Wouldn’t it be great if you could drop your kids to school every day without having to pay for gas, not waiting for traffic lights to turn green, and get some exercise on the way, too? Absolutely. You can do all these at once if you have a cargo bicycle.

Bicycles are growing in popularity all over the world. In cities, travelling on a bike can get you to your destination often faster than driving a car. There are many different varieties of bicycles. While a city bike can be good enough for a solo guy, a cargo bike is a better option for most of the people out there. You can use them for grocery shopping, to drop your kids to school, to carry a backpack to the office, and whatnot. Knowing the difference between the variations of cargo bikes can help you make a better purchase decision. This article will tell you about the different types of cargo bikes and will also give you a few tips you can follow while shopping for them.

Different types of cargo bikes

More than half a century ago, cargo bicycles dominated the field of personal transportation. Not only that. Industries like milk, meat, mail and parcel service, etc. relied on them. The good old-fashioned bikes have been making a comeback in recent years. People use them as an affordable and faster alternative to taking public transport or driving a car. Even major companies in the US provide their employees bikes to get around. Thanks to all these developments, you will find a variety of bikes on the market. Here is the list of the different types of cargo bicycles and how and when to use them.

Three-wheel cargo bike or cargo tricycle

The advantage of a trike, or tricycle, is that you don’t have to worry about falling from them. So, if you want to take your kids for a ride through the streets, these are the safest option. You don’t have to worry about them being restless in the carriage. But if you are not used to riding a trike, the way it steers might feel strange to you. But you will get used to it. With a trike, you have to be careful when you are riding on a slanted plain. And you will need more space than regular cycles when you go around corners. A trike is not for you if you need speed and swiftness.

Longtail cargo bicycle

Because of their long wheelbase at the rear end, they can carry bigger loads than a mini cargo bike. Also, they offer a lot of customisability. These bikes are ideal if you are planning a road trip on the bike. You can have enough storage space by adding a pannier on it. These bikes also feature hooks on their sides to secure the load. It is possible to add more cargo capacity to this bike by extending the wheelbase even further. Or by adding a seat and hand rest on the cargo rack, you can easily carry a kid as a pillion rider. If you already have a regular bike, you can add a long rack to the rear and convert it to a longtail bike.

Mini cargo bike

Not everyone needs big bulky bikes that are hard to ride in busy streets. Mini cargo bikes are the answer to these problems. They are small yet can carry loads on the cargo decks on their front, back, or both. Depending on the position of the rack, its wheels have smaller wheels. The racks on the mini cargo bikes are not huge, but they are enough to carry a medium-sized box without any trouble. Traditionally these bikes were called butchers bikes. You can mount a child seat on the cargo rack and convert it into a family bike.

Box bikes

These are what you get when you put wheelbarrows on steroids. They do not have three wheels like a wheelbarrow, but the cargo box in front of it looks exactly like the one on wheelbarrow bikes. So, the riders sit at the tail end of this long bike. These bikes come in handy to transport light cargo and even to carry small children on your visit to the park. Unlike a regular cargo bicycle, box bikes do not have side kickstands. Today’s box bikes are in fact a modification of the traditional Long John bikes that had very long wheelbases in front. You may also come across box bikes with three wheels.

Electric cargo bicycle

When you are carrying heavier cargo, a little ‘push’ would make the riding a lot easier. They are especially useful if you have to ride uphill on a regular basis. Electric cargo bikes do not work like a motorcycle. They do make the riding a lot easier, but you do have to put in a little effort with that. The motor assists you when you start to pedal and stops when you are freewheeling. You won’t have to do anything differently while you are on an electric bike, except that you will feel as if the load on the bike is almost weightless.

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