Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
Just curious: Does anyone know how many Bakfiets are sold or exist in the U.S.? Doubly curious of the number sold or existing outside of Portland or owned/used by anyone who is not affiliated with the bike store selling them.
Given their selling price, weight, and overall size and associated difficulty in manhandling into a home, apartment or vehicle when not in use, or difficulty in riding up hills when in use, I suspect that few people in the U.S. really find much use or value with bakfiets other than as an expensive novelty for sunny day rides to a nearby park or bike path on a close to home (presumably with ground floor or garage storage space).
Last year we estimated about 80 in Minneapolis / St Paul. All that I'm aware of are used for hauling kids, groceries, dogs and other stuff and are either kept outside all year or in a garage. About half are ridden by women/mothers and many are ridden all year (studs on front typically in winter). I know of 4 people there for whom their bakfiets is their primary form of transportation all year.