Thanks for the information, Stephen. I've got my head in a dictionary right now trying to decode a lot of what you said...

As for the utility of the bike, I ride a KHS Flite right now, which is my main commuter. I probably ride around 5-10 miles a day on that bike, and have the use (unfortunately not the sole ownership) of a vintage Schwinn Varsity when I feel like a more leisurely ride. So, this will most certainly not be my main mode of transportation. I'm building/buying/modifying it for a few reasons:

1) Tempe, AZ has a fledgling biking community that is finally gaining momentum in the 'do-it-yourself' direction; the bike co-ops around the area are seeing more and more traffic, and I see more vintage refurbs around campus. However, a lot of people have both a bike and a car, for the express purpose of being able to tranport things that don't fit comfortably into a backpack. I have yet to see a cargo bike around the city, and hope that by my having one and possibly considering it a 'community' bike, it might jumpstart an influx of other cargo bikes. Essentially, go greener.

2) I do not and have never owned a car, and don't plan to for the the foreseeable future. It'd be nice to have the option of having a cargo bike to move awkwardly shaped/sized things.

Is Atomic Zombie a publication or a video blog, or...

I'd love to be able to use building this contraption to gain some knowledge about building, well, weird stuff. I'm considering building a normal bike simultaneously, and teaching myself the bike basics on that project, while focusing my creative energy on the trike.