“But tradespeople can’t carry their stuff around by bike” – oh yes they can! How cargo bikes are changing the way people work
“But tradespeople can’t carry their stuff around by bike” – oh yes they can! How cargo bikes are changing the way people work
Look, I love bikes- I ride them, fix them, dream about them, but honestly, as a former electrician I can also acknowledge that it would be severely limiting to do that job on a bike.
If you’re working on domestic then you need a few ladders, a couple of hundred kilos of tools, at least 3 rolls of different cables, and a small shop of various outlets etc. not to mention that ducking out to the wholesalers to pick up something to finish a job would take 1hr instead of 10 min.Industrial electrician would just be funny - imagine cycling across town with a 500kg variable speed drive or switchboard on your pushy..
I couldn’t do the job efficiently with a sedan, let alone something with a fraction of the capacity. Also - where does the apprentice sit?
Also - where does the apprentice sit?
They're the ones pedaling
Obviously every situation is different.
When I was in electrical we'd take the truck to the site on the first and last day, and park the tool trailer sat in situ. The rest of the days we'd pile in a berliner (sedan), which still gave us wheels if we needed to grab something. I'd bike if the site was close enough.
As the apprentice, I sat in the back of the Berliner, and on a milk crate between the seats in the truck.
I think it depends on the work that you are doing. I'm currently working as a journeyman and the most I need to bring is my hand tools. If you need to carry more the company will likely give a vehicle, but the vast majority of people drive their personal vehicles only to transport themselves and their hand tools.
I'm in Vietnam right now, and let me tell you, trades people can definitely carry tools around on a bike. The huge loads they carry here are impressive.
However, the reality is, in say Australia, that tradesperson has about 2.5 tonnes of tools, and no bike anywhere is going to be able to lug that around.
4wd. Long range, and most likely, diesel engines are the best for these people. That's reality. Anything else is a fantasy.
I’m in London, and I frequently see a local painter/decorator with his stuff on a cargo bike - including a stepladdder. Sees entirely practical
For that person sure. My neighbour has 4 different types of nail guns, each for the special task they're required for. The air compressor to drive them. The high-pressure air hose. About 12 batteries for his various saws, drills, etc. Speaking of saws, he has circular. Drop. Reticulation. And more. Then his hammers, hand saws, nails for said guns. Screws. Ladders. Straight edges. There would be lots of things I've missed like saw horses for his drop saw. The actual portable drop saw bench. Then of course the materials. Wood, glues, putty, etc etc etc. There is no way this guy is getting on a bike. My neighbour is your typical tradie in Australia.
Edit. Down voted for the facts. Come on, argue some facts if you disagree.
I’m in Vietnam right now, and let me tell you, trades people can definitely carry tools around on a bike. The huge loads they carry here are impressive.
And how many are doing this in a way that would be acceptable as traffic-safe in a western city? I've seen videos of people in SEA transporting goods in all kinds of highly unsafe manners. Full-size fridge on a normal bike? A ton of bricks in a small hand-cart? Haybales, three meters wide and four high, on a scooter? Quite normal down there, but I can't see anyone doing this in a large western city.
Not a single one would pass any form of regulation in Australia at least. It can be done, but it's not practical, legal, nor considered safe in my country.
Try that I Canada this time of year too. We have snow in BC and it is below zero ( or 32 for Americans) most days now.
I learned about cargo bikes a few days ago...and yeah, they look like a real alternative to cars.
Electrified ones especially, but tradespeople in my area often need to drive 100+ miles a day. Carrying ladders, extension cords, cordless tools, and a couple hundred pounds of other parts and supplies.
It’s also our lunch spot (for those that pack our own) and runabout to get a missing part when needed.
In a city, for handyman work, I could probably set something up and be comfortable and happy. Outside that it’s a stretch and would require changing a lot, or simply offsetting the heavy vehicle use to another user.
Stupid argument. Its ok to use cars when necessary, the problem is people using them for everything and anything, also people driving around huge gas guzzling monsters by themselves. Cargo bikes are absolutely not a solution for tradespeople who need to take a lot of tools and materials to various job sites.