A new generation of environmentally conscious consumers is prepared to use cargo bikes to replace car trips, and even car ownership, according to international research.
Researchers from Germany surveyed more than 2500 users of cargo bike share schemes common in Germany where, rather than owning a cargo bike, riders can borrow them from local councils, bike dealers and businesses.
They found overall that cargo bikes and cargo bike share schemes had considerable potential to reduce car ownership.
In general, cargo bikes were rated as superior when it came to effective, symbolic, and environmental motives, and on flexibility and price.
However, riders accepted that cars could be advantageous when it came to traffic safety, travel speed, comfort, and weather independence.
The study, Can cargo bikes compete with cars?, by the Technical University of Berlin and the Research Institute for Sustainability Potsdam, found improving infrastructure and cargo bike technology, and stimulating favourable social norms for cargo bikes, were beneficial conditions that could help leverage their potential.
Research generally indicates that many people like to use bikes for transport, but own a car mainly for moving goods. But if modern, electrical-assisted cargo bikes, available from a share scheme or as a private purchase, can move most of those goods, is owning a car necessary?
In the survey sample, 66 people owning one car or more reduced the number of cars owned, 221 decided not to replace a currently owned car, 106 had previously owned a car they now would not replace, and 498, having used the cargo bike scheme, decided against purchasing a car altogether.
Analysis by the researchers indicates that the impact of cargo bike sharing schemes reduced car ownership among participants by between 7.4% and 18.1%.
Others in the survey, while not reducing car ownership, did reduce car use.
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