Local eCargo bike user's experience

Can you tell me about your bike and why you chose it?

Originally, I had a Babboe Trike which I chose for the stability that a three-wheel bike offered while I was pregnant, but I have since swapped to an Urban Arrow which is a two-wheel eCargo bike. I have had a positive experience riding both bikes.

Why did you start using a cargo bike?

When I lived in London, I cycled to most places to avoid the high price of using the tube, but I found that I enjoyed cycling and I could get around quicker than using other modes of transport.

When I had children, I didn’t want to stop cycling so I got an eCargo bike to allow me to carry on cycling with my children.

What do you normally use your bike for?

I use my bike for most journeys around Colchester, school runs, shopping, after school activities and leisure rides. These journeys would have otherwise been made by car, so the car doesn’t get used very often now, only for travelling longer distances or transporting lots of people.

What do you feel are the benefits of using a bike for these journeys?

I find that the bike is much more convenient to use than a car in and around Colchester, it is often quicker than driving and having to find somewhere to park as well as saving money on fuel.

Cycling is also good exercise and by using my bike for day-to-day journeys, I can easily do 1 to 2 hours of cycling a day without realising.

I find that cycling combines all of the benefits of walking and driving.

How do you find riding a cargo bike compared to a standard bike?

Riding an eCargo bike does take a bit of getting used to compared to a standard bike and I found that the trike was more different to a standard bike than a two-wheeler.

It took around a month for me to get used to riding the trike but it is much easier to park as it is stable on the three wheels and so it is a good choice if you are likely to be stopped often while using it.

A two-wheel cargo bike rides like a standard bike and is easy to balance on once moving, it is just a bit strange not seeing the front wheel. They can be slightly harder to park as the kick stand needs a hard surface to keep the bike stable.