It's time to replace urban delivery vans

E-bikes are cleaner, and safer. So why aren’t we using them?
This episode is presented by Delta. Delta doesn’t have a say in our editorial, but they make videos like this possible. For more information, visit www.delta.com/sustainability.
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Remember during lockdown, how we all got obsessed with ordering everything online and having it delivered right to our doorsteps? Yeah, turns out that isn’t going away anytime soon, and we’re starting to understand the many downsides. The delivery vans that make our next-day shipping dreams come true are driving up C02 emissions while making our streets more crowded and less safe.
Fortunately, there’s a hero waiting in the wings: the e-cargo bike. Not only can these bad boys deliver packages in urban environments just as quickly (and sometimes faster) than delivery vans, they take up far less space and are much less likely to cause pedestrian deaths. Companies like Amazon, DHL, and UPS are using them in several European cities, but American cities haven’t followed suit.
In this video, we explore why that is, and lay out some of the big steps American cities would need to take to join the e-bike delivery revolution.
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[@AnalogDave]

In the US, you first have to convince 1/2 the population that there is even a problem to fix.

[@martinc.720]

You're right! "A problem? In the US?" A lot of people think "That's impossible!!"

[@tcniatcniatcnia]

1. It wont happen immediately, its gonna happen slowly and the effects will get worse over time. 2. Drinking from a paper straw wont do anything, we need to reduce car and plane usage, invest in green energy and prioritize sustainable living 3. Mindsets like these are the reason why its hard to get anything like that done @@ladelame1

[@zzzz-vw8iy]

@@ladelame1 Congratulations! You belong to that 50% based on your reaction. Serious question, how does calling a random stranger on the internet with an opposing view to yours a “doomsday cultist” who has to post about using a paper straw on twitter a) contribute to meaningful discussion about this topic and b) advance your opponent’s opinion on your point of view beyond your opponent losing all respect for you?

[@sssyria]

I don’t see a problem.. it seems pedestrians and cyclists are the problem.. but vans & trucks seem to do a good job eliminating both categories

[@pedromiranda5656]

You only have to convince if it's not evident, which is not. Climate change is a lie, a hoax, and control grab tool agenda.

[@guthreleonard4164]

Widespread use of bikes also reduces the rate of road decay by an unbelievable amount.

[@agegamon]

It also reduces microplastic and rubber waste from tire wear on the road by an enormous amount! Win-win.

[@LabGecko]

Don't tell the construction lobbies that. They'll pay politicians to prevent it (as if they haven't already).

[@chrisray1567]

And pedaling an e-bike is healthier for the employee than driving a delivery van.

[@SSGoatanks]

More people are realizing that 15 minute cities like Culdesac Tempe AZ are safer and more sustainable places to raise children - Even Shark Tank billionaires are investing in electric cargo bikes from Bunch Bikes.

[@Chroogomphus]

i don't think its the use of bikes so much, but the reduction of vehicles.

[@okzoomer5728]

I live in Utah, and the urban layout is so unbelievably car-centric here that it is incredibly dangerous to ride a bike on the roads. Not to mention that a delivery driver may have to commit to several miles of a commute to get packages around here, because of how terrible our urban sprawl is and how spread out distribution centers can be. Before we can get E-bikes for delivery drivers, roads must be restructured to be much safer for bike traffic than they are now. Our roads are so wide here that this is definitely possible, but we also have a very conservative state government who tend to think the automobile rules the roost.

[@ladelame1]

I live in utah too and the best places to live is the "urban sprawl" you're talking about. it's where real people raise families and have yards and host barbeques. The city is a disaster and I don't even like driving through it let alone riding a bike through it. Not everyone has to live how you demand. If you don't like it leave. No one is making you stay here and you clearly don't belong.

[@JoshuaRes]

@@ladelame1that’s a bit aggressive there bud. I think the other poster is just highlighting some of the challenges and differences for US urban areas vs the European ones noted in the video.

[@okzoomer5728]

My family has lived in Utah for several generations, many of them rural who also lament the lack of efficient transit around here. You should spend your time more productively rather then coming here to harass people who have differing opinions on a subject that doesn't even involve you. Nobody is threatening to tear down your house [assuming you own one] to put bike lanes there or the sort. @@ladelame1

[@aidancollins1591]

@@ladelame1 The only demand being made is to let companies actually build the housing people want to leave in. Why are you anti free market?

[@Nedlius]

@@ladelame1 horrible take

[@juliahcornell]

While I studied abroad, I was an e-bike-mounted grocery delivery driver in Munich. It was honestly one of my favorite jobs I've ever had and the deliveries worked really, really well.

[@a3dr2]

Being paid to cycling, that job must be incredible.

[@alastairhewitt380]

@@a3dr2 I had a similar experience in Australia, while there could be greater worker protections & pay, it truly is a great way to earn a living. Plenty of exercise and opportunities to see the city / suburbs. Now I am working as a software developer, but I was happier biking and would still do it as a side hustle if my city allowed for it 😭

[@a3dr2]

@@alastairhewitt380 Same for me, at least I can go to work by bike which is not that bad. Where are you living know?

[@Drifuta]

Do you see yourself taking and doing that same job in your mid 40s though?

[@a3dr2]

@@Drifuta If you can't do electric bike on your mid 40 then you have serious health issues. I know the grand father of a friend of mine who is 76 and do 100+ km in a day of NON-electrical bike.

[@kettlejocksjr7771]

The biggest reason id say is the poorly planned cities in America. Large distances to travel and the roads aren't bike friendly.

[@KayUrban]

It always comes back to more density and better zoning, more public transport and better street design. Always.

[@Zyhmet]

Nah, or else E-bikes would be common place in America's dense areas like Manhatten. It's a culture problem. Thats why roads in Manhattan and co are not bike friendly.

[@miles5600]

@@Zyhmetit’s a design problem. Design manuals still getting used today that haven’t been rewritten since the 70’s

[@Zyhmet]

@@miles5600 Yes, and they are not rewritten because culturally it is not seen as a big problem. Else everyone in the transport department would look at it and say "Nah, lets invest some time and rewrite this for New York"

[@miles5600]

@@Zyhmet it’s the lack of legislation, the netherlands required they transportion department to revise their manuals every few years and require safety for all road users. Yes culture does have an effect on this but it’s mainly the poor job of politicians in the US that’re working very inefficiently.

[@john.doe_0007]

As one of your previous video stated, the major cause for rise in pedestrian and cyclist accidents in the US is huge trucks as well as large SUVs

[@Games-tx1zc]

They say that here too.

[@guthreleonard4164]

Not just larger delivery vehicles but the huge increase over the past couple decades in private trucks and SUVs, which cause a myriad of problems. NotJustBikes has a great video on it.

[@bingoberra18]

Thats always been the case in US, I dont think its that. I think its smart phones and tablets that people use while driving and generally not paying attention. Probably there is also more pedestrians and cyclists in traffic now.

[@LutraLovegood]

Regulations in the US look, frankly, absurd. The fact that civvies are driving vehicles the size of an APC (sometimes called ATC) or a small tank is nuts.

[@nuansd]

@@bingoberra18 More pedestrians in traffic now? No, we've done the opposite over the past 100 years with more and more regulations preventing pedestrians from accessing the streets.

[@Lancew4]

I just got back from Amsterdam and the thing we all noticed was how quiet the city was. With no almost no petrol cars to shout over people were generally talking and it just made the whole place very calm and relaxing.

[@bobermai]

Funny, as i was in Amsterdam about 3 years ago, and cycled around about 1/3 of Netherlands too. Although they really have a great bike infrastructure (best i've ever saw) the key part in it is just keeping pedestriants, cyclists and cars away from each other. Can't say it have less cars then other european countries, and Amsterdam is actually the noisest place there. Not sure why it seems like that to me, maybe i just don't take drugs?

[@MrAronymous]

@@bobermai Amsterdam isn't very loud. Even compared to other places in the Netherlands.

[@Sacto1654]

The Netherlands aggressively pursued bike-friendly cities for one reason: reducing awful air pollution that was plaguing Dutch cities by the late 1960's.

[@bobermai]

@@Sacto1654 it feels like it's moving from "bike-friendly" to "bike-only" area nowdays.

[@SSGoatanks]

People are taking inspiration from safer and sustainable infrastructure from the NL. Car-free communities are also developing in the US like Culdesac from Tempe AZ - Shark Tank Billionaires even invested in cargo bike products like Bunch Bikes!

[@bandwidthpiggy9378]

I still stand firm on my stance that e-bikes are the ideal spot for electric vehicles with todays technologies. Findings like this are what it looks like to learn to walk before you run.

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

So long as they don't ride on the pedestrian path, which frankly happens way too often (UK).

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

@@carterdeyoung1060 Any bike on a pedestrian lane is lethal.

[@bandwidthpiggy9378]

Does that mean joggers should be registered and insured if one happens to knock over a baby causing a death?

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

@@bandwidthpiggy9378 I used to live in Belgium. And they had/have a system of personal insurance for just this type of thing. i.e. : people vs people damage. I dont know if it applies anywhere else in the world.

[@bandwidthpiggy9378]

kinda cool though

[@stephenlyall7759]

By going back to using local shops.

[@MaxLovesNascarOfficial]

Yea

[@krombopulos_michael]

And how do the shops get their goods delivered? 🤔

[@justasveri5274]

​@@krombopulos_michaelget them in local shops

[@phantom498]

@@krombopulos_michael usually larger trucks. I regularly have seen small shops with semis delivering their stock.

[@phantom498]

Biggest issue is they can’t compete on price or convenience most of the time. Or they just don’t have the inventory capacity and wide product range of online retailers. Humans will always default to the easiest and most convenient method, and that’s usually not local.

[@MartinWB09]

The other part that wasn’t included is the culture. European citizen tend to see the bicycle as a transportation method while in the U.S bikes are seen in a Sport / Lifestyle. This fundamental belief also shapes politics around the streets and their design reinforcing the cycle

[@Jason-sp5yc]

Here's the thing, Europe wasn't always this way. The Netherlands, which many consider the pinnacle of bike-dom, had a phase where they built very car-centric places. But they were able to shift that culture through investment and some growing pains. Personally, I think we can do the same here if we are strategic and effective organizers.

[@LashanR]

You're assuming culture was invented in the 1950s, and that it's not capable of undergoing change.

[@cpufreak101]

I heard a story before of a recent European immigrant getting a job at Walmart. He was given boxes of bicycle parts and despite the boxes being labeled to "take to the toy aisle" he kept taking them to the sporting goods section. Someone told him he took the box to the wrong area and to take it where it belonged, walked over, looked at it confused, and walked away. Someone had to then explain to him that bicycles were considered toys

[@xmtxx]

In france, this is very very new. At most 10 years. Before that, it was seen as a sport. leisure. "culture" can change and evolve very quickly.

[@LutraLovegood]

@@xmtxx And there was also a time when bikes in both France and the US were more common means of transport.

[@user-xo7hb6ts7j]

The reason they are so popular in Europe is because they ARE a better alternative to driving a van. Shaming or urging companies to adopt the same in the US will not happen so long as driving is easier.

[@Epistemologics]

Exactly. People take the simplest, cheapest, or quickest form of transportation which in the US is unfortunately always the automobile

[@onemorechris]

correct, you build for structure first then encourage people to use it. For many places in Europe, that’s what happened; We didn’t all just start riding bikes magically

[@adambuchbinder2791]

The problem is that urban space is valuable and scarce. See what happens when you try to replace free on street parking with a protected bike lane.

[@thenexthobby]

Notice that large vans left inner cities once they became illegal, and they adapted and packages still get delivered. No "shame" inferred, just smart planning.

[@marcbuisson2463]

​@@adambuchbinder2791And free on street parking is extremely expensive and probably one of if not the worst economic usage of this same place.

[@alexandruxmaris]

I live in the nerherlands where you can go absolutely anywhere by bike. It is amazing how healthy, cheap and joyful is it to commute by bike every day.

[@nuomitang30]

As someone ocassionally deliver food with bicycle. I see this as an absolute win.

[@0gham]

I used to deliver via Uber Eats but about 15 months ago they started giving priority to cars which resulted in 1 delivery a night if I was lucky compared to 20 on the regular prior to that.

[@nuomitang30]

@@0gham 20 to 1, That was the jump ? Which country.

[@0gham]

@@nuomitang30 US. Orlando, FL to be specific. We used to have our own local bike delivery service but Uber Eats and Postmates out competed them. There is an article I'm looking for about the shadow ban.

[@alphaapple1375]

You can count me in! The United States should have followed Europe's example.

[@mechaocean170]

Rain

[@mix3k818]

To do that, you first have to make cities bike-friendly. Sadly, USA and Canada seem to just hate that idea. But I still wouldn’t discount vans. They too have a purpose - delivering larger quantities of cargo safely.

[@flowerflower1154]

You guys have an addiction: cars

[@davidsauer8783]

not discount but only use if they are really needed. Also cargo bikes are better at delivering larger quantaties as mentioned in the video.

[@gdw9946]

The purpose you state is literally the opposite of what this video tells us. They are not actually delivering large quantities and are also not that safe.

[@ChrisControversial]

It's not that simple. I'm not sure about Canada's infrastructure but it's the same issue we have with rails. The way American cities and roads are built, they are designed for motorists. It would take funding and a complete destruction of roads.

[@ilsunnylo3562]

More importantly, you will need more bikers. You will need to pay more.

[@nnkk7742]

Hub delivery in urban areas needs to be more common. Most items don't need to be delivered right to your door.

[@LutraLovegood]

Most things I order online are things I'm not finding in the stores nearby anyway, aka stuff I could carry in a bag (or with some rope, for the bigger packages).

[@siddharthgoyal4008]

which sounds good in theory but in reality would mean individuals in F150s driving thru to pickup their phone cases, all separately.

[@EmmaWithoutOrgans]

Yeah Instabox here in Sweden is good, or just picking it up at the convenicence store on my own bike

[@lbshammer]

So instead of one truck driving around town we get multiple vehicles driving to a hub. Got it.

[@rocko44444444]

Those whom don't get the idea: the problem is not the hub delivery, the problem is the zoning and you are sitting in a F150, instead of a Civic.

[@johnswabb541]

I do agree that using more of these is a good idea. That being said, the fact that this is sponsored by Delta is a painfull obvious ploy to get people to focus on anyone except themselves when it comes to carbon emissions.

[@martinc.720]

That is obvious under your tinfoil hat that this is a "ploy".

[@johnswabb541]

@@martinc.720 How does the irony of an airline, responsible for massive carbon output, sponsoring a video about a different sector of transportation, also responsible for massive carbon output, escape you?

[@SilentEire]

Tbf, it’s far easier to de-carbonise roads. Air travel is decades away from being able to move away from fossil fuels, but their time will come. At least we can get good videos like this sponsored in the meantime

[@Dekedence]

@@martinc.720 c'mon bud, even if the message is good, you gotta admit the irony that it comes sponsored by an AIRLINE. You could have every 'last mile' truck in every US city replaced by cargo bikes and it wouldn't make a dent compared to just Delta's operations.

[@TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs]

1:42 "HGVs" In the UK are vehicles more than 7.5T. That's more like large trucks and lorries. Not really vans your talking about in the video. I'm all for cycle protected lanes but that info feels cheery picked

[@rickysandwich]

I've thought about it recently how odd it is that everything around us is ultra-specialized. We have a dozen kitchen tools each for a specific job. We have multiple tiny computers each with their own use. Yet with transportation, we only have one supported option. If you're going 2 miles away for groceries or 700 miles for travel, we often use the same machine. It's so silly, yet insidious when we look into how much the auto/oil industries is tipping the scales to keep us dependent on cars.

[@Joyrider564]

For it to work in America, there would need to be shipping hubs near city centers for the e-bikes to disperse from. If the “last mile” is too far away, then the companies will always favor vans so they can carry more deliveries at once.

[@jeffersonclippership2588]

Or the shipping hubs would move closer once the marker starts favoring bikes for transport

[@sjoerdstougie]

that means different zoning laws which wouldnt work in the US, i can see a small postal hub just down the street where i live and many bike-deliveries go through there and i know that in the US it wouldnt be allowed due to zoning

[@UCiWrMgES50tlUhV3l6NqjNA]

plus there are electric vans aswell...which are the same thing as bikes

[@closmasmas9080]

I think we should also focus on reducing private car use by making cities safer and more convenient for biking, walking, and using public transportation

[@kassiepovinelli2881]

Yeah, increasing convenience would then make cargo bikes make more sense -- and it could force businesses to switch since the vans can't get certain places

[@42luke93]

It is very convienent now. I feel like we are taking it too far with bikes by removing roads now. Like Broadway

[@chltmdwp]

no thanks

[@LutraLovegood]

@@42luke93 US cities are nowhere near as convenient as EU cities.

[@cyan_oxy6734]

​@@42luke93You do realize that when cycling/dependable public transit is the quicker way to get around many people will do that instead of driving, taking cars off the road and improving traffic for the cars in the process making everyone's journey quicker?

[@Alejo.Martinez]

It's strange to see a produced video explaining something I witness daily in a city like Bogota - food and mail delivery using bikes and bicycles is commonplace. When I lived in Ohio, it was astonishing to witness an SUV delivering a pizza.

[@sssyria]

We love our cars.. the way we see it.. cyclists and pedestrians are the problem..

[@0gham]

@@sssyria sound like you want to live in your car

[@sssyria]

@@0gham i have too many cars..

[@camhabibi2217]

Bogota is one of the densest cities on then planet...of course people are going to delivery things on bikes. They only have to go a few blocks.

[@0gham]

@@sssyria you should sell one and pay someone to teach you how to use epilepsies.

[@0Apes0]

Londoner here. Love all the cargo bikes on the road. Used to own one to take my son to nursery and school (Now a teenager). More and more cargo bikes now and the Amazon vans are electric but the cycle ones you showed are turning up more and more :)

[@onemorechris]

same. i’m super happy that it’s happening. still a lot way to go though

[@mckennakills72]

Londoner and Amazon employee here. The branded Amazon vans are often electric but these make up less than 10% of the delivery vehicles we use. We have Delivery Service Partners that use their own non descript vans, and Flex drivers that use their own cars.

[@asoton957]

Hope you're enjoying your inflated delivery prices then. I work in pricing for a major airline so I often interact with people in the same job in different companies - quite funny how DHL and ups etc charge people in London a higher parcel delivery price than flying it to Northern Ireland. Amazon does the same for non-prime members and will definitely follow that policy through if Prime one day excludes delivery. Their salary costs are much higher because while you can find someone who wants to drive a van for £13 an hour, you'll never find anyone but illegal immigrants who want to do that on a bicycle 40 hours a week. And sorry to disappoint, Amazon vans aren't electric. Amazon-branded Amazon vans make up something like 12% of the entire fleet. 9 in 10 Amazon vans are either unbranded (because they're petrol/diesel and don't fit Amazon marketing agenda) or they're private cars from Amazon Flex program (basically uber parcels) In recent years, Amazon's share of fleet that is electric has gone down, not up.

[@asoton957]

@@mckennakills72 DSPs are nowhere near the majority, the majority are simply unbranded.

[@OrangeDuster]

Thanks for covering this in a way that's easy to digest for people who aren't in urban design circles. Really glad to see more common people cover these things.

[@damnson666]

Its like no one here watched the video. This talks about the last mile deliveries, where bikes are much more efficient than a van. Only a portion of the delivery vans actually carry large&bulky items where a van is actually needed. Also no one is suggesting to use bikes in rural areas to drive long distances.

[@waterturtle2919]

The actual issue is that you would be forcing underpaid workers to not only carry packages from the car to the door but now also use their physical strenght to transport them around the city. Even with en electric motor, doing this for 8 hours a day will make their already challanging work even more demanding.

[@Handle35667]

@@waterturtle2919the “actual issue” is that people would have to work?

[@waterturtle2919]

@@Handle35667 Feel free to deliver packages on a bicycle for 8 hours a day, paid at close to minimum wage, before you make another embarrassing comment. Workers rights are a thing in developed countries.

[@damnson666]

@@waterturtle2919 just watch what kind of distances these are intended for. Delivery vans in cities drive max 10 miles, mostly in circles, to deliver the parcels. Its not any different than posties who already drop the letters by walking/bike, and use cars/vans for longer distances.

[@Handle35667]

@@waterturtle2919 I know my worth. I’ve never had trouble getting paid at a fair value for my work. In a free market you get paid for the value you bring. Still not seeing an issue.

[@codytappen]

To everyone instantly claiming that this bc be done bc Europe this or Europe that. Consider that this is extremely common in Japan, which has severe weather like most of the US, and does 2$ a month Amazon prime one day delivery in every major city 😂

[@cloudpoint0]

Population density is so different meaning different economies of scale.

[@starrwulfe]

@@cloudpoint0not necessarily- Tokyo isn’t the only city; there’s plenty of low density places in Japan like small towns and satellite exurban cities that are more car centric- I lived in a few. But they all kept their compact layouts and the mindset that bikes are transportation modes and not just recreational is very prevalent. Consider most rural teens commute about5 ~ 10kms round trip to their schools all by foot, bike, or public transport- there’s no school bus service! Most jobs pay for public transport as well.

[@cloudpoint0]

@@starrwulfe Economies of scale operate at the national level. Local exceptions don't really matter.

[@serendripity2498]

4:42 the thing about low emission zones is a bit generalized here. The one in Berlin for example only excludes older cars with insufficient filters, but any newer or upgraded car, no matter if diesel or gas, can enter. So it's not nearly the same as the one in Paris, and thus isn't contributing much to a change to cargo bikes

[@arctix4518]

Agreed. But you definitely see many cargo bikes in Berlin these days

I don't know if this exists/is commun in the US but in France (where I'm from and live now) we also have delivery lockers, which allows delivery to be done all at once in a neighborhood and then you go walking to your locker, open it with a code, and get your parcel(s). This also allows for less carbon emission as the delivery truck only has one big stop. Also, said remaining delivery trucks are more and more e-trucks and not gaz powered trucks

[@ahoog69]

While I generally try to remain optimistic, it feels like it's going to take quite some time before we see a real shift toward bikes and pedestrians here in the United States. Many of my fellow citizens seem short-sighted, and even more politicians have no courage or vision to do what's clearly beneficial to the populace at large.

[@purplepenguin43]

the biggest hurdle is infrastruture, most people will take the route they feels the safest on to get somewhere, with roads and distances the way they are that makes it very dangous for bikes and ped's. to change this and make bikes safer you need to rebuild roads, and even with the political will, that still takes decades and billions of dollars.

[@MrPlayboy28]

In Portugal CTT (the Portuguese postal service) uses small 1 person electric cars that are less than 1.5 meters in with to deliver small parcels. They are called Citroen Ami Cargo. Our Dominoes Pizza also use’s exclusively electric scooters on their deliveries.

[@nurtnurtnurtnurt]

I drive a freezer truck about 7 ton in a very small area. It's usually less than 3/4 full. Bikes might not be able to do freezer deliveries, but smaller is definitely something companies should be doing.

[@biohazardlnfS]

Often drivers do 200 stops a day on Amazon deliveries I don't think they wish ti triple the amount of delivery personnel

[@bertcopying1036]

Delivery workers must be really thrilled about the idea of pedalling in rain.

[@KJSvitko]

Cargo bikes are GREAT ! Safe, protected bike lanes and trails need to be designed so electric delivery bicycles can maneuver safely. Cities need to make bicycle safety a priority by adding bike lanes to every street that gets upgraded.

[@ml6158]

@@chemicalfrankie1030 If done incorrectly, definitely I,m pretty sure there's a way to make this work for cargo and regular cyclists.

[@ikesau]

Love cargo bikes. They're perfect for small commodity deliveries (which are by far the most common type) and as that low-carbon freight study by Possible suggests, they operate faster than vans, result in fewer collisions, and pollute less. We should be all for them! Even if your city doesn't have great cycling infrastructure, this is one more reason to advocate for getting it! 🙂

[@akosmolnar8000]

In the case of Budapest - and perhaps most major European cities - even if there is a low emission zone (which I doubt), these delivery vans are free to roam the city. True, I am seeing more and more cargo bikes, which is refreshing

[@GiacomodellaSvezia]

Literally "refreshing" 🙂

[@Ladadadada]

An important observation I made while watching this progression in London and Paris over the last 18 years is that there isn't just one single thing that you can implement that will unlock all the others. Everything you do to affect one aspect will also make all the others more effective, so you really have to do them all. A congestion / pollution charge is one thing, subsidies for e-cargo bikes is another, protected bike lanes, promotional and training efforts, city zoning and densifying, constructing bike parking, reducing car parking, reducing lanes for motor traffic in the city, changing traffic light phasing. If you only do one of these things you're unlikely to see much change, but if you do all of them the change can arrive with surprising rapidity. London introduced the first congestion zone in 2003 and started building protected cycleways in 2012, completing a useful barebones connected network by 2016. The e-cargo bikes started arriving in 2019. The timeline was similar in Paris with a decade of work being put in before the threshold was reached and suddenly a lot of people started cycling. Some of your American cities have been working on this for a while and must be pretty close to reaching that threshold.

[@calieandco]

Although not super common, I do see many cargo bikes like this around Portland, OR for smaller businesses delivering. Quite a few people also have the storage box on the front and go grocery shopping with them.

[@sannejanssen5536]

It's because Portland OR is one of the most awesome cities in the US 😉😃 (actually, Portland MA is pretty cool too!)

[@MichaelGalardiOfficial]

I would absolutely do part-time delivery via e/cargo bike if we had the biking infrastructure to support it.

[@atomiq911]

Lies, it's all fun and games until it's super hot or it's raining.

[@dennislanigan1082]

I deliver a lot of food, a portable food market, for my non-profit using a Lectric Xpedition ebike and a Bikes at Work trailer. I love it.

[@Sacto1654]

Really small delivery vehicles have actually been around in Japan for several decades, if you've seen the vehicles used by Yamato Transport and Sagawa there. The reason is simple: the narrow streets make using a normal delivery van nearly impossible to start with. As such, Europe is actually kind of late in terms of really small delivery vehicles for package transport.

[@Ljngstrm]

0:56 answer is simple. The whole of US is so car fixated, that it is impossible for people to imagine a world without cars everywhere. Lack of bicycle infrastructure is one great example, as is the lack of train and other public transport. Things won't change before it's "too late" for the fossil fuel industry, when the resource runs too low.

[@jeremy28135]

I don’t see Vinny, who’s dropping off his monthly dues at his local Driver’s Union office after grabbing a cheesesteak on his lunch break before making his delivery in Queens is going to get on any bike. Maybe it’s just my gut, maybe it’s just his gut.

[@Reddimension5]

As a general whole, the US should start massive investments into going from a car centered society, to a more diverse transportation landscape, with infrastructure, these bikes will find their way. And with massive, I mean, truly staggering amount of effort, political will, and most of all, a huge shift in how Americans live on the whole

[@zeberday1]

I was delivered an amazon package yesterday on an a bike, then an hour later a DPD truck tried to run me down. LONDON LIVIN' BABYYY

[@OrionBlaze]

I've done years of both and working with a cargo bike in the rain or heat is just torture. They need to pay riders way more and come up with better solutions for adverse weather conditions.

[@darkblood777]

Our roads are not friendly to anyone on two wheels, especially in the suburbs. We need more protected bicycle lanes.

[@ha231]

Dedicated cycle routes or bust. Bikes shouldn't ever have to share space with motor vehicles, there is no protection good enough (barring a full wall, which is unfeasible) to save you from the endless psychos behind the wheel who think they have the right to even the bike lanes.

[@DT-471]

If Southern California had a fully protected bike lane on the freeway the way there is a bike lane on the Brooklyn bridge then maybe the cargo e bike thing could work. But that’s going to be a lot of work to put the infrastructure up to speed.

[@doujinflip]

When I was doing contract work in San Diego, there were multiple _military bases_ (i.e. among the most car-dependent environments anywhere) that I commuted to by bicycle. Luckily SD County consciously caters to cyclists with its extensive network of bike paths. It was great getting to work already energized and with zero problems finding parking.

[@amtberproducts]

We still make extra small 20T chainrings to help with the occasional hill for bicycle taxis, rickshaws and cargo bikes

[@heidelbergaren5054]

12 years on a cargobike - love it

[@onemorechris]

London is between both these ideas. there’s a lot of bikes but it could be more. i wonder if delivery vans are uniquely susceptible to hitting people because of the amount of times they have to stop or pull up on the curb

[@ElijahStewy]

It’s pretty sad that American society doesn’t rlly care about any of that. We have gotten to the point where we think we know what’s best. We stop looking at facts and we choose not to consider something new. I hope one day that we can adopt some of these things. Shipping vans are only a small part of a big problem.

[@onemorechris]

I visited the US quite a lot, I obviously can’t speak for everyone, But it does seem like one of America’s biggest flaws If it did, America is number one, and somehow perfect already so much better than everyone else; It seems like maybe this is used as an excuse not to change. i dunno.

[@ElijahStewy]

@@onemorechris it absolutely is. We’ve lost self conscious and respect for that matter. We use circular logic to explain why we do things instead of looking at the big picture. It doesnt put America’s outlook on the rest of the world very well. we are too busy arguing elections and getting upset about politics. That’s why nothing ever gets done.

[@stormer7502]

i just want to live in a city where every single street and crevice isnt a gutter for cars. I don't want to live somewhere hollowed out by an overkill form of transport, nor do I want to put my life at great risk just because I decided to cycle somewhere. Is that too much to ask for? People here preconceive their opinions based on emotions and anecdotes, then find media to tell them that that all of their preconceived notions are correct, and then confidently stand by those opinions. We just see our extreme obsession with cars as a fact of life. The way i see it, it'll take many years to see any significant change, even in our densest and most "progressive" cities. Is it that hard to imagine that maybe, just maybe, the way we do things isnt perfect in every single way possible?

[@very7962]

Hint: we DO know what’s best. By the way, we don’t live off of Europe’s gossip and opinions

[@ElijahStewy]

@@very7962 you are apart of the problem. No one knows what’s best. But Americans are unwilling to try something new. Because it’s “inconvenient” to us. that’s a poor excuse. not everything has to be guns,guts,and glory.

[@mikefothergill5764]

I run my business with cargo bikes for delivery 30+ miles a day for the last two years. (Almost) every day is a joy. Thunder storms are a bit miserable

[@ymi_yugy3133]

Cargo bikes absolutely make sense for local deliveries, like takeout and to fulfill your personal cargo transportation needs. But I'm somewhat unconvinced about normal packages and commercial deliveries. Cargo bikes usually need local pick up spots. This means there is an additional labor intensive unloading/loading step in the chain. Real estate is also pretty expensive in many cities. For businesses size is a big issue. Many businesses like retailers, restaurants, super markets and so on require a volume of stuff, that would require a cargo bike to make many trips just to serve a single business. Imho cargo bikes can only be a small piece of the puzzle among safer road design, dedicated parking for delivery trucks, electrification and local pickup instead of home delivery.

[@brendahom7842]

Maybe it would make the most sense for the postal service. Post offices are already centrally located and have space for their vans.

[@shawnxsui]

The bike infrastructure needs to be a lot more central to city planning here in North America for this to be a true option for delivery. Also with such urban sprawl, delivery bikes would need to cover much larger area for the same amount of packages delivered.

[@AceChampElite]

RIp in peace winter delivery people

[@Robin-ys3pm]

Not really a problem, they get warm by pedaling the bike

[@AceChampElite]

@@Robin-ys3pm when you say ‘they’ I’m assuming you don’t have to do that work?

[@Robin-ys3pm]

@@AceChampElite No, I dont do that work but I commute by bike to my office, 14 kilometers one way, every day

[@Danielevans2]

Thank you so much for including London in your video!! We appreciate it!

[@Drifuta]

An interesting video, and its a good analysis on paper from someone who has thought about deliveries, but I'd wager, hasn't had to actually do those deliveries. Loading and unloading a full van would take more time than just packing it half full or 3/4 full, so you can find the packages you are looking to load and offload. To be able to stop, climb into the back, find the package and drop it off, and then be on your way again is key to being able to get all of your deliveries done on time. While cargo bikes have clear advantages, they also have the effect of making the delivery job harder in terms of effort for the person doing the deliveries. They don't offer the same levels of protection against, bad weather, bad driving and bad roads. The last key point that I want to make, is that its a lot harder to steal goods out of a locked van, than it is to steal a whole cargo bike and its contents. Delivery bicycles certainly have their uses if they can operate with in a radius of their distribution center, but vans have the advantage of having a much larger delivery radius, and can carry more at one time. From a business point of view, they are established assets for the delivery company, and would probably be easier to insure and use as tax write offs, as opposed to a cargo bicycle, which can be pushed away with ease while the courier is doing a hand over. Vans can keep experienced and valuable employees, safe, fresh and presentable, in all weather conditions. Experience can be retained as older and less able couriers can operate a van, as opposed to cargo bikes which require younger fitter employees.

[@Munchausenification]

besides all the benefits to lowered emissions and less trafic jams, it must be great exercise for the delivery drivers too. Now im using a normal bike every day, so no electric motor on it so dont know if the delivery drivers actually get substantial exercise out of it, but im guessing you can turn it on and off.

[@FSXTout]

Last mile as always tricky. This is not a viable solution for America as a whole. Maybe dense urban cities like New York could implement it, if warehouses are located in the city. I do delivery for Amazon and I could tell you, my first stop is between 27- 50 mins away depending where my delivery area is. My DSP has about 35 drivers that drive daily and we have between 87-200 stops (stops can include multiple locations and multiple packages). We also have back up drivers incase a driver as behind schedule with delivery. My average day has 14 bags (bag coloured bags with numbers containing packages for ~10 stops) and 22 packages that are too large and or heavy to fit in these bags. For e-bikes to make sense you would need alot more drivers if an e-bike can carry 4 bags, you would need about 4 bikes to carry the load of one van. The time to the first stop will be greatly increased because the e-bikes are so much slower than vans. E-bikes would only be viable is the warehouse is within 5 miles of the delivery location, which one DSP can cover.

[@Imbatmn57]

My dominos has an ebike but it seems like they have trouble making a profile with it so someone can drive it without getting milage, this is important because the company owns 100 percent of the bike/charging and not paying the driver to drive their own vehicle so they dont have to pay milage, theyd have to figure out some way to just pay the per hour amount. Also a train track splits our city so an order that originally takes 5 minutes could double if they have to take a detor. Also alot of our orders are either up hills that go almost 90 degrees into the air so its hard to get the bike up there let alone avoid cars so you dont get run over. Id try riding the bike but i dont have very good balance. There needs alot of kinks to be ironed out but im just glad the owner of my dominos cared enough to buy the thing. It will probably be hard to get in and out the door too, so wed need to have a locking shed or something to keep it in.

[@thomasgrant3393]

I'm all up for e-bikes and stuff, however living in Ukraine I find it quite challenging riding a bike in winter when it's -15 degrees centigrade and snowing it's also highly unpleasant when it's raining and temperature is below 15 degrees. For warmer climate I think e-bikes as transport is great.

[@dannetrix]

good luck loading a bike and delivering 90 stops in 1 day vans exist for a reason, and there are many great electric options

[@LutraLovegood]

90 Stops in a day in a city like Paris is easy. Have you seen how dense a big european cities are? That's why we still have postal workers who work on foot, because they stop so often that it's the most practical solution.

[@robertnicholas5442]

its all about the urban layout I feel like I can't go anywhere walking !!!

[@techcafe0]

because American cities are purpose-built for cars, not for people

[@ahoog69]

In briefly sharing another thought, I would like to add that I am considering purchasing an e-bike to commute to work (6.5 miles, one-way). While most of the journey is relatively safe, there is one segment populated by large and/or fast-moving vehicles. While I would reduce my carbon footprint and save money, I'm not sure it's worth risking my life. What a shame that many of us here in the U.S. are hampered in such a pursuit by this country's love affair with the automobile.

[@warrengans1346]

I live in South Africa, we have E-bikes delivering food, medicine and several online delivery services also use them. The local malls and big box stores are full of these bikes

[@themicrowave905]

I personally like urban vans for their ability to haul many children- I mean chilled drinks

[@MattiAntsuK]

My home city and actually my work place got a crew of electric cargo bikers. "MoveByBike" is the company. So yeah they are pretty common now and I respect them. Good for the economy and body training.

[@LashanR]

Sorry, but when I saw that voluntary "low emissions zone" in Santa Monica I burst into hysterics.

[@SeeMick1]

The only problem with this is places where it’s winter half the time. Driving bikes isn’t safe when the roads are slippery

[@Awesome_Aasim]

The one change that will probably be very popular is to designated bicycle, car, pedestrian, and public transport priority corridors. We mastered functional hierarchy for automobiles in the mid 1950s, but failed to see how it is disastrous for pedestrians and cyclists.

[@user-ht5ce2it3z]

I hate the delivery trucks and negative attitude towards cyclists in my city of Chicago! Thank you Vox for the edifying video.

[@atomiq911]

While living in Chicago you have more to worry about the skyrocketing crime rates than the problems with cyclists.

[@totoroben]

Containerization is what revolutionized logistics and made our complex globalized import export economies work. Containerization will also help with cargo bike deliveries, because you can standardize the containers that slide onto a cargo bike, so when these deliveries and routes are planned the large truck will park in a designated central location, and the delivery containers will be slid onto the cargo bicycles, and if multiple containers need to be used, then this is still possible for the delivery cyclist to easily pick up another container. I watched a KZbin video where a delivery company was actually using the system I described.

[@beback_]

I love this "ragtime music for early 20th century history throwback" trope.

[@NextNate03]

Cities (most) in USA are not dense enough to do that kind of stuff. Mix use properties are mostly banned. Most places are not very walkable and/or bike friendly. You need a car most of the time.

[@birdrocket]

There are areas in pretty much every city in the U.S. that are dense enough to support this

[@ejakeway]

@@birdrocket In the heart of most cities yes i agree but once you're outside of that main area the bike is no longer viable. I live in Columbus Ohio. A fairly large city and I would agree with @nextNate03 that even where I live it simply isnt dense enough beyond the main downtown portion of columbus. Even I don't bother biking or taking public transport. Its just not useful enough here yet.

[@miles5600]

What would you consider dense or bike able?

[@NextNate03]

​@miles5600 Amsterdam and other European cities. *Not Just Bikes* channel does a great job making those types of videos.

[@miles5600]

@@NextNate03 so are parts of many US cities, denver downtown, NYC, Boston, D.C, LA, San Francisco, etc they aren’t fully walkable but their downtown parts are all fully walkable and can easily be served by these E-bikes. I do agree that the majority aren’t walkable but at least they’re all bike able if you don’t take into account the bad infrastructure.

[@BigWillieFreestyle]

It's a bit rich that this video is sponsored by Delta, one of the world's largest emitters of CO2.

[@DEEPCOVER187ONCOP]

Ya, u can bet this series won’t be covering air travel haha

[@johnswabb541]

I just posted basically the same comment before I saw yours. It's a definite attempt to focus blame elsewhere on their part. The bike are definitely a good idea still, but let's focus on ALL vehicles, not just some.

[@drill_fiend1097]

Are there genuinely better ways to move to another continent without airliners? Should international students and business travelers board back on cruise ships? I get their jets could accommodate more people per plane to increase efficiency, but in the end planes are the norm. I would be much more angry at small private jet makers and small charter flights.

[@lucalascola]

I'm a FedEx driver, one huge problem is they want to load us down to capacity. The bigger the truck the more you can take. Also some of these routes in the cities can be 40+ miles from the terminal you leave from. I know some people who drive an hour and a half to their first stop everyday.

[@RedWingsninetyone]

I agree with many of the points presented here, but I will also point out that you need to be careful pointing out that large delivery trucks are involved in many fatal crashes with pedestrians. Correlation is not necessarily causation and there are a lot of factors that can contribute to this. Not just the existence of large delivery trucks.

[@lamarriere]

While I can totally get on board with more eco-friendly delivery solutions, I’m not seeing a lot of empathy for the workers here. Many delivery places are already short-staffed, especially USPS where my husband works. Imagine working a 12-hour day. Now imagine working a 12-hour day in the middle of summer with no air conditioning and having to bike all over town. Heat exhaustion and death are real concerns in those circumstances. Let’s try to show some empathy for the people who deliver our stuff!

[@LutraLovegood]

There are solutions to this already, and I'm pretty sure 12 hours days aren't legal in most of Europe.

[@Lauriciu]

Exactly, it's very easy to say that trucks are bad when you're not the one making the delivery. Apart from the heat, the cold is just as bad. Imagine having to bike while it rains or snows, or with a strong wind.

[@Trainviking]

Cargo bikes can be great, however they take in A LOT of space on the smaller bicycle paths. However, especially in urban spaces, this is by far the best solution.

[@miles5600]

So? Widen the bike lanes just like the netherlands is doing.

[@RTMonitor]

Exactly, just borrow the space from cars, and turn it into a bicycle lane. Cars used a lot of space.

[@liammacdonald1515]

There are a few contradictions in this video. For example they say that final mile deliveries come from outside the city. One minute later in the study that they cited, there were multiple pickup points in the inner city. Which one is it? In almost any situation there are very few if any warehouses near the middle of a city. Things like these make their argument easy to pick apart.

[@eloimauri6235]

So happy that I live in Barcelona. This is the cargo bike paradise for last mile companies!

[@dansands8140]

It's time to stop crushing working conditions for the working class with environmental initiatives that would do nothing for the environment.

[@miles5600]

Crushing working conditions? Lol E-bikes aren’t crushing anything nor are they bad for your health either..

[@Pernection]

@@miles5600 They do less work

[@dansands8140]

Well then you go deliver multiple crates of soft drinks on a bike in the sun, cold, and rain.

[@very7962]

miles is a sheltered tool

[@Sivah_Akash]

1:04, seeing the sneaky sponser! It's important to remember one of the most important decision we as individuals can take to reduce our carbon impact is to take less flights. It's more effective than going vegan or driving less (or ordering food)!

[@user-jc2we4sn1i]

Please stop your luddite hostiltiy toward aviation.

[@Sivah_Akash]

@@user-jc2we4sn1i , why so? It is one of the most emissions intensive modes of travel.

[@user-jc2we4sn1i]

Would you rather have primitive future of impoverished shacks such as "Last Chase", and "Postman", or unbounded future freedoms of technological progress such as "Blade Runner", and "Natural City" of ecumenopolis.

[@Sivah_Akash]

@@user-jc2we4sn1i , lol. Those are movies and don't reflect the real world. What do you think would happen if everyone started flying without planes cutting down on their emissions? And why do we need planes to have a future like Blade Runner?

[@user-jc2we4sn1i]

High Speed Trains are a dystopian scheme to herd like cattle if one has ever read "Railways & War Before 1918" by Bishop & Davis along with "Scientific American" 1884. My internal combustion engine design for a land skimmer induced lift hovercraft I had offered for anyone to electroform for free can burn dried topsoil until "No Blade of Grass" exists again to mow.

[@fadezeroo7578]

Yeah, and the pay is really, really good when it rains and pores and the snow is falling 5cm a hour

[@marcfriedrichs84]

You don‘t need to make this big step. The ‚Deutsche Post‘ and DHL switched almost their entire fleet of cargo trucks from diesel to electric in Germany by cooperate with a university in Aachen. Even this step makes a big difference emission wise plus: The problem of the package numbers per vehicle is not given. Maybe this step -switching to electric delivery trucks- would be a good first step towards changing the whole last mile problem.

[@isaacdimaaksen8740]

Thank you Vox for reminding us how much the US is detached from the reality

[@ratuls21]

Why this won't work in most cases: 1. Urbal sprawl 2. Car friendly streets 3. Delivery Rider safety 4. Volume of goods carried by single delivery man. Short distance deliveries could be done better with bots. But America where most people live outside city centers, e-bike deliveries would be overwhelmed.

[@moodlampActual]

Exactly. I love how these ppl think the us can just mimic Europe at will. If you live here for 3 seconds you'd know how impossible this is.

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

i guess this is one of the mechanisms of how countries get ahead or fall behind the rest of the world

[@moodlampActual]

@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n what's your point?

[@Teapode]

From Prague: Our low emission zone is only for 3,5 tonns and higher. Delivery trucks are below 3,5 tonns. But thanks, didn´t knew we had one.

[@LimitedWard]

I really appreciate Vox's recent focus on urbanist policies. I'd love to see you guys do a collab with Charles Marohn or Jason Slaughter to go even more in depth on these topics. The "war on cars" is quite possibly the most important social movement in our generation.

[@rikipondi]

The problem in the US is not even local delivery vans, it's interstate truck traffic.

[@jennybrown7834]

Yes we need to find more eco friendly alternatives but the e bikes thing would only work in warmer mounths and places where there are stable non gravel non dirt roads and only short distances like in town cuz if all vans switched to bikes what would they do if they got a call for a job in the middle of winter the state i live in our winters we get at minimum 3 feet( 0.9144 meters)of snow and bellow 32(bellow zero)weather can sometimes last a week and its is 120 miles (193 kilometers)between the city i live in and the capital which is the nearest city with descent amenities the closest city to us that is a small town is ten miles away(16 kilometers)to get to both places you have to use one of the most dangerous roads in the state plus most of the state is covered with one of the largest mountain chains in the country

[@LutraLovegood]

Bikes can work in colder weather too, even electric bikes. Just need different clothes, and bikes if the weather is really that bad. -32 Kelvin is quite cold, indeed.

[@jennybrown7834]

@LutraLovegood it would be bellow 32 degrees Fahrenheit for the Kelvin unit it would be bellow 273.15 and for Celsius it would be bellow zero if distance and terrain where not also issues and it was just the temperature the only way to get around this would be to store the battery indoors overnight in the workplaces and for clothes they would have to dress in skiing clothes in some jobs this is not a issue but what if your a plumber and if you have to go to work in those?if you really look at technicalities a ambulance is a delivery van too what do we replace them with?

[@drill_fiend1097]

Most eBikes are actually very off-road capable on gravel roads. They use fatter tires to reduce vibration at speeds, along with suspension. This wouldn't be the case with normal bikes where rolling resistance and stiffness of fork affects user experience. The only problem using them in rural areas is range.

[@very7962]

@@LutraLovegoodlol good luck freezing

[@SAmaryllis]

Wow, I'm surprised that UPS got its biking start in steeply mountainous Seattle! Just walking there was a struggle for me, forget pedaling packages lol

[@aaronjennings8385]

I rode a bike there, and it was so congested with cars that riding was actually pretty safe. But cities with regular flow are way sketchier there's less time to react.

[@SAmaryllis]

@@aaronjennings8385 oh yes, I was thinking more about my weak thighs! I wouldn't be able to bike in Seattle like the ups folks did just because of how up and down the streets are lol

[@aaronjennings8385]

@@SAmaryllis the hills are slow, and the down-hill is a bit faster than average.

[@mike.1390]

i saw Purolator using cargo bikes in ottawa, I asked the dude, he really likes it.

[@Simalacrum]

UK here - not sure about the rest of Europe, but we absolutely do not see Amazon packages arriving by bike - they regularly arrive by truck/van... as does basically anything else.

[@theevertaz1612]

E bike can be a thing for large cities, but if you live in a village or even in the suburbs it’s just impossible

[@jamesbedford7327]

Ay, it's being rolled out in denser areas with good cycle infrastructure, mainly London and Manchester at the moment

[@xomifred]

Delta sponsoring this content is HILARIOUS.

[@Cuix]

This would never work in Phoenix, and the amount of work it would take to fix this city is possibly too much to justify at this point. In other cities, though, it'd be fantastic.

[@bradfordjhart]

Yeah I'm sure delivery drivers will be thrilled to go from there nice heated van into a open vehicle in the middle of winter time in Boston. That sounds like a great idea. Any other bright ideas? The commentator on this has never been outside in the rain, she takes an Uber when it's raining.

[@nishiljaiswal2216]

Urban delivery bikes are used in cities all over the world, weather is not the deciding factor, density and infrastructure are. There are also 3-wheel and 4-wheel covered e-bikes being tested by different companies, this could make weather a non-issue.

[@lorenzocervantes2580]

This sounds like a suggestion by people who never intend on doing these jobs. Delivery people deserve to at least not be rained on when doing their work

[@user-rb4jp4fy9g]

Good idea. Too bad no one ever remembers that Minnesota is covered in snow and has Temps of -20 half a year. It's not worth losing fingers to frostbite to deliver someone's widget.

[@LutraLovegood]

If only there was a simple solution to combat frostbite.

[@MustacheCashStash125]

“Hey kids. You want some candy?”

[@justshad937]

A video about the transportation business, with no mention of money. Ms. Williamson, you dropped the ball here.