Freight tricycles could be a critical part of a city’s zero carbon bike ecosystem. Freight tricycles:
- Adds to critical mass of a city’s bike maintenance ecosystem.
- Decreases a city’s carbon output.
- Offers local entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Can complement community shared agriculture (“CSA”)
Bike Ecosystem
Cities have seen a dramatic rise in biking for tourism and commuting in many cities has been dramatic. The Atlantic Cities which reports a 70% increase in ridership on average in major US metro areas. This is driving demand for products and services from repairs to bike-related merchandise.
| Region | % Growth |
|---|---|
| Northwest | 83% |
| Northeast | 127% |
| Midwest | 106% |
| Southwest | na |
| Southeast | na |
Lower Carbon
London, Stockholm and other cities have all implemented cordon or congestion pricing. Depending upon the design of such systems, this could encourage growth of the rickshaw for local deliveries. The concept is simple, traditional delivery vans can enter the cordoned zone and be set-up in a hub and spoke system where the traditional van is the hub and delivery rickshaws become the spoke.
Entrepreneurial
The bike and all related products (e.g. the rickshaw) are simple technologies. Growth of a bike ecosystem can create a variety of local entrepreneurial opportunities along the entire value chain. Start-ups can range from new bike companies, new delivery services and more. New York City already has a variety of companies in the ecosystem. New York City already has the beginning of a freight trike infrastructure. It is home to leading industrial strength trike company, Worksman Cycles, as well as leading operator, Revolution Rickshaws.
Community Supported/Shared Agricultural
One of the less highlighted advantages of a bike ecosystem is the use of industrial strength trikes to deliver freight and particularly produce from community supported agricultural (“CSA”) projects which establish farms on rooftops and vacant lots. A well known one in New York City is Grange Farm on a rooftop in the Navy Yards in Brooklyn. Could trikes be used to link rooftop gardens with grocery stores, green markets and restaurants?