(R)Evolutions per Minute: Cargo Bikes in the US - a trailer for the crowdsourced documentary

[compostjohn]

Awesome. I'm in the UK, and moved house by bike 11 years ago. I hope you extend the film to around the world. Want me to do some filming?

I have a custom-made trailer and heavy duty bike, and transport my circus show around, also logs, compostables.... you name it, if it's not more than about 100kg, I can carry it.

I look forward to the film even if it is US only. This video made me laugh and cry.

[phroboi]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being part of this movement. My partner and I don't own a car and accomplish all our errands via bike. Full disclosure would be appreciated.

There are few affordable, well-made parts and bicycle manufacturers based in the US. Hopefully these ideas will lead to more metalworking jobs. Even then, I'm skeptical at best that structural change will be achieved. An ongoing, and important, discourse will inevitably ensue.

[phroboi]

The views expressed in this video are inspirational, but romantic. Cargo bikes aren't cheap. They are cheap relative to owning a car, but they are not "cheap". Even at cost they run $1000+, which for low-income families is a large investment. Conversions run $500-$2000+, see Tom's Cargo Bikes, based out of Portland.

The majority of bicycle components are fabricated in the East and shipped West = emissions = externalities not taken into account.

[TheFlyinghun]

Fabulous vid and project! I particularly like how much fun you're kids are clearly having. Yeah, get the story out there!

[strimlip]

Uhm. It's a bike. Invented 200 years ago.

[ziotranky]

(R)Evolution is possible!

[risasb]

The downside, for now, in the US, is the high level of driver ignorance and potential for road rage.Shared roads are shared poorly by the behemoths, And Bush's transportation secretary scoffed, in effect, "We do people keep referring to _bicycles+ as transportation?" We, not too long ago, lost a kid in our town that was rear-ended behind her mom in a bike trailer. But we have to start somewhere.

[jimfeustel]

She is right at the end of the video...once you start to ride a cargo bike to do all of your commuting and do all of your hauling, you want to do it! I built mt own cargo bike that is simialar to a bike with an Xtracycle kit. I have been to the grocery store and carried a whole shopping carts worth of stuff on it!

[risasb]

@jimfeustel Even those who don't have this level of competence (me for example) can carry a lot more than we think on a conventional bike. I've added a handlebar basket, pannier baskets, and a milk crate on the pannier basket rack and can carry a whole lot of groceries, plants, foraged fruit, even scrounged firewood this way.

[geegeevindaloo]

Wow, this is super inspiring! I've been drooling over cargo bikes for awhile... ever since seeing huge loads carried by bike in Southeast Asia.

[TheObimara]

Great stuff in the new end bits -- it should be very re-assuring to your co-directors to know that their contributions will be well-edited and complemented by great graphics!

[Rubellaaa]

Great, congratulations US. It´s nice to see how the bike culture is spreading in your country. This was a really nice clip.

[AlexChurch]

My younger wife (mid-60s) finally started to appreciate the fun for bike riding. It was probably the new tandem and the Mickelson rail-trail that did it for her.

[1MoreCarol]

I'd like to see this re-done and re-written with the "donating to the Democratic Party" left out ... Conservatives, TEA Party movement members, even Republicans, ride bikes and you can sell more if you don't undermine your sales pitch with politics ... Left-wing, Liberal or even Right-wing, Conservative. Comprende?

[Killroy1999]

Trailers are a easy way to have the utility of a cargo bike, take it off with a pull of a pin and have a have a conventional bike back again. Trailers are found easy and cheap on the internet.

[efhl1]

Agreed - the intro is too heavy and too long. Get to the joy of the bike faster!

[thomasharper2000k]

Im a filmaker from Scotland. Ive got an xtracycle.

[thomasharper2000k]

Looks interesting. Im not sure about the beginning though. Its kind of a downer. I liked it better after they get on the bike. Just my opinion though. Cant wait to see the finished doc.

[bxcycleman]

I wish people would be so lucky as me, to enjoy a bicycle as much as a car. Long live XtraCycles!

[cyclenut]

I purchased a usded cargo bike. It is the 3-wheeled verison that can carry 4 children or 250 lbs of .....

It weights over 100 lbs and is work climbing overpasses . I did change the gear box to 8-speeds and put a bigger cog on back.. ~3mph makes it possible to climb, but still needs a lower gear.. I'm thinking about 1mph low gear should do...

[TheLonelyImmortal]

Just don't have children. It's the nicest thing anyone can ever do for the environment.

[velorapture]

Looking forward to this documentary, good luck tracking down footage!



[elzapp]

I got a regular bike, but with a seat for my daughter and a trailer for cargo

[sepi314]

Congratulations for the video from Cardedeu, Catalunya, Spain, Europe. The Cargo bike revolutions has also started in Cardedeu.

[StoicDamien]

Love how happy the kids all look, reminds me of our running stroller.

[c33r0k33]

The bride sitting pretty with the groom pedaling them off into the distance beats the traditional carry her over the threshold! If only there were more brides and grooms like that.

[Whymcycle]

Sweet! Made my first cargo bike/trike in 1968..keep up the good work!