Using bicycles for logistics — an idea that is no longer a utopia. We are all used to seeing lorries on motorways and vans in cities transporting goods to be distributed to shops. But is it truly indispensable to depend on motor vehicles for this sector?

The truth is that we can greatly reduce the number of trips made by motorised vehicles in favour of electric-assist bicycles, traditional bikes and, above all, cargo bikes, which are very widespread in northern Europe.

To cite just a few examples: pizza delivery, personal shopping that can be done by cycling rather than travelling by car, not to mention the possibility of using the train for long distances while opting for the bike for the so-called last mile.

Cathy Macharis, professor at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels and researcher for the Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology (Mobi) group, stated at the European Conference on Cycle Logistics held in Spain that as many as 68 per cent of journeys can be transferred to two wheels.

As reported by the website of the European Cyclists' Federation (Ecf), practical cases already exist that demonstrate how this shift is already under way. In the Swedish city of Motala, e-bikes have replaced cars for the carrying out of certain municipal services, while in Zagreb, Croatian Post has purchased 180 e-bikes to replace traditional scooters.

"The shift from car to bicycle is a successful business model for our company as for others. It is not just a matter of the environment or of saving money, but an opportunity to make a profit," Simone Vicentini, general manager of Gls Enterprise, told Ecf. The bike delivery company has grown at double-digit rates with the introduction of limited traffic zones in Vicenza.

Cover photo: Cargo bike. Photo IMG_8656, © Federations European Cyclists' via Flickr
The photos in this article are released under a Creative Commons 2.0 licence