Angela Merkel and the Hercules Rob Cargo at Eurobike - Photo: ADFC

While the trend towards Pedelecs and E-Bikes keeps growing, the next big thing in cycling is peeking out on the horizon. Electrically-enabled cargo bikes are making their entrance in more and more places where quick, sustainable and space-saving delivery and transport are needed – and now, even Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel might consider getting one.

Out of the many bikes Angela Merkel looked at when she visited Eurobike this summer, the Hercules Rob Cargo at the booth of German bicycle maker Winora was definitely one of her favorites. Merkel was the first head of government and world leader to visit Eurobike, showing that cycling has finally arrived at the highest level of politics. As it turns out, this is also true for cycle logistics – which means carrying goods on bicycles.

“When Mrs. Merkel came to our stand to talk to us, we showed her a selection of our new E-bikes and Pedelecs. But she was most impressed by the cargo bike,” says Felix R. Puello, head of product management at Winora, who was one of the few to get to speak to the Chancellor. “She said she didn’t even know before that you could buy such a bike, but she immediately saw why it could be very practical in a city.”

The Hercules Rob Cargo (Photo © Hercules)

While it is no surprise that the chancellor can’t personally know about all the many different kinds of bikes, officials in her administration are watching the rise of cycle logistics in Germany. A section on cargo bicycles was included in the latest German master plan for cycling. “This is the first time we see cargo bikes appearing in a master plan in the EU”, noted Fabian Kuester, ECF’s senior policy officer.

With its big luggage racks integrated into the frame in the front and back, the Hercules Rob Cargo can carry the groceries for a whole family or any other payload up to 80 kg. It is also a Pedelec, (bike with electric assistance) and that makes it really special.. The Rob Cargo is equipped with a brand new motor from Bosch that quickly gets anyone up to 25 km/h once he or she starts pedaling. It also features a big battery, hydraulic brakes and a 7-gear hub to make the cargo bike experience as pleasant as possible.

To be sure, riding a cargo bike such as the Rob Cargo, a Bullitt, a Bakfiets, or a Christiania is no longer limited to postmen, who have been doing so for a long time in many countries across Europe. An increasing number of private households have recently discovered what’s possible when you are riding a cargo bike – from buying furniture to carrying your children and replacing the family car.

The latter also occurred to Angela Merkel. “Mrs. Merkel said that such a bike could be especially useful for families, as it can carry so many supplies,” Felix R. Puello recalls. “That’s something she liked in particular about the Rob Cargo.”

She might be even more excited about the family-friendliness of cargo bikes when she learns that there are bikes that are not only good at carrying the groceries, as the Rob Cargo is, but the kids as well.

Delivery Industry leader switching to bikes

Mrs. Merkel might very well see many more cargo bikes on European streets as delivery companies have also come to realize their potential recently. While several companies like TNT have tested bike delivery services, DHL Express, one of the global leaders in the business, has already gone one step further and started replacing a number of delivery vans with cargo bicycles.

“At least 30 motor vehicles have been replaced with bicycles in the DHL fleet in the Netherlands,” says Randy Rzewnicki, project manager at the ECF for the EU funded projects CycleLogistics & Pro-E-Bike.
“The Dutch DHL unit even convinced their partner companies in Greece and Austria to start doing the same in summer 2013. Clearly, DHL did this because they realized they can actually replace a whole van with one bike,” says Rzewnicki. “We expect other delivery companies to follow soon. With DHL, we’ve got the proof that it works.”

Bike industry optimistic about e-cargo bikes

The tendency is confirmed by Siegfried Neuberger, head of German bicycle industry association ZIV. “One bright spot in the bicycle market is the growth of e-cargo bikes, which are being used for delivery services in urban areas as well as for private purposes”, Neuberger says. “We want to tap into this potential.”

It seems the future couldn’t look brighter for electrically enabled cargo bikes. After all, even Angela Merkel now considers using one to go shopping.

About the Author

Karsten Marhold works as Communications Assistant at the European Cyclists’ Federation. He has a masters degree in European history and cultures and is a researcher in European Integration in Brussels. His interests focus on cycling as a sustainable form of mobility and the corresponding EU policies.