CliffordK

The Douze cargo bike looks nice.
The Bike Friday Haul-A-Day doesn't fold, but it also splits in the middle. I'm not sure about the cables.

Anyway, consider how you'll transport everything from the parking garage up to your apartment.

Will you split the bike + trailer (or two halves of the cargo bike), push it all into the elevator, and go up? Or, will you drop half of it, go up. Unload, and then go back for the second half?

I would say one key will be choosing trailers (or a cargo bike) that is easy to maneuver independently.

Good point that a bike + trailer allows flexibility without more redundant bikes... which would be a benefit for a small apartment. I don't have CF, but I've towed a trailer with my steel road racing bike, titanium frankenbike, and aluminum cyclocross bike. I like the Colnago best for towing

Philphine

maybe a mid-tail, like a yuba boda boda or a kona minute? i read the boda boda can fit on a bus rack if you turn the front wheel around.

milesmil

Thanks for the feedback, will consider panniers and see if they work.

milesmil

What do people think of the RideKick trailers?

milesmil

Thanks for the suggestion, I am also working on my own solution for my MFA industrial design thesis. Would a unit that has power assist, compact, and easy to maneuver off the bike be of interest to spatially challenged people?

superpants

Hauladay slides apart but having to do it every day doesn't seem fun. I can fit on the Bart elevators I've tried but I have to tilt up to do so. So if it's really loaded up that wouldn't be ideal.

I think tern/xtracycle have a new folding cargo bike I think called node on kickstarter.

What about a cycletruck style bike with built on or frame mounted front rack?

CliffordK

As far as electric assist. It depends on the person.

I've decided that if I want to do the bike thing and exposed to the weather, then I want to be pedalling, and getting the exercise. At times I've hauled VERY heavy stuff with my bike for about 10 miles.

In general I can make pretty decent time/speed with a moderate load, and go over a few short rolling hills. It is just the excessively heavy loads that send me over the top, but those are rare.

But, there are some people who may choose the electric assist for cargo, or perhaps for carrying passengers. A couple of companies either have prototypes or production models of electric assist cargo bikes.

milesmil

Node seems interesting, but I personally hate foldies for being too twitchy.

milesmil

Thanks man, really appreciate the feedback.

milesmil

If you guys don't mind me asking, what are the greatest concerns that you guys have when it comes to commuting using cargo bikes or trailers?

milesmil

If you guys don't mind me asking, what are the greatest concerns that you guys have when it comes to commuting using cargo bikes or trailers?

chainbreak

I have a Yuba Mundo. It is a long tail, rides like a regular bicycle, and is a fantastic cargo bike for big loads. I got it because I wanted to haul both of my kids and cargo simultaneously, and it excels at that. It doesn't sound like you would need nor want something that big and beefy. Yuba makes a smaller cargo bike, the Boda Boda, that will fit on most regular bus bike racks since the frame is designed to allow the front wheel to turn 180 degrees and therefore shorten the wheelbase.

I have commuted a fair bit on the Mundo. While it is not my first choice of my bikes to use for my commute unless the loads are huge, it scoots along just fine. If I was you, I would make sure I couldn't get away with more of a regular bike frame and racks/panniers for my needs before looking at something more specialized like a cargo bike. One big thing a cargo bike has over a trailer though is that you never need to worry about getting the trailer out and connecting it. The bike always has the cargo capacity no matter where you are or what comes up at the last minute.

chainbreak

I've never really commuted with a trailer, nor do I think I would want to. Curb hopping is a bit more challenging with a trailer, plus its width becomes a concern in a more congested area. Parking could be an issue too.

A cargo bike's main drawback is the additional effort it takes to get from point A to point B. Whether that is a legit concern is completely dependent on your commute and your ability. It's not a big deal to me.

NormanF

Not an issue with the Bike Friday Haul a Day or the new Tern/Xtracycle Cargo Node.

They'll appeal to commuters who can't see how to get a Surly Big Dummy or Yuba Mundo up a couple of flights of stairs to their apartment or park them inside their office.

fietsbob

My Brompton M3L with weight in it's front Bag is not twitchy (or Twerky) at all .

the Tern keeping 26" wheels will be helped by having it fold short in length , but greater in width.

haul-a-day takes up less room by using 20" wheel on the front .

owenfinn

Love my Yuba Mundo - it is an awesome city bike. Makes living without a car easy. Problem is, of course, you need a safe place to store it.

Tern now makes a folding longtail that might work well for you - the Cargo Node.

bigbenaugust 

a) Parking.
b) Need... I don't carry that much stuff to work... ever.
c) The woodwork in inclement weather.

PennyTheDog

I agree with this. My wife has had a Yuba Boda Boda for two or three years, and really likes it. It's aluminum, so it's not horribly heavy. So these give you another option, in between a normal bike and most cargo bikes.
Boda Boda | Yuba Cargo Bikes

Ridefreemc

I understand the twitchy feeling as coming from the smaller wheels, not the fold. Also, the node has 24 inch wheels if I remember correctly. Besides, either way, that feeling goes away and you get used to it. Once that occurs you'll realize that it is actually more responsive than a larger wheeled bicycle.

Ridefreemc

i used to and because of the elevator it was a pain. two trips, and when you leave you bike or trailer outside when you go back up you have issues with possible theft.

Standalone 

I have an Xtracycle built lean and quick with the simple "hoodie" bag on the back. I use it to sometimes do my full 33 mile round trip ride to work. The Xtra is built from an aluminum hybrid and running 700c wheels with 35's or 38's. (check for tire fit if you are building one with 700c.)

A photo of the initial build without bags:

prathmann

Doesn't seem like a good match for a cargo bike which would take up lots of room in your apartment and be hard to get in the elevator. I prefer to use a regular bike with a rear rack and panniers for most shopping trips and I supplement it with a folding trailer for the few occasions where I need additional carrying capacity. If I lived in SF I'd probably use my folding bike with rack and panniers as my primary bike so it would be more convenient to use it in conjunction with mass transit (my folding bike and trailer fit fine in the BART elevators, but I have to unhitch the trailer).

InTheRain

I have a touring bike that I converted to an e-bike. It has always been my main commuter and it can haul more than I would ever need on a commute in just the back panniers. If I needed more, I could add front panniers. I also have a burley travoy trailer for the few occasions that I need to haul unusual loads (I use it for golf clubs.) A short video on the travoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXfE8E8r11w

I think cargo bikes are great... especially a pedal assist ebike cargo bike. My only concern for my particular commute is bicycle security. I don't leave any of my bikes locked in the bike rack. An associate had his bike stolen from there yesterday. I take my bikes up in the elevator and they are right next to me in my office. I don't think a cargo bike would fit in the elevator. I think you could unhook the travoy from it's hitch and get both a regular bike and the trailer in an elevator without a problem.

Beth W

Cargo bikes are great in San Francisco, but you'll want a very secure place to keep it.

Mr Pink57

Does your building have a service elevator from the garage? Not all service elevators are the same size, but mine at work will not fit a cargo bike. It does fit my ogre with no angle but it would be tough to get a big dummy in there.

Truth be told if all plays well I would love to get a Bike Friday Haul-a-Day instead of having my ogre. The bike does shrink not fold which is nice if you have more than one person using it as it will adjust the reach. I think it's just two metal buttons that get pushed in to slide, I also believe in the smallest setting it will fit on a bus rack.

In Minneapolis I see at least one big dummy a day. Some days I see up to three, most things are surly here as you can imagine