German Post Office cargo bike

[temve]

Because I saw one of the new models in the street today and because it so perfectly illustrates the European attitude towards cycling as a mode of transport rather than a sport, have a picture of a German Post Office cargo bike.



Given the colour and the swooping step-through frame design, I dare you not to think 'banana'.

I love how the front wheel is smaller to accommodate the massive rack that is custom-sized to fit exactly two standard-size mail crates. Other than that, this one's built for maximum comfort and durability: huge wide seat, really comprehensive chain guard, internal hub gearing, and a pair of baby wheels in lieu of a kickstand because anyone who's ever tried to park a loaded bike on a kickstand knows that thislevel of cargo requires serious steel to keep it upright, and no way would you want to tilt it.

It really is a fine workhorse. But I'm shallow. I like its curves. :)

Comments

[sporky_rat]

....I want to stroke it and whisper sweet nothings at its gears.

Er. Ahem. That's a lovely bike and I really do think that in some of the American towns with the post boxes still on the houses proper and not out in the yard, it'd be an ingenious idea. (A lot of the houses in my town are the 1900's-1930's bungalow style. I keep seeing the postman having to park at one end of the block, lock the truck, walk around, go back to the truck, unlock, refill, repeat until the block is done. A bike would be sooo much easier for him.)

[vlion]

I think it's ugly looking, but beautifully functional and rugged.

[jae]

The Dutch would say: wouldn't a bakfiets be more practical for delivering the mail? :)

-J

[copracat]

Now there's a bike that could take you and all your stuff places. I love the way the frame swoops around to support the rear rack.

[ell]

I want one :-)

[dancing_serpent]

The perfect bike for grocery shopping! Buying cat litter and bottled water would be so much easier...

[sara]

Oh, that's lovely.

And now I'm off to pass a pic along to the friend who was trying to get out a huge mailing on her bike yesterday and ran out of trailer space....

[darkemeralds]

That? Is a thing of beauty! Practical, working beauty.

Awesome! Thank you for posting it.

[pebblerocker]

That's impressive -- it must carry a LOT. Those training wheels that flip up look useful. The New Zealand post office uses bikes that look somewhat like these (from the website in jae's link!) but with a sturdy centre-stand instead of a side-stand. They don't carry anything near what the German one does!