have lots of instruments and props that I need to transport to different venues in Central London. I was looking for a solution that would help me solve the issues of no parking, congestion charge and traffic delays. One day a cargo bike cycled passed me and I thought, this is it!
How have Cargo Bikes impacted your business?
I can almost say, that without my cargo bike, Monkey Music Tower Bridge wouldn’t exist! It saves me time, money and keeps me fit!
What is your advice for other businesses that are considering switching to using Cargo Bikes?
The initial investment to get one is totally worth it once you are sailing past the traffic, seeing the savings from the taxes and petrol you would have to spend with a car. I can say that Monkey Music transport gives me the feel-good factor from being an eco-business!
What is the funniest reaction you’ve ever received from the public on your bike?
I literally turn heads! Every time people look and see a petit woman transporting the huge load I normally do, they probably think I am going to break! They don’t realise I use a motor which assists my cycling.
If your cargo bike was an animal, what would it be and why?
A monkey! Because it makes funny sounds and is fun! Like my cargo (which carries maracas which shakes as I cycle and because my business is Monkey Music!)
Rob Darbyshire, Drain Geeks
X: @draingeeks IG: @draingeeks
How did you get into Cargo Bikes?
I left my previous career to retrain as a plumber. I needed a way to get myself and my tools around to jobs but didn’t want to invest in a van - a cargo bike was the cheaper way.
How have Cargo Bikes impacted your business?
It's been huge but perhaps not in a way even I would have thought about. There are so many benefits around enjoyment and reduced stress, lower capital and running costs, parking, faster travel etc, but ultimately the number one benefit has been me saying no to work, yes that's right saying no to work. It allowed me to build a business that is locally based and that's very unusual with tradespeople, most of whom cover vast areas. We don't get paid for travel time so why travel further than you have to and I'm more profitable because of it.
I quickly found out that covering long distances is not practical on a cargo bike so started saying no to jobs that were not within a few miles of home. Tradespeople get a lot of work from recommendations and if you can be disciplined to say no early on, your referrals will build locally. The best thing about working locally is popping home for lunch! We also sometimes need to revisit jobs and it's much better if they are local. The benefits far outweigh the negatives and for larger jobs we can still be organised enough to travel further by bike for the right jobs.
What is your advice for other businesses that are considering switching to using Cargo Bikes?
Consider what you really need to carry - you can't carry everything you do in a van and you do need to be a little more organised. If we emptied 50% of tools and equipment from our vans I bet most people could still do 95% of their work without a problem. For materials you can get everything delivered and it's just not an issue.
What is the funniest reaction you’ve ever received from the public on your bike?
People often say to bring my bike in for security which is really kind but most don't realise how big my bike is. I have parked in the lobby of offices before though at their insistence.
If your cargo bike was an animal, what would it be and why?
I guess it would have to be a kangaroo with its pouch.
Ignacio Niemeyer, Vintage Handyman
X: @vintagehandyman IG: @vintagehandyman
How did you get into Cargo Bikes?
I have always been a keen cyclist. Having been in Europe and many parts of the UK on biking holidays, I built a mini trailer/van airstream looking for bikes. Carrying stuff on a cargo bike has always got me enthusiastic. You can see a short film about the building of The Bullet.
I used to use a van for my business, and one day I had enough of traffic, parking restrictions...etc. The first bike I used for my business was a commuter electric non-cargo bike, which worked well. I tried that bike for six months, never let me down. The next step to buying a cargo bike was logical for me.
How have Cargo Bikes impacted your business?
My ETA's are way more accurate, my life is a lot happier from a bicycle, and I see a part of London that you can only access by foot or bike.
What is your advice for other businesses that are considering switching to using Cargo Bikes?
Give it a go; a well-planned week will make your life much happier. Cycling around London will put you in a good mood. Guaranteed.
What is the funniest reaction you’ve ever received from the public on your bike?
This happens to me every week, really. For much as I try to pass inadvertently, I can't. My bike, aka "The Beast", is a bit of a thing. People ask me to take pictures or if I was Dutch or touring worldwide. "This is a serious piece of kit," people always say.
At a traffic light the other day, a lady asked me: Are you a handyman??? Me: Yea, but not an ordinary one... Do you have Power tools as well???? yeah! Hahaha, with some cheekiness.
If your cargo bike was an animal, what would it be and why?
In the best moments of the day, when I am on the road pushing and eager to get to the site to get jobs done, I feel like my bike can be a beast with wings, so that makes it into a Dragon??
Jean-Claude Charnier, LIONBEAT
X: @LionbeatUK
How did you get into Cargo Bikes?
Coming from Sound System Culture, which uses big heavy speakers, big heavy trucks, and heavy diesel generators, I was looking for a less patriarchal solution, less polluting and one that resolved the mobility issues associated with these machines, meaning they're locked up for over 90% of the year.
As amplifier and battery technology have come on leaps and bounds in the last decade, I started looking at battery-operated options. When I realised Cargo Bikes could be part of the solution, I immediately sought out the courier with the biggest fleet of the best bikes and signed up to learn to ride.
How have Cargo Bikes impacted your business?
In short, they've entirely enabled it. We now deliver fleet of foot solutions that can course into parks, school playgrounds and street corners, with zero emissions en route and at the point of delivery.
All in all, eCargo bikes allow us to increase the frequency and amplitude of Bass Culture happenings.
What is your advice for other businesses that are considering switching to using Cargo Bikes?
Training is very important. You and your team represent your business when you ride, so riding safely is crucial, with secure loads and a confident style.
This is all-important in professionalising the services delivered by eCargo bikes, keeping riders, other road users and equipment in carriage safe.
What is the funniest reaction you’ve ever received from the public on your bike?
I mean, we roll through all over town playing heavy dub, blazing Fela Kuti or running 90s dancehall all the time! South London is the best place, obviously.
We get a host of reactions from fists aloft, strong, as a salute to smiling and laughter from parents as their children drop a hip and pop a hand as we're passing through. It's often very joyful.
If your cargo bike was an animal, what would it be and why?
We did actually call them Lionbikes, for my company Lionbeat, in prototyping. However, they're now known as BASSISbikes, as BASSIS is our outreach brand.
Truly, you'd have to compare them to beasts of burden, but they ride and move swiftly, so perhaps a Thoroughbred horse, only better, as they don't poop all over the place.
