The Car-Replacement Bicycle (the bakfiets)

Watch this video ad-free on Nebula: nebula.tv/videos/notjustbikes...
When we were moving back to Canada, we knew we'd need a car, but we couldn't afford one after the move. Thankfully, we found an electric bakfiets, and not only did it take the place of a car, it also saved us thousands of dollars in the process.
go.nebula.tv/notjustbikes to get a discounted subscription to Nebula (and support this channel, too)!
Thanks to Modacity for the photo used in the thumbnail: / modacitylife
Thanks to @Propelbikes for providing some of the footage used in this video. If you'd like to purchase an electric bike or bakfiets in New York or LA, check them out:
propelbikes.com/
/ propelbikesusa
Thanks also to nrbi who provided footage of a cargo bakfiets in action in Toronto:
www.nrbi.co/
Patreon: / notjustbikes
Twitter: / notjustbikes
Reddit: / notjustbikes
NJB Live (my bicycle livestream channel):
/ @njblive
---
References & further reading:
Short history of the cargo bike
The cargo bike: Undervalued all-rounder with promising future
cargobikefestival.com/news/sh...
Belading DC_2 per bakfiets. Vliegtuig PH_AKJ Jan van Gent, op Schiphol, onteigend door Duitsers mei 1940
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Een bakfiets van warenhuis Metz & Co., Keizersgracht 455, in een rijwielstalling.
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Bakfiets met kinderzitjes
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Een bakfiets van A.P. de Zwart Czn., Stadhouderskade 61.
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Met Floriadepark; Europaboulevard
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Linksvoor Nieuwe Achtergracht 29-31 en daarachter de voormalige brood- en meelfabriek Nieuwe Prinsengracht 55-57
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Op de voorgrond de Nieuwe Prinsengracht, gezien vanaf het dak van gebouw Ceres.
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
De toegang aan de zuidzijde van de Coentunnel.
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Overzicht straat - Frederik Hendrikstraat
archief.amsterdam/beeldbank/d...
Welcome to AutoShare
• Welcome to AutoShare
What is 5-Year Cost to Own?
Kelley Blue Book
www.kbb.com/new-cars/total-co...
What Is the Total Cost of Owning a Car?
www.nerdwallet.com/article/lo...
Kinder- und Warentransport-Pedelec, von Urban Arrow, 2019 in Frankfurt am Main (modified)
By Bigral - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Waste receptacles or dumpsters bearing the “BFI Canada” logo (a division of IESI-BFC Ltd.) Photo taken at Calgary, Alberta, Canada (modified)
By User:Seerig - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
--
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:48 The Bakfiets
1:31 Mikey likes it!
2:18 The history of the cargo bike
2:55 The modern electric bakfiets
3:40 The bakfietsmoeder
4:13 Bakfiets as a second car
4:48 The money talk
6:14 Nebula ad
6:27 The stuff we hauled
7:10 Commercial bakfietsen
7:57 The twitters
8:49 But the streets aren't safe
10:00 Bakfietsmoeders of the world ... UNITE!
10:35 Patreon shout-out
#bakfiets #cargobikes #carryshitolympics

[@NotJustBikes]

To be clear: bakfietsen are awesome, but don't buy the brand we did (Babboe); they have serious reliability problems. There are better brands out there, like Urban Arrow. Since KZbin descriptions have a character limit, I'm posting this here: thanks to the following orange-pilled Twitter users who contributed photos of their bakfiets hauls: @AM_Drost @Akilou_Q @AmericanFietser @Archidux @BIKABOUT @BikeBikeYYC @BikeGillian @BrianShannon123 @CJ_Malesky @CREVITN @CargoBikeDaddy @CargorooBike @CycleCalm @DIsaac8 @DaveLikesBikes @Davevdbwpg @DougSchickler @FBorgal @Gaspard_PO @Gerannosaurus @IhmistenK @JRogers202 @JeppeButhler @JerppaM @JohannSchnei @Jono_Kenyon @KipBurgess @LenaGReynolds @LorenParry @Luciensheppy @MattSwoon @MichaLaeuft @MikeCword @NikitaCunskis @Ollie_Cycles @ProfAnneLaura @RemoteLongitude @San_person @VelotaffeurN @WHands80 @ZacheryEllis @ZealousRanter @_JeLuF_ @aizpurunen @ajaycapers @alikulovz @alongthepike @bafe @bakfietsdc @bike4climate @bikey_mike @bromptonymous @brroubrro @brroubrrou @cargobk @casmatix @christine_gotth @ckuosman @corineterlouw @ct_degroot @cwood1855 @drdagly @eigengott @electricfelix @elles80333252 @etataurov @fyxl @genepedia @geodarcy @geologiser @gjmf @hansthetruth @hfxcargo @hiavata13 @ianwalkerwpg @ievalange @ilyanep @ipickmynose @irenecrisologo @jbuckca @jeffnovich @johne_erhardt @josh_orita @justinvanriel @jwetz @matiasavallone @maurakdudley @mikoyne @mpusto @mrwulf @noneck @oli_obk @optimal_taxer @pekkatahkola @peteretlewolff @philboutelle @plepe @quixoticgeek @rikahlberg @robertorfischer @roule_galette @samoli @sdwilsh @squeed @stejormur @suicicoo @sustainawave @thehobbet1 @tomroes @torrinswanson @twowheelsjosh @tzed250 @vocame @wevegotwheels @wittenbrinck @zacdevries

[@NotJustBikes]

Thanks also to the companies who provided footage for this video: Propel bikes: propelbikes.com/ (kzbin.info) nrbi: www.nrbi.co/

[@blagoevski336]

@@NotJustBikes hi

[@PM_ME_MESSIAEN_PICS]

@ipickmynose

[@blakksheep736]

F to everyone who missed the cat.

[@csehszlovakze]

@@NotJustBikes westerners think an e-bakfiets is expensive because they think of normal bikes as a toy/sport. we Hungarians do the same because an everyday bike (no electric assist) is just A LOT more affordable, and electric assist is seen as a luxury, even by elderly people who always used normal bikes.

[@nindiegamer790]

1:53 No wonder kids always ask the dreaded "are we there yet" question while in a car. Actually being able to perceive your surroundings and soak in the journey goes a long way to making it more enjoyable.

[@NotJustBikes]

This is _absolutely_ true. I can't express just how much kids prefer being in a bakfiets. Every time we take a car, my youngest asks, "are you _sure_ we can't go in the bakfiets instead?"

[@oasntet]

It also helps that those surroundings are interesting and not just three hours of interstates/freeways and stroads. A bikeable city is more than just good biking infrastructure.

[@ben.taylor]

It's why people call shotgun to sit in the front seat

[@Shako_Lamb]

As a child I would spend almost every car ride staring out the window and taking in the surroundings as much as possible. It influenced me to run a volunteer GIS project in my hometown before I even reached college, and as an adult I try to explore every area I can as much as possible. I definitely believe that immersion in one's surroundings is critical for childhood development.

[@ric4397]

@@Shako_Lamb i was like that too, and could point out on a road atlas exactly where we were and where we came from and are going, and the route. When I'm walking with people, the disappointment is real when someone needs to use navigation and walk with it just to go a few blocks, and it's very common, I'm like, oh please seriously???

[@corynardin]

I love how you added in the part about the childs perspective. It seems like adults rarely consider things from that viewpoint. Both literally and figuratively.

[@mariusvanc]

Everything's more exciting when you're that low to the ground. It's like driving a gocart. Or a Miata.

[@hrani]

I used to, and still do, get car sick as a kid when riding in cars (the worst is new cars with fancy suspension), but so far I've never had motion sickness while on a bike, even when riding on the back. I hated any trip lasting more than 15 minutes. I wonder if bakfiets are better in this way, also.

[@CaroFDoom]

honestly it seems like all the fun parts about riding in the basket of a shopping cart but much more comfortable and you get to go outside of the ridiculously large supermarkets in north america

[@andypierce6593]

Oh, yeah, my wife & daughter got around Taiwan on bike when my daughter was about one and she loved it. We did some riding when we got back but it was purely recreational and didn’t get done as much

[@MattieAMiller]

As a mother who just had a road trip with a toddler, I am painfully aware of how boring a car ride can be for children. I really liked the inclusion as well. there have been times that even a 10 minute car trip was too much for my kids, but we have a burly and even hour long bike rides have been enjoyable for him.

[@YouTube]

i would be the adult sitting in the cargo box

[@scoobin336]

woah its youtube

[@seanathan14]

wow it youtube helo

[@nathanboosman]

You know your channel is good if KZbin itself comments under it!

[@electroflame6188]

real

[@mauz791]

#justiceforactman

[@multipoep5]

I work part time as a mailman here in the Netherlands. Since we got those bakfietsen there have been no more round trips to the depot, I use it for groceries (don't tell the boss), and since it's electric I can be on the other side of town within minutes without effort. I once carried 150 kg of mail in it, felt a bit heavy but it beats making 4 trips to the depot in the burning sun

[@Fs3i]

I will snitch to your boss. I will call every single post office in the netherlands and ask "Excuse me, does Mr. ChungusMcYeetus work for you?" They'll surely listen to my story.

[@r.ladaria135]

I live in Mallorca so I wonder how is your "burning sun".

[@IvanIsVladimira]

@@r.ladaria135 ha ha 😁

[@krashd]

@@r.ladaria135 Good for you, would you like a chocolate biscuit or a gold star?

[@r.ladaria135]

@@krashd biscuit, please. It was just propaganda, take it easy. Well in fact that's a common statement . It's far easier to ride a bike wherever ther is not a hot weather.

[@Pancakegr8]

I'm a bit infatuated with this channel because, the more I work and learn about society, the more I desire a simpler lifestyle and despise paying more for things I don't need. I don't think anyone in their right mind can watch footage from Amsterdam and not come away with a feeling that, even though we've come so far in many modern cities, there is still so much more to be desired.

[@whatskraken3886]

Amsterdam isn’t even the shining jewel of the Netherlands, at least for me. That would be Leiden.

[@MasterAppels]

A clean, safe and efficient way to travel around your city is what most people want. It's such a shame that it takes most municipalities ages to make even the smallest change.

[@jekentmenietje]

@@whatskraken3886 Yess Leidenaren unite!

[@TikoVerhelst]

@@whatskraken3886 Understandable, but I'd say every Dutch city is better than Amsterdam nowadays. Not necessarily Leiden.

[@thomascusack687]

@Abnormalized ngl scrapping the entertainment industry sounds like more work than it's worth given that society can become plenty efficient without doing that. Also 95%+ of society would hate years without entertainment.

[@Jesthor]

The children's perspective absolutely makes sense. I remember that I always wanted to sit in the loading area of a shopping cart but was put in these awful backfacing child seats. Probably the same thing.

[@joshuakhaos4451]

Also doesnt help that the car interiors are now depressing places to be since most are solid black. Nowdays, I am more interested in the cars that have the option to have colored interiors than the ones that dont. Not a huge fan of red, but a Red interiored car seems way more welcoming than just pure black.

[@victorialuxxe]

2 minutes in and I’m already in a new perspective. My daughter cried because she had to ride in a different car last week & she couldn’t see out of the window. I didn’t realize how boring and sucky that must feel as a kid

[@musosiimo3199]

Bakfiets owner from the south of the UK here. After seeing these bikes in the Netherlands I was bold enough to buy an Urban Arrow in early 2020 (good timing, right?) and completely agree with you on every point here, not least that it's probably the best thing I've ever purchased. I've never found myself unable to carry things in it and giving lifts to friends, relatives and especially relatives' children is great fun. Of course, I'm lucky that we have a sufficient amount of acceptable cycle infrastructure in my city that I can make significant parts of my journeys off the roads or on segregated cycle lanes, and steep hills are little problem with the motor turned up to full assist and low gear, even with a big load. The bakfiets obviously started paying for itself from day one as I could replace the urban car journeys that weren't possible on my regular bike, but to top that I was then able to sell my rattling, unreliable diesel and lease a small electric car for the modest milaege of interurban journeys that can't be done pratically by other means, giving a further cost advantage and a much more reliable and cleaner four-wheeler as backup. Aside from the excellent build quality, ease of use and practicality, the Arrow is also one of the most beautiful machines ever designed.

[@Owen-wc1wr]

Great! Where in the South of the UK are you?

[@beardyface8492]

Lucky you. Local to me the council have fitted railings as chicanes to slow the lunatic lycra wearers down, with the result you literally couldn't get these along the alleged cycle paths, as you can only *just* manoeuvre a standard length cycle through them, these or a tandem, no hope whatsoever.

[@thesenamesaretaken]

I'm also wondering where in the UK has passable cycling infrastructure. My first thought was Brighton, it being very south and the green party is very strong there so it would make sense, but poking around on google street view revealed no cycling infrastructure besides the occasional painting of a bike on the roads. Oxford didn't have any infrastructure last I was there either, unless you count the roads in the city centre.

[@dh4321]

@@thesenamesaretaken Search up "Car dependency scorecard 2014" for an overview of UK cities. Its a bit out of date now but London, Manchester and Liverpool are some good cities for going car-free

[@hendman4083]

@@thesenamesaretaken Cambridge maybe? Saw a video of them installing a dutch-style roundabout a year ago, so they must take cycling somewhat seriously. No clue though if Cambridge is considered to be in the south. 🤗

[@thetokutickler]

When I was a kid my parents would always criticize me for not knowing my way around town despite them driving me around so much. It's like, I DID memorize the back of my mom's car seat XD

[@hendman4083]

I can imagine the confusion when your family got a new car. 😂

[@arcticlaw9198]

That's probably why most of the people I know have a terrible sense of direction

[@davidty2006]

Now unlike most i actually memorize my town quite a bit. By that i mean mostly bus routes.

[@ichijofestival2576]

Just triggered my memories of just about every back of a car seat my parents ever had. I can remember the fabrics, the pockets, the head rests and even what we kept inside them. I also remember I needed to be able to see the road or I got car sick.

[@atl6s]

for real. i never started memorizing the areas i lived until i started navigating them myself, first by bike then eventually by car. riding around roads i could never safely walk through made them feel too distant to be relevant, it detaches you from the commute almost the same as when you're taking an elevator; you're just sat there inside of a moving container, trusting that you'll end up where you intend to, and would be in a great deal of trouble if the moving container suddenly malfunctioned. like NJB said in the video, there's no engagement. it's like a real life loading screen, lmfao

[@GreenGearStudio]

I'm in a team that builds an exoskeleton for someone who can't walk. Whenever we're outside for training, we put all the monitoring equipment inside a bakfiets. These things are absolutely fantastic for following robot pants around town EDIT: So, this comment blew up. It even got screen-capped on our group chat

[@NotJustBikes]

Oh wow, that's a use case I haven't heard before!

[@ThermoMan]

Robot pants? Now I have Wallace and Gromit in my head.

[@blagoevski336]

@@NotJustBikes same

[@web1bastler]

@@ThermoMan "These are the wrong trousers, Gromit!"

[@tardvandecluntproductions1278]

The SCIENCE bike

[@barihenry]

Great video as always! Growing up, I remember thinking of myself as "bad with directions", because I could never exactly remember where places were in my area, nor the names of the local suburban neighborhoods. My SUV-driving parents would blame it on me simply not looking out of the window enough and not paying enough attention (as if the ugly landscape of asphalt and strip malls was particularly worth paying attention to). I remember it being something I was very self-conscious about. But almost immediately after I started riding my bike to school and the mall, I could make a mental map of my area very easily, and my anxiety about being "bad with directions" faded.

[@lihtan]

When it comes to building a mental map of your local environment, it doesn't happen from being a passenger. You have to be the one that seeks your destination. Using a GPS is also a terrible crutch that prevents you from memorizing routes.

[@DarioVolaric]

It is my belief that having a car centered city also contributes to antisocial behavior. While commuting in a car, you are 'safe' inside a metal box where nobody can reach you. You can yell abusive language at other people, flip the bird at them or even run over someone and drive away. But in a city where you are forced to socialize with others by walking, taking a bike or even public transportation, it changes one's behavior to be more social and respectful towards each other. Sure there are still the occasional egos out there who don't care, but overall I believe this is one of the main reasons why the culture in Europe is so different form the USA. Many people who visit here say that people here are a lot more friendly. I am convinced it's because of the way cities are built and how we get around.

[@manysnakes]

This is actually what Gary Numan's hit song "Cars" is about,.

[@jamessandman3708]

A brilliant observation and conclusion. I am here in the USA and looking for a nice little biking and sailing community. There are many here and most marinas exemplify the term community. They are indeed friendlier.

[@uhohhotdog]

Points for using antisocial correctly

[@Cheezymuffin.]

A car centred city is also much louder, with the constant noise of cars driving everywhere. This constant noise polution also contributes to making people more irretated and therefore more prone to rude or anti-social behaviour.

[@johnwilkinson2249]

I agree 100%. Bikes and cars should be out of sight out of sound, just like bad neighbours.

[@sarmadhussein3043]

We live in Iowa City, Iowa (US). We sold our second car in March before we had our baby and purchased the Urban Arrow bakfiet with the baby seat. The bike replaced 97% of our in town transportation and our infant seems to love it and hate when we put him in the car. It was very bold decision but it has been one of the best decision that we ever made:)

[@TungstenArm]

I’ve heard Iowa City is good for bikes! Have you been able to cycle around easily? I’m thinking about going to U-Iowa for grad school!

[@sarmadhussein3043]

@@TungstenArm yes! it is easy to get around with bikes. I use a road bike for commuting to school through out the year and a mountain bike for the winter when it snows. The city Public transportation and the free Cambus (university operated buses) are reliable too:)

[@wiesorix]

Wow, that kids-in-the-back-of-the-car perspective is quite eye-opening. It's something I would never have thought of.

[@swedneck]

And heck even for adults in the front of a car your perspective is severely limited, that's probably part of why i find cars nauseating.

[@GabrielPettier]

it's funny because we've all been there, but somehow, we completely forget about it.

[@malloc7108]

If you think that is bad, look at how little you can see in a US car seat!

[@willekevanderham5326]

And that is not even considering the restricted amount of movement the kids have these days, strapped into a narrow seat with even less movement than the adults in the front.

[@ofnotandi]

@@d.rabbitwhite Its the cars that are getting worse that way. Back in the day cars had windows kid could watch out of. Now with screens, added side impact protection and sweeping fast lines (up) on new cars, kids cant see anything other than the screen and back seat.

[@omnipotent_arcanis]

I had the most interesting conversation here in Toronto about bikes in general. An older woman stopped at a coffee shop and we got to talking. She wanted to bike more as costs of fuel are going up and the cost of parking is so high. As we spoke she said the most paradoxical thing. As a driver she hated bikers as she was always afraid of hitting them. On a bike she is terrified of motorists as they never seem to pay enough attention. I showed her the video on Dutch infrastructural bike paths. She asked why we do not have that. All I could say was a lack of imagination and a lot of fear.

[@stuffenjoyer2223]

Lack of imagination and fear are only parts of the reason, mainly among the normal population. But among the political population, there is no bike lobby to grease politicians’ hands. Why would they build more bike lanes or make anything walkable when oil and gas and car companies can just shell out millions to people’s campaigns to do the complete opposite?

[@MangaGamify]

I think it starts with cost of living and area poor enough or circumstances to use bikes, at the height of the pandemic, there was literally no commute transportation vehicles and everyone just used bikes to counter that, the government eventually made a quick bike lane. Well, it's not yet too popular, cause owning a motorcycle seem to be the culture status symbol of low-income families in the philippines, and they decorate it with cheap shiny alloy screws and parts from china, they still outnumber bikes, you'll notice the difference in stop lights

[@grubgobbler3917]

... But mostly oil corporations.

[@swanpride]

Nothing paradoxical about that. I used to bike when I was in a city in which it was more convient, and I hated how reckless drivers were towards bikers. Nowadays, I don't use a bike anymore, but I hate bikers as a walker (because I can't take a calm stroll anymore without some biker disturbing me or even spitting in front of me and don't get me started on e-bikes in the inner city) and as a driver because too many bikers just ignore the traffic rules. This includes driving beside each other in bike lines designed to drive behind each other, switching on and off the street at will, suddenly turning up from where they can't be expected, stopping directly in front of your window in a way that you can't see the incoming traffic from the street you want to enter anymore...it's all a matter of perspective, and where the three different groups meet, at least one of them will be inconvenienced.

[@blubbspinat9363]

@@swanpride For the most part this is not true. It's the idiots that make life hell for everyone. If everyone would be conscious of the other and stick to the rules, none of this would be a problem. When asking around why people do not cycle but rather use a car when there's no sensible reason to do so, the #1 reason is reckless and distracted car drivers. same goes for reckless cyclists and scooters despite their fewer numbers compared to idiots in cars, they become increasingly annoying. If we don't get rid of those alltogether, we're doomed.

[@yeastov5470]

I had a rather interesting shopping trip on a hybrid bike where I accidentally bought too much food for my panniers to carry. I got around this because fortunately I keep a bandana and some bungee cords in my bags and I was able to seal up an extra shopping bag with the bandana and securely strap it onto the frame of my bike. I showed my friends the pictures because I thought it was funny and they just said "why didn't you just use your car?" Was really disappointed.

[@BannedFromTheaters]

Yep, Dutch person here and can confirm that the electric aspect has made the popularity of the bakfiets skyrocket. Almost nobody used one when I was a kid and it was considered kinda lame if your parents had one. It's funny how making something more convenient and practical to use can sway public opinion so much in just two decades. They're everywhere now!

[@SilenceOase]

@@yourealittlebitfat4344 Explain how a bakfiets is comparable to what you just described please

[@seankilburn7200]

Electrifying them is certainly a game changer. I imagine they were quite difficult to control at times without it, not to mention the difficulty of reaching higher speeds.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

I borrowed a non-electric bakfiets in Toronto a decade ago. It was handy for moving stuff to the event I was helping organize, but it was very slow because it is so heavy. Nowadays I often get passed by (electric) bakfietsen even though I cycle pretty fast.

[@toaojjc]

I've ridden an old bakfiets without assist and that was awfull....

[@annaapple7452]

I knew the child-transporter bakfietsen (not electrical) from the main Dutch cities and hip parents about 15 y ago. When I moved to my current small province town, there were hardly any. Until this year: they sprung up everywhere all of a sudden!

[@alia-cs7cr]

I've been watching this channel since December 2021 I think. I always kinda agreed, but still thought my area was unsuitable for cycling. Then I noticed a lot of people biking around and I decided to go to the city square on a rented bike. I was surprised how easy and fast it was. Also cheaper than getting an uber. Then my car broke and I finally bought a bike. I went from being car dependent to only needing the car for minor trips like big grocery shopping (most I do by bike) or visiting another city if there's no train connection. It's actually really pleasant to be a casual cyclist, I suddenly have great stamina with zero effort, even if I only ride 20 minutes a day.

[@remconet]

I love this!

[@Volvo_EG]

Where are you from?

[@plusbonus1165]

An uber is almost cheaper than a rented council ebike here in Oz. Went out and bought one ! Added to my stable.

[@nfboogaard]

You're not a cyclist, neither is Jason. You just found a more efficient way to travel :)

[@elciervoparaguayo3756]

You are not a cyclist, you are a Fietser

[@jmbailey7220]

Just a few days ago, I saw a woman here in Florida with a bakfiets - child happily riding in the bin. I was very excited to see it. While we have many cyclists and recreational bike riders, any type of cargo/bin bike is a rarity. I personally would love to have one.

[@shieldgenerator7]

5:48 This visualization really drove home how much more financially viable the bakfiet is

[@YourMajesty143]

Yes, especially when you realize the last 2 vehicles are electric cars. The 3rd being an All-Electric SUV (EUV) and the 4th being a Plug-in Hybrid Electric SUV (PHEV). With used and new car prices skyrocketing, the ongoing costs of fuel, maintenance, insurance, and repairs makes you realize how much of a money pit owning a car actually is from beginning to end. And it's not even something you can get a return on investing in, bc it depreciates.

[@gerry343]

I think you made a very good point about children learning their way around their locality while riding in a baksfiets. When they're old enough to cycle themselves they will be able to travel to school whilst chatting with their friends. I think it all helps by making people more aware of their environment and maybe taking more care of it.

[@CrmsnDragoon]

Throughout watching your channel I've gone from "I want a dutch style ebike" to "I've ordered an ebike" to "dang it now I want a cargo bike as well, even if it's not a bakfiets" (Cargo bike hire is not a thing here yet) So thanks for that :P

[@CasGroenigen]

If you have a rack on the front of your bike, you could put a crate there. That's what lot's of Dutch children do to be able to transport some larger stuff, or put their backpacks for school in it.

[@sebastiandomagala9233]

Why not try a trailer as addition to a bike? I spent barely 600€ for both (no ebike though, I live in a flat area), dirt cheap. So cheap that I could afford to get a small EV as well.

[@jakedouglas8920]

@@CasGroenigen And when they grow up it's where they put the crate of beer

[@destronger5313]

my wife and i just got new bikes last month. she didn't want a mountain bike did i want one. we're older now too. we went with cruisers since the handle bars are towards the rider more and you sit up/less leaning.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Hahaha. Well at least you can rest assured that buying an e bike and a cargo e bike is STILL less expensive than buying most cars. And it’s WAY less expensive to charge them than to fill up a gas tank!

[@elpishelalo8211]

MAN! Those bikes look a lifechange deal. I need one now. **Goes online looking for a dealer, checks price, adds shipping fee, converts to local money** I mean, there's not even a single bike lane in city, anyway. **Cries in spanish**

[@thereisnoneedtocallmesir]

Pro tip for students in Amsterdam (though other options like this might also be possible), I’m a member of the ASVA (Amsterdamse Studenten Vakbond)(the Amsterdam Students Union) for €12,50 a year, and one of the many things they offer is that you can lend a bakfiets for free for the first 2 days and rent it for cheap after that. While that is not why I became a member, it can DEFINITELY be useful when you gotta move something really big

[@steffenberr6760]

One of the main efforts in the redesigns of Dutch train station is to include more secure parking for cargo and expensive electric bikes. This was a big topic of discussion for the beek Elsloo station I’m working on

[@freek2409]

I wonder if electric cargo bike theft is as high as normal electric bike theft

[@comrademartinofrappuccino]

Can non construction workers see the plans for the Beek esloo station?

[@0nahole]

Maybe you can take the idea of Japanese bike/car storage systems and implement them.

[@steffenberr6760]

@@comrademartinofrappuccino i wish :( but its not public yet

[@steffenberr6760]

@@comrademartinofrappuccino its still in design and has not been approved by the city yet

[@therealdutchidiot]

A bakfiets for dogs, or a barkfiets. I'll see myself out...

[@NotJustBikes]

😑 🤦‍♂️

[@Mafke]

I laughed way to hard at that...

[@thejesuschrist]

Bakfiets are the truth and the way.

[@liamcallahan9693]

Could you do a video on how the Netherlands changed its city planning policies away from its urban sprawl in the late 1990's? I'd love to see a real shining example of reform.

[@xFD2x]

This should look totally different to you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXeol6VtdtKhbLc

[@MrAronymous]

Why are you assuming we developed sprawl into the 90s? We havent. And the answer is strict top down planning rules.

[@liamcallahan9693]

@@MrAronymous 2:43 to 3:02

[@roob0012]

@@liamcallahan9693 The Netherlands never developed urban sprawl, and that is not mentioned in the clip either. “Cities here used to be way more car centric” means that there was a lot of space made available for cars (asfalt) with little consideration for other types of traffic - pedestrians, cyclists, public transport. Edit: and it is not in the late 1990’s when this all happened/changed, but in the seventies.

[@sjn0202]

How is it for two adults on one bike.?

[@haukauntrie]

I need to get something off my chest. In germany, especially during the election last year, bakfietsen (or in German: Lastenfahrräder) were a huge topic and were pushed immensely by the green party. Bakfietsen were mostly rediculed for beeing presented as a viable alternative for trips you would take by car - even by me! I have to say this video changed my mind. Thank you!

[@nfboogaard]

Lastenfahrräder... Of course the Germans have a word thats twice as long 😂 #wortenentlängerungschaftkraut

[@beetdiggingcougar]

What was the reason for ridicule? Honestly curious.

[@ChaoticNeutralMatt]

@@beetdiggingcougar He listed the ridicule as "for beeing presented as a viable alternative for trips you would take by car". Which is understandable IF you entire world is cars and trucks and you are just ignorant. Which I somewhat was myself.

[@TimoFuchs]

@@beetdiggingcougar Not only was it ridiculed for being "presented as a viable alternative [for a] car" but also it was regarded as a status symbol for rich, woke environmentalists. The "rich" part because of how those bikes seem expensive to anyone who is unable to operate a calculator.

[@werder7540]

The idea was to get subsidies by the German government to buy a cargo bike. The federal Government and some municipalities already did that, but not the whole of Germany. Most damming about this topic was a survey, that later took place in all of Germany. A majority of Germans refuse to pay for such subsidies. But in areas near the Holland and Danish boarder people were far more acceptable towards the idea - in short: If you don`t know nothing about the idea you reject it, if you do, you like it.

[@vistaxp2600]

This video gave me the realization why kids in NA never know their way around town except for the inside of their nearest Walmart, school, neighborhood and shopping mall because they're stuck in the backside of their mom's car staring at their phones until they are old enough to go outside by themselves

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

I'm not a cyclist, but I walk everywhere, and when the kids were small, I pushed them all around town in a forward-facing stroller. They know their way around very well.

[@TikoVerhelst]

I swear, that's true even for us Dutch people. I live in a village, which means we always have to go to bigger towns or cities for specific shopping like furniture or electronics. Furthermore, we don't have a lot of nature nearby (forests etc.). And because of either the furniture, us being tired and young etc., we went to these place by car and not by bike. The thing is. Nowadays, I actually can/have to go to these other villages and cities by bus or bicycle (friends I have since made live there) and I think quite often nowadays "Wow, I was here once by car, and now I actually know where this place is located!" That moment you recognize a place because you saw it from a car, but now you're actually there on your bike, is something every Dutch/European person can relate to I think. There so much things that make sense out of nowhere.

[@FrietjeOorlog]

@@TikoVerhelst I know the feeling. Related to that: knowing one part of town. Knowing another part of town. And then discovering there is a road connecting the two! Basically connecting the two spots in your mental map of the city.

[@sonicdart3896]

Jup, living in Belgium I started cycling everywhere on my own or with my parents from a young age. 5 minutes of cycling to my school. Having that kind of Independence really lets you get a lay of the land

[@alicebnuuy6155]

and even when you are old enough to go outside by yourself, where do you go...? in most suburban places, there's nowhere to walk to. the only places to go are strip malls you can only get to by car. so its not like teens have a reason to go out anyway, unless they wanna have to drag their parents into giving them a ride.

[@hentaioverwhelming]

In Indonesia, we have these tricycle taxis called "becak" (pronounced as beh-chuck) where the driver sits in the back and 2 adults sit in the passenger space in front. As a kid, my grandma would bring me with her to various plazas and wet markets by hailing one of these tricycle taxis. Seeing the thumbnail on your video immediately reminded me of the becak and I just thought I should share that with you. If you do a Google image search for "Indonesian becak", you can see what these tricycle taxis look like. As a kid, I remember how much I enjoyed being able to see the world (and life in general) pass by slowly on those becak trips.

[@emmahume1469]

We bought a Bakfiets in January. We live in Norfolk in the UK and for the most part our car now sits in the drive. We can’t get rid of it completely as we live in the countryside unfortunately but as the video also said, it’s the single best purchase we’ve ever made! We now have a longtail cargo bike too. Fun for the kids and definitely fun for the adults!!

[@jeffengel2607]

I like the idea of reducing car usage in practical, imaginable steps too. Car abolition is excessive and not near-term, and what's needed is examples like this of, and support for, making progressively less use of them wherever a practical alternative can be created or found.

[@mikekerr2390]

Same here. Live in Exeter, car sits unused a lot, cargo bike is out everyday. Absolutely love it, as does my two year old.

[@christineplateo124]

Just curious, what did it cost? Just checked out the only distributor in Canada and it is $3800. I was shocked! It's a bike with a bucket!

[@emmahume1469]

About £5.5k. That is for an electric bike and we bought two batteries to go further. If you were to buy a decent standard electric bike you’d be looking at £3k anyway so not too bad. For us it’s our second car. And they certainly don’t depreciate like cars do!

[@michaelm8265]

I will never get tired of you complaining about these kinds of things. Thank you so much for standing up for this.

[@krispy777]

I love how popular the channel is getting. I see his channel mentioned all the time on Reddit too! (In a good way)

[@milobanks9407]

Your channel has inspired me to move from America to Europe (Denmark) for college. I couldn't be happier living here, thank you so much!

[@nvwest]

Good for you. I always wonder why more people from the usa don’t consider european college more as an option. Esp with the money being what it is

[@marsy6359]

@@nvwest i dont get it either! Im moving to scotland next month, and expenses are nothing compared to an American school.

[@squigglz97]

Nice! I just finished my undergrad here in the US but I’m strongly considering doing grad school in Europe

[@Rapher1996]

@@nvwest Not sure if it's really an issue, but I have friends who tell me it looks better in their resume to have a degree from an institution that people in the HR departments know or recognize, rather than some foreign institution they might have never heard about.

[@marsy6359]

@@moon-moth1 thank you! Thats the plan ;)

[@XEinstein]

This last spring I was in a weekende trip in Zeeland, Netherlands with the Italian in-laws. We wanted to go on a bike trip and the question came up what to do with my two nephews and my baby. So I suggested to rent the camp site's bakfiets and pop the children in it. The oldest child (7) at first wanted to have his own bike until he saw the bakfiets and then he wanted to ride that. So both nephews went into the bike, my baby went in his Maxi Cosi onto the Maxi Cosi mount of the bakfiets and off we went. You can't imagine how much fun the children had when we were overtaking the others on our bakfiets with the children enthusiastically shouting to me to bike faster. Neither can't I imagine how bored they would have been if instead of the bakfiets we'd be making a road trip by car.

[@drew031127]

I ride mine all over Valparaiso, Indiana. I've never seen another one and people really dig it. The other day when I was hauling some old appliances to the scrap yard, a guy on a tricycle chased me down for 5 blocks just so that he could check out my set up. 😅 I have a long tail and a bakfiets and my daughter gets really mad if we take the long tail (requiring her to sit behind me). I can't wait for these to take off here in N. America....we need it so desperately, but most people I talk to will say that it just isn't safe enough yet. 😕

[@enhydralutra]

"You can tell it's filmed by a kid because it's all shaky and filmed on a Dutch angle." Suddenly two decades worth of action movie directors and cinematographers took exception. x3

[@setyourhandlex]

Man, seeing those bikes with branding on them really makes me realise the potential these things have. Especially for things like parcel or food delivery the amount of money it would save businesses on vehicle expenditures and cities on road maintenance is monumental. I really like that you brought up most people would be better off renting a cargo van if they have excessive cargo they're trying to move. Most people don't realise how little volume their cars actually have, including SUVs. Especially if we can make our cities more walkable again suddenly the few extra litres of space afforded by a car are made moot by the ease of access and money saved for individuals.

[@ReddwarfIV]

I'm furniture remover, I own a van. Today I helped move a treadmill. Before calling me, the customer had tried to fit it in their car, which of course it didn't.

[@LenKusov]

Yeah, as car-type vehicles go the ones I hate the most are SUVs and crossovers. They take up SO MUCH SPACE but it's not even USABLE space, you get a hatchback's worth of room in the footprint of a small-mid sized van. I have a Honda van that's SMALLER than a lot of crossovers and SUVs owned by friends or family, and yet, when someone needs to move 3 mattresses and bedframes and a dresser in one trip, my van that's smaller in all 3 dimensions can fit it. Having a flat floor and removable seats means I've got 4x8x3.5 feet of cargo space. Not bad for something that gets the same gas mileage as a crossover and can carry 7 people plus luggage plus a trailer. SUVs just don't make sense for 95% of the people who buy them, they're just a status symbol. If you need to do van-like things and go off road a lot, then sure, the extra ground clearance might be nice, but almost everyone who has them just uses them to drive to work and back.

[@ReddwarfIV]

@@LenKusov Yeah, I wouldn't want to take my van off road. Good thing I've never had to. Once tried to park it in the front garden. Dad made me fill in and re grass the tracks it made when we finally got it back onto the road. A 2.5 ton vehicle will sink into damp earth, who knew?

[@Allan_son]

Yeah and small true station waggons have vanished from North American markets. I have an old Hyundai Elantra (i30) waggon which has a larger, lower, flatter space than any SUV that isn't at least twice the size. Admittedly there are some "waggons" that have a large lip at the back so you cannot slide things in and out. Those might be better regarded as hatchbacks with really big hatches. A bakfiets would probably do most of the carrying my car does except 50% of the destinations are not easily and safely accessible, especially in snow season.

[@vlt96]

Most car owners are awful with their space. My parents have a family car that is supposed to carry 6 people and their luggage for a few weeks (and it can), but because they carry all the "maybe we will need it" stuff, you can barely fit 4 people with luggage for a weekend. SUVs are the worst, they're like a laptop bag with way too much padding, and all their owners keep a backup charger, a mouse, keyboard, UPS, monitor, backup laptop, 3 pairs of headphones and the original box of the phone, plus some spare shoes and last week's laundry. It's 17" laptop bag which can barely fit a tablet inside due to the owner thinking "yeah but it's big". I've seen people with SUVs take 10 minutes to cleanup their garbage to fit 2 people and their 20 liter backpacks in the backseat. It's amazing how inefficient they are. I would probably get home by bike by then if I had any bike infrastructure.

[@matthewsidaway1437]

I’ve been obsessed with this channel for a long time now, and recently went on a trip to Amsterdam. One of the things I was most excited to do was see and experience the two wheeled way of life, it didn’t disappoint. London is supposed to be pretty cyclist friendly but this was another level - Had a brilliant time, thanks for the excellent videos!

[@therealdutchidiot]

London (UK) infrastructure is considered to be the bare minimum in low population towns in the Netherlands. Jay Foreman did a bit on cycling in London (a two parter, actually).

[@lavendervvitch99]

I just got back from a family vacation to Amsterdam (currently live in NYC) and after watching so many of your videos I was on the lookout for a lot of the things you’ve pointed out about cycling infrastructure and city design. Now I’m daydreaming about moving to the Netherlands 😂 it’s just…so pretty over there…ugh

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

Utrecht

[@El-Burrito]

This channel has legit radicalised me. I actually find driving fun, but this channel makes me thing the world would be a much better place without them.

[@ARod4374]

The best part is that that world is even better to drive in (because then the people who are driving are mostly a few people who truly need to, and then folks who do so as a hobby, which means better and more attentive drivers to share the road with, and fewer drivers overall meaning fewer traffic jams)

[@Sebisajiminstan]

I agree. I love cars, always have, and i like driving well enough, but i find myself wishing for more bike friendly roads nowadays. I would absolutely adore living somewhere where i could just bike everyday and only use my car when absolutely necessary.

[@evilpez]

The beauty is the idea of switching bikes to the primary transportation and cars to the hobby ride. Just feels like a better idea in general.

[@0xsergy]

i love driving too man but realistically we can avoid doing it for like 99% of stuff. there are some edge cases where driving is required but very rare.

[@lihtan]

I used to love driving, going on road trips and dabbling in motorsports. Motorsports is a very expensive hobby when you start breaking drivetrain parts on your car (even if you do your mechanical work). When my vehicle got stolen a few years ago, I was forced to pick up a more bike-centric lifestyle. These days I find it much more rewarding to ride my bike. Even short trips to the grocery store become an adventure. As you get older, it's necessary to get some exercise to style healthy and fit. Riding my bike has perfect for that.

[@harktischris]

we got a cargo bike out here on the west coast of the states during the pandemic and it's honestly been a game changer for mobility. we avoided the need for a second car, and our usage of our main car has dropped to almost nothing. and i definitely see more and more of these cargo bikes (esp the urban arrow that features so much in this vid) when i'm out and about. we should be investing way more in our biking infrastructure, bc climate/street safety tech is already here

[@Azsunes]

I sometimes want to bike but there are no safe roads to really bike unless you are just going around the neighbourhood. When you want to leave it I am surrounded by busy roads that always have cars speeding and cutting each other off as they race to beat the next light. Even walking on the sidewalk doesn't feel safe.

[@blueryokyo7025]

@@Azsunes same here, i remember walking home from work and i had to walk down a stroad with a lot of cars just speeding by me. i really hated it and it didn't help that it was in the summer in las vegas and i had 0 shade from the sun. not fun at all lol. and as much as i wanna bike to get to places i don't feel safe at all doing that, i dont wanna bike to work or another place and be all paranoid since i don't want to get ran over by a reckless driver.

[@spencers4121]

@@Azsunes It's a problem for most of America. Even something like a moped is limited to slower roads, which can be an issue for a lot of people too.

[@Krieghandt]

@@Azsunes You have to get ballsy, and take your part of the road. I've biked in 3 states with TX being the worst, but it can be done.

[@Korina42]

@@Azsunes Sorry for your crappy infrastructure. I hope it gets better. Just a reminder that umbrellas ☂are portable shade. 🙂

[@cubedmax]

from New York City, and I’ve started noticing these and 3-wheel cargo bikes a lot more. Unfortunately, while they’re only very common in neighborhoods with either good bike infra or very low car usage and driving speeds. However, I am excited to see these beginning to become more popular here!

[@ctmb]

I work at a company that does a big part of the distribution and assembling of alot of the big brand "bakfietsen". And its insane how the popularity has skyrocketet the past 3/4 years. My estimate is that we now distribute over a 1000 of these things a week in the benelux & Germany. Where 4 years ago, we would need about a whole month to get to that number. Its insane

[@Victor-kh5rh]

I recently bought my first electric bike, the goal was to go from a two car family to a one car family. In the past two weeks I put 70 miles on my electric bike, and I drove my car once, and that was to pick up my wife in the other side of town. Not only did I realize that my goal was entirely viable, but I also noticed that I am actually enjoying running errands around town. I am getting more exercise, I am more active, and I am noticing things that I never noticed in a car. I can’t believe it took me this long to make the switch.

[@blazesardonyx7557]

Really glad to hear it!

[@BirgitProfessional]

I have the same experience with my e-scooter. Sure, it's more on the lazy side than an e-bike, but I've just never liked the bike seat on my butt. Since I bought my scooter 2 weeks ago, I've used my car twice. Once for a larger shopping trip and once because I had to drive at night (don't feel safe riding the scooter in the dark). The scooter is just more fun.

[@loubydal7812]

Totally agree, " I'm noticing things I've never noticed in a car". Car driving makes to focus in one direction, missing the surroundings or the big picture, and blurring the mind.

[@unleashy6164]

By your name, are you Brazilian? I'd love to use an electric bike here but there is simply no infrastructure for it and the cars are mean to cyclists :(

[@bobsled3000]

@@BirgitProfessional I'm in a similar situation since I got my scooter I have not driven a car at all in 3 months

[@dandarr5035]

6:26 You know what... I ALMOST skipped ahead until I noticed how short the ad break was and got too lazy to skip it. lol.

[@andriinazarov5218]

As a person who also has a cargo e-bike, I confirm that this was the most important purchase of my life. After buying one, I have really stopped using a car unless absolutely necessary.

[@ghostkhadaji]

Days before this video came out, I was considering how to transport my children to school when they come of age in the next few years. I decided that a bakfiet is the way I want to go, so this video is eerily timely. Thank you for the affirmation, and also thank you for invigorating the call to action towards the end of the video. I love the Netherlands and would move there in a heartbeat given the opportunity, but that's not so easy for everyone, and there probably shouldn't be only one place in the world where this lifestyle is possible.

[@0xsergy]

youtube is promoting green ideas i think. there's a literal comment by the main KZbin channel above, something i've never seen done before. And yes, i clicked it. It's the official youtube channel.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

"Bakfiets" was a word I already used in English before I learned Dutch. There is a modest but noticable import market in Toronto for bakfietsen from the brands Babboe and Bakfiets NL, both of which typically have the brandname in big letters on the side. The latter brand may have contributed to the Dutch word entering English (at least among transport professionals and enthusiasts in Toronto).

[@longbow857]

That is a Dutch word to be proud off going international :)

[@Pannemat]

Interesting, as a Dutchie, I didn't know that. In that case, could you enlighten me on what he is saying after "literally .." at 0:53? I'm expecting an English word unless he's actually saying "bakfiets".

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

@@Pannemat He says that bakfiets literally translates to "box bike" or "bin bike". As in "bak" and "fiets".

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

@@longbow857 The term "woonerf" is also very popular in Canadian urban planning. Though you won't be proud of how Canadians pronounce it...

[@Pannemat]

"Box bike" was the one my ears missed. Thanks.

[@robvanderburgt]

We bought a bakfiets because it was a good alternative for a second car and thought it would be really fun for our kid. We discovered it is not only fun for the kid but also for the person riding it. In 8 months time we have gone from owning a car and wanting a second one to buying an e-cargo bike and ditching our car entirely. The bakfiets is super convenient and so much fun to ride. We are even considering a second one.

[@abacaxiveer]

Yeah, you can go 'wheeeeeeeeeee!' together with the kids when you hit a speedbump.

[@micabryant4513]

I couldn't cross a road on one of those with kids in...I just couldn't

[@bearcubdaycare]

@@micabryant4513 I hear you...but what does that say about how dangerous where you are is, how oblivious and reckless drivers are? You can play the one upsmanship game of ever larger vehicles than the neighbor, to compensate for the lack of safety, only so far. Eventually they'll be monster trucks mowing down houses, not just kids on bikes. Then again, I recall that this channel, I think, has a video on that already happening a lot more than people realize; happened to a cousin of mine in recent months.

[@micabryant4513]

@@bearcubdaycare no I don't think you need to get in a vehicle size arms race..that's quite ludicrous..I'm not even advocating for cars particularly I think you just leapt to a conclusion. In many ways these bikes aren't hugely different to push chairs in that you cross the road with the kid low down and in front of you..both makes me uncomfortable. Of course diligence from all party's leaves everyone safe it's just were not all perfect all the time..lapses happen so I'm just talking about mitigating risk. My concern is hardly a unique one though which is why I find your challenge odd.. perhaps it was the assumptions you were making about my position..

[@Nina-cd2eh]

@@micabryant4513 That's why you don't cross the road, you drive ON the road. Be the traffic. Bikes aren't pedestrian

[@camyron]

This is the kind of thing that critics will lazily decry because you can't fit you & your whole family's luggage, beach toys, tents, and any other paraphernalia to go on holiday with, but that's the exact scenario where hiring a car or using well-developed public transport network and last-few-mile taxis are good for. These are good for the intracity trips where you need to move A Thing.

[@cogerle]

Safety is truly and tragically critical. I live in Portland, Oregon so it's OK, but riding with my kids can still be high anxiety due to insane motorists. Also, many of the best destinations and bike infrastructure are not well served by safe enough connections such physically separated paths. So close (for the US) yet so far (from the Netherlands).

[@methyod]

As a fellow Portland resident, I'm not really sure what you mean by "insane motorists". This city has by far the meekest and most submissive drivers I've ever encountered in the states as a cyclist. Coming from California, where I absolutely feared for my safety on plenty of roads with marked bike lanes, I've never felt unsafe here. Also, I briefly lived on the east coast, and THOSE are insane motorists. Absolutely cutthroat and reckless. Almost nobody drives even remotely like that in Portland. In fact, a common and infuriating experience in Portland: I'll be riding off to the side on a side street, and a car behind me, with plenty of room to pass, just refuses to pass, and putters along behind me at 10mph. That would never happen anywhere else I've lived.

[@rachaelm4573]

Depends on the part of town. There are still pedestrian fatalities in outer East. It's very car centric

[@methyod]

@@rachaelm4573 if by "outer east" you mean Gresham and troutdale, I would really contest calling that Portland.

[@nopelandfill]

As always, great video, I did not know something like this existed, I have never seen a "bakfiet" my whole life, thank you for shedding the light on it.

[@NotJustBikes]

Yes! Most people, even people who cycle, have never seen these bakfietsen. It took me way too long to learn about them, but I'm glad I did!

[@nienke7713]

snall correction: it is a bakfiets (plural is bakfietsen)

[@nopelandfill]

@@nienke7713 Got it, thank you :)

[@JAG214]

You can google it and see if there someone in your area that make them because in Dallas where I live there someone who makes them but living in the US it dangerous to ride a bike

[@Ginkoman2]

​@@nienke7713 the plural is correct though. 'these' asks for a plural

[@rosesred2155]

Terrible timing with this video. I’ve been trying to talk myself OUT of getting an E-bakfiets, but now I’m convinced I can’t make it without one 😁

[@AndreSomers]

@@swunt10 It really depends on where you are if that's feasible. Some of the comments in these Not Just Bike video's (that I really enjoy, don't get me wrong) are a bit big-city central. Renting cargo bikes isn't something I think we have in our small Dutch city, nor are car sharing services anywhere near as ubiquitous. And I found that renting a car for longer trips for me can require travel to a city like Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Utrecht to find something affordable, while finding one with a tow hook that can tow our small trailer so we can go camping is basically impossible. We tried.

[@photosbyernesto9621]

😆😆😆👌

[@AnotherDuck]

@@AndreSomers Yeah, here in Sweden these things apply mostly to cities and smaller towns connected to cities, but if you live in more remote areas you probably need a car. But a bike is still good for local trips since even if there’s less dedicated infrastructure, there’s less traffic, so taking the roads isn’t an issue.

[@dushkush1]

That was super insightful! A thing that was missing though is talking about parking. They are large tools and in many cases the barrier to owning one is just not having a place to store it overnight. I live in a city with a big bike-theft problem and an expensive bike like this would not survive a night of being parked on the street.

[@CarsonSchmidt419]

Love the way this channel has made me realize I can live a more comfortable live on pennies if I just 1) don’t buy a car and 2) don’t live in a detached suburban house. I recently calculated how much debt I’ll be in after school and then while I was at it, calculated the cost of every* dream purchase I’d like to make in life. It’s actually doable without a car and suburban lifestyle, without working myself to death either.

[@kauevampiro7186]

I live in a coast town in Brazil, the city had 62 years and all their history was in the “car’s world”, but as a modern city we have the bicycle in the city development plan, and with education and channels like “Not Just Bikes” we can expand this to the whole world

[@idromano]

Dúvida: qual cidade?

[@kauevampiro7186]

@@idromano Peruíbe - SP. No plano diretor há ciclofaixas por todo o trecho das principais avenidas da cidade, mas na prática do dia a dia deixa muito a desejar

[@TheBlueWizzrobe]

I have vivid memories of riding around in my dad's cargo bike when I was about 3 years old, and I absolutely loved it. I grew up in a typical suburban hellscape, and although it wasn't practical to use a bike for things such as groceries or other necessities, my dad would just bike around the neighborhood while I sat in there, and I'd always love seeing the world from a cool, different perspective. When I think about things I miss from my childhood, that's what usually tends to come to mind for me for some reason.

[@timebor]

On a rainy winter day, my dad would pick me up after a long day of school and after school daycare. He would put his backpack on the front so I could shelter under his jacket from the back child seat 😌👌 Bakfiets with transparent cover would've also been nice I imagine!

[@CZsWorld]

When I was a baby we had a bike trailer that I went around in. No wonder I now hate cars

[@andrebartels1690]

When I was young, you could see a cargo bike once in five years, here in Germany. Now you can see them five times a day. I even built my own three-wheeler that can carry 150kgs of cargo. But that one is without electric drive. I must admit, I'm a bike guy. I have several Oma-fietsen, three cargo bikes, a recumbent, a Swiss army bicycle (no, it doesn't have a cork screw, sorry) and some other quirky things.

[@JoshuaFagan]

"All of the people who skipped ahead are going to miss this clip of my cat." That's the best incentive to not skip around when you think there's going going to be an ad. Never change, NJB!

[@scpatl4now]

Actually...the ad wasn't long enough for me to contemplate skipping it. Short and concise. How ads should be. Not the minute and a half that gives me time to want to skip it

[@TheTundraTerror]

me, who just uses Sponsorblock

[@Blackadder75]

I never see ads, I have adblock + sponsorblock , but I did see the cat, so the addon works perfect. I am very fanatical in avoiding ads of ANY kind, I really can't stands ads. No exceptions. If I want to support somebody I can become a patreon or sometimes donate something directly.

[@YoshiNuss]

Sponsorblock ftw

[@scpatl4now]

@@Blackadder75 You wont get any argument from me

[@ITBEurgava]

6:20 Okay, that's sneaky.

[@Lavthefox]

Love the channel! Been watching for a year now. My 2 cents when it comes to American transportation. You wanna drive across the country: an American car is a dream right? You wanna conquer the mountain trails, American cars seem to fit the bill. You want to go to your local convenient store that js .2 miles from your house.... Yeah... You need a car... (This is literally how my neighborhood is built, trees/hills/double blind turn blocks you from a shopping center that's right on the other side) Want to go down town (3 miles away) and would love to take a micro electric car? Can't. No bike lanes and a micro car cost like $20 grand.... Want to just go to the store (1 mile away) and grab something? Gotta hop in the SUV' no bike lanes, no sidewalks, no protected lanes... It's odd that traveling 3000 miles across the country is substantially easier than going down the block for beer in the US....

[@petermanley7525]

The ‘power to weight ratio’ alone makes this a superb eco+ concept in electric assist format. Add to that the carbon saved due to their longevity of service and it’s a winner all-round.

[@miloheh]

I genuinely love this channel, but I never really thought, "yeah, this convinced me to buy a bike where I live." Until this video. Dude the $10,000 a year it costs to operate a car is so true. The amount of times I fill up, having something break on my 170,000 mile vehicle, or buying parts probably equates to that amount . An electric bike actually seems like a better option than continuing life wasting $10,000 a year just to drive frequently to the same locations. I'm actually going to sit and think about this decision for a while. Thank you for making these kinds of videos.

[@bas4627]

So.. you've had 10 hours or so. What was the outcome? ;-)

[@rickb3078]

Maybe rent or borrow one if that is an option . Just to see how it goes. Get your bearings on the new situation. Then you’ll be able to push the button knowing what you’ll step into.

[@williamwulff289]

I am Belgian,and I live in the south, in Wallonia. You cannot imagine how I envy my Flemish cousins on their bicycle infrastructure and their flat landscape. It is just so hilly down south. Things will get better when electric assisted bikes will become more affordable.

[@eggrollsoup]

At least it’s a lot better than me living in a car centric concrete jungle

[@danielprieto4047]

There are always bigger gears mate, you just have to go for it!

[@Enigmaticus99]

Hi, this video is greatly done and really hit home with me. Our family switched from one car and a motorcycle to a bakfiets and 2 electric motorcycles (cause we live to ride motorcycles but also love the environment). The B&B MK1-E bakfiets we got is a masterpiece of cargo-bike engineering and i cannot say how much i love it and also other people do. Within a year of ownership 2 people stopped me on my work commute to ask me about it and some weeks later they where riding the same bike. I think this "leading by good example" effect of cargo bikes is huge, because many people tell me how they would love to have one but are not ready to do it because it is just to exotic to them. But once they try it and learn about the cost saving they will be hooked! Thanks for your great videos!

[@powgames]

This is an important video. Many people in my country (germany) laugh at the idea of the government subsidizing cargo bikes or even using these as a car replacement at all. Public awareness of these generally awesome and very versatile vehicles has to be raised. Yeah sure they are not as comfortable and not as "fast" as cars, but in cities they really do not need these features (except maybe rain protection). Long trips can be done by train, heavy trips with carsharing/renting. Even if that's more expensive driving, you already saved a lot by not owning a car ;) You reminded me not to look for a car when i move out, but for bakfiets :)

[@coltonvoege8093]

For single people in car dependent hell like me who need a car but would like to minimize trips, I have another recommendation: bike trailers! They let you do most things you could do in a cargo bike, but are way cheaper. I do all my groceries in my trailer and I save all that gas/maintenance/depreciation money.

[@markachternaam5207]

Fully agree that bike trailers can be a viable alternative. However, a front loading bakfiets is a lot more enjoyable for children to ride in. My kids love riding in a bakfiets and disliked being in the trailer.

[@GwendolynnBY]

@@markachternaam5207 op did say "single", so I assume they are referring to people who don't have children.

[@BobbyUnverzagt]

Storage is definitely a plus for a trailer. There's no way I could fit a bakfiets in my apartment's bike room, but a trailer can fold up and fit in a closet.

[@ReddwarfIV]

I have a bike trailer, but haven't used it in years. It's easy to forget I'm towing it, which leads to crashing into bollards and kerbs. It's also harder to fit in cycle lanes. Perhaps worse than that, though, was how the rubber linkage snapped leaving only the metal spring connecting the trailer arm to the mount on the bike, resulting in it bouncing up and down and no doubt putting extra strain on the spring. Also, one of the axels snapped. I had to get a replacement made by a metalworking shop. Perhaps the trailer I bought was just low quality, but these are issues you just wouldn't have with a cargo bike.

[@TagetesAlkesta]

@@ReddwarfIV sounds to me like you bought a terrible bike trailer

[@fietsenOveral4650]

It's exciting to see this channel gaining a lot of apparent recognition & traction recently! A lot of recent YT mentions and callouts by more mainstream channels, and a lot of people that I wouldn't have expected mention it when I talk about urbanist stuff!

[@bubordoni2]

I was in an exchange program in Chicago for a year, and I rode my bike everywhere from spring to fall. Chicago is so flat and the streets so wide that it was easy. Unfortunately, back at home, my bike only sees action at seldom Sundays on a special bike lane that only works on Sundays. Here in São Paulo they’ve been trying to make more room for bikes, but with not much planning some of the lanes are pretty bad, add to that the dangerous traffic and fear of muggings. With gas prices on constant rise and ridiculous traffic jams, our city could definitely do with fewer cars, but sadly I don’t see bikes taking over anytime soon.

[@erents1]

The bicycle is the best invention of all time, hands down.

[@alicia.3740]

I work in a nursing home and we have the duofiets (side-by-side tandem or duo-bike). The duofiets is often used by healthcare workers who work with the elderly. The employees or volunteers can cycle outside together with the elderly. The duo fiets is suitable for two people, where one person can steer and pedal and the other only has to pedal. This allows the elderly to enjoy the nice weather outside and get some exercise. Plus they can chat for a while (which really benefits the elderly) because they sit next to each other, not behind each other. Maybe you could make a video about that sometime? Or how safe it is to travel in the Netherlands with an electric wheelchair.

[@Nonnavlis]

As a wheelchair user who totally agrees with the lifestyle/infrastructure changes advocated for by this channel, but wouldn't be able to do the biking life, I would LOVE to see some stuff about electric wheelchairs too! It is my dream to one day live in an accessible city where I can actually get around that way by myself rather than being stuck in the suburbs and reliant on being driven by other people, so it would be nice to know what that is like in the Netherlands! Where I live, even the city is inaccessible because people aren't interested in maintaining or even installing ramps and such things. I had never heard of a duofiets--what a marvellous idea that is!!

[@alicia.3740]

@@Nonnavlis In my environment I regularly see people in an electric wheelchair who are going to run an errand, walk the dog or are on their way to something or someone. In the store we help if it's necessary to put the groceries in the basket or bag, that all goes very well. It is important that people in wheelchairs mingle with other people. This way people learn to help each other and to value everyone equally. I hope you too can spend your days like this in the near future.

[@JaniceHope]

@@Nonnavlis Huh... In my city (it's not village nor a city but a settlement, a spot [

[@SebastiaanAndeweg]

I have been to that 'afvalpunt' soooo many times without car (or bakfiets) in the Marie Kondo high days, nice to see it here. The nicest thing: they never really weighed how much I was throwing away / bringing for recycle, since I was 'just a fietser'.

[@NotJustBikes]

Yep! It's always free when you show up in a bike! 👍

[@machinismus]

My first ever memory is seeing the mountains of the Phoenix valley while sitting in a baby carrier in the back of my dad's bike. When I was a toddler my dad would also ride around with me in a little bike trailer and it was my favorite thing. Great point about kids being more engaged and stimulated, because I think my great sense of direction goes back to when I'd make a mental map of our neighborhood as a young one. I am ready for the bakfiets revolution!

[@kambu_ch3127]

I love e-cargo bikes such as these. I recently borrowed an Urban Arrow Tender with the lockable box on the front to move flats. Managed to move all of my boxes in one trip, and a second trip to move TWO full size bicycles. Didn't cost me a penny and was far less hassle than organising a van and driver.

[@KyrieFortune]

"They can't see bikes being used by anyone but physically fit men in their 30s" incredibly funny, to me, because most of the people who have gotten bikes in my hometown are old retired people and 14yo boys gathering at self-service vending machines to grab a soda at 2am

[@yarpenzigrin1893]

Yeah, where I live it's also either kids or older people, most often women, who ride bikes daily. Men in their 30s are all driving cars and using bikes only on weekend trips.

[@buitenzorg5970]

I tell you man, nothing beats hanging out by those machines at late hours.

[@alytsybesma3405]

In Canada you mean?

[@rolandcombes]

This is one video I been waiting for you to make, and like all the previous videos, you've nailed it. However, you were a little harsh on my favorite vehicle of all time... no, not the BMW, the 3-wheeler bakfiets. Yes, you do not want to turn hard at high speed with it, and in a head wind you need powerful thighs if you don't have the electric version. But, as a city vehicle, it's awesome. I bought mine (Babboe -City- Big) used for €500 (non-electric), and it has never let me down. I've transported my daughter and 3 of her friends from school in it at once, went on glamping trips (so much space for more luxurious camping), hauled a full-sized assembled sofa, carried mountains of stuff to the recycling center (some too long to fit in a regular car), transported tons of building materials from the hardware store, rescued other bicycles in it, even took a full-sized adult with a suitcase to the station. Two-wheeler bakfiets are awesome, but so too are the wide range of cargo bikes with more than 2 wheels. Like you, I think these are the most important vehicles of the near future.

[@ChildofWar2]

We have loads of these as well in Denmark. However in my experience buying one it's pretty sketchy buying one and it's super easy to get scammed by a company claiming to be local or high quality, example would be the company you show alot in the vid, Baboe, like many other companies they import some really bad stuff from China that is super unstable and potentially deadly to any kids, pets or people sitting in them due to bad design (like you show that they're prone to flipping), bad breaks and a lot of rust on any metal parts. If you buy one of these, do your research and for god sales don't cheap out, it could honestly either kill you or the occupants.

[@GreenIsTheWayForward]

Great video! I live in Amsterdam myself and indeed, you see these bikes everywhere. The electrical revolution is real. More and more bike lanes are being constructed that connect distant parts or even other cities (so called 'snelfietspaden', high speed bike lanes), as it has become easier to go longer distances. Most pollution and noise in cities is generated by motorized traffic, and these bikes are both clean and quiet. They also need less parking space, which is at a premium in densely populated NL, and any car replaced by a bike makes the streets safer. I really can't think of anything negative about them.

[@bikequestwithmikewest]

I have had a three-wheel bakfiets for over two years now, and it has been game changer. I have a non-verbal son who cannot walk or bike very far on his own that absolutely loves it! He requests rides all the time and we luckily can access a good number of destinations where we live on shared use paths and traffic calmed streets. I have done all of the above with mine too carrying groceries, propane, furniture, four kids, took it on a commuter train, and even delivered Christmas to a family in need. Definitely recommended!

[@winterwatson6811]

i bring my cats out on adventures a normal bike with a cargo rack :) i really appreciated the financial break down of the bakfiets!

[@NotJustBikes]

This cat is quite adventurous, but he does not enjoy bikes or cars. He rides in the bakfiets only when it's necessary. 😉

[@thehardsway]

We got a bakfiets in 2018 shortly after our first child was born. We sold our second vehicle, a 15yo Honda Civic for $3500 and bought the bakfiets for $2500 including shipping from Toronto. It's definitely paid for itself 10 times over! We use it year round in Saskatoon, Canada for the daycare run and other errands. We used the rear facing infant bucket seat, and then a toddler carseat until she was big enough to sit on the bench independently. My 4yo rides her own bike now, making room for her baby sister in the bakfiets. She definitely knows her way around, and is competent on a bike thanks to the bakfiets. There's a mixed use paved trail near my house that runs along the river that bisects my city, so I mostly stick to that with the kids. My biggest load was a stack of 6 lawn chairs weighing over 60lbs, while I was 5 months pregnant! It was a bit intimidating, but once I got going there was really nothing to it. If you get the chance to test drive one, try it! You'd be surprised how easy it is, even with a heavy load and no e assist! I've only seen a handful of them in my city, but I hope they catch on!

[@tylernewcomb6465]

When I was in Amsterdam recently, we had to move hotels, and I knew I wanted to rent a bakfiets to do it. I've use some in the US (most notably the Larry vs Harry Bullitt), so I wasn't worried about the difficulty of riding. I wanted to try the Cargoroo, but couldn't sign up for it (you need a Netherlands phone number, which I of course didn't have). I instead rented one almost identical to your Baboe. It was lovely! I'm very lucky that my local bike advocacy group has two that I can borrow for free where I live, it eliminates all the stress of parking one in the city as well.

[@pamelaking6814]

I recently rented an e-bike and kids trailer for a couple of weeks to try out commuting my smallest children to nursery...and wow did they absolutely love it! We live in the very hilly Scottish Highlands and an e-bike is an absolute game changer...adding the ability to take the kids was a revelation and they stayed dry thanks to the rain cover (me, not so much!) arriving in a great mood and having got a good dose of fresh air before school started. I used a trailer but am seriously considering purchasing a bakfiets instead now. Thanks for another great video :)

[@hunchanchoc8418]

I hope it has a powerful motor. My standard 'legal' e-bike's motor is 250 Watts, and I wouldn't be too keen on cycling on my own up some of the hills in the Highlands, never mind pulling a trailer with multiple kids in it.

[@bmwiedemann]

@@hunchanchoc8418 250W is enough for that. I pull 2 kids up a very steep hill every day.

[@hunchanchoc8418]

@@bmwiedemann Maybe mine is down on power. Like my body also is. :-/

[@martinpenwald9475]

For children, I find the bakfiets safer than a trailer because you can watch them while you drive.

[@0xsergy]

@@martinpenwald9475 they're also the first to arrive at the scene of an accident so you get extra crumple zone! haha just kidding, i do wonder if a trailer is a bit safer cause it has 2 wheels to keep it self upright, etc. plus with a trailer they're enclosed in a plastic "cage"

[@hngldr]

That view of a child's perspective in a car is truly eye-opening (pun intended). It brought back a lot of memories I didn't know I had - probably because they were awful memories. I think few things will ever make my coworkers understand my way of life better than those few seconds of footage and voiceover

[@karlontaxi8989]

Im car guy and it blow my mind that bike can be so practical and eazy to use.

[@jhawk6014]

Love seeing your point of you on this subject. Sunriver Oregon has a road system and a bike road system and the kids thoroughly enjoy going grocery shopping. I could even let them ride ahead because I know that there are no dangerous intersections. I am visiting San Diego and I noticed that they recently removed one lane, put in a barrier and then put in a bike lane with special lights so a bicycle does not need to stop. Hopefully more cities follow

[@queertales]

About 8-10 years ago I was considering getting a cargo bike in Oslo, Norway, but there were simply no shops that sold them, nor any available on the used market. My best bet would probably have been to take the ferry to Copenhagen, and bring one back. Now, I see them literally everywhere and there are multiple shops that sell them in all shapes and sizes. I believe this is down to a combination of significantly improved cycling infrastructure and the explosive growth of e-bikes, plus people have realized how amazing and practical these bikes are.

[@0xsergy]

ebike is the big deal. without electric assist i bet they're goddamn heavy to drag around. with electric assist its easier than a bicycle(i assume).

[@signalfire6]

@@0xsergy About 50-60 lbs here in the US; hard to drag up a flight of stairs if you need to.

[@0xsergy]

@@signalfire6 with an emotor i imagine stairs are easier cause you can use the "walk" mode?

[@stevenabra5397]

For any Toronto viewers who are interested in trying one of these - Happy Fiets rents bakfietsen with e-assist options, and will even drop off and bike up the bikes at your location. We rented one a few weeks ago for a picnic, and had a great time. :)

[@DanielDiazQuintero]

In Spain there is still too much to do, cities like Madrid are not safe enough for bikers. Some people is trying to change this situation but mayors from right parties don't beleive in bikes as solution to traffic jams or even polution ☹

[@stuffnuns]

I feel dumb that I didn’t know about Bakfiets. What a great thing. I am glad I live in a city, Portland, where I can use one. My og home town, Los Angeles, is a nightmare for bikes.

[@elkespiessens1756]

Yes to the Bakfiets Revolution ❤️ "The best purchase I ever made" is a sentence I always use every time I get asked about our bakfiets 😊 Two kids an no car here!

[@coffeenteamorning1004]

I live in The Netherlands and have had a bakfiest for 8 years now! It's a savior when you're a mother with 3 kids and have no car. Now that the kids are big enough to ride their own bikes, I still use bakfiets on a regular basis just like in your video. I've once biked with a 3.5 meter apple tree and cherry tree as passangers, almost fell twice but we were home safe and sound. They've lived well in my achtertuin (backyard) 😅🤣💪🚴‍♀️🌳

[@QuincelSC]

Can we respect the brilliant pun of pointing out the 'dutch angle' in the camerashot from the cargo bike?

[@The_Sin_Squad]

Why, Not Just Bikes, why! Now I want one of these so badly! Gonna have to put one of these on the wishlist for five years down the road when I'll maybe have some money to invest🤞😫

[@Fan652w]

Thank you Jason for an absolutely brilliant video. But I notice that, despite your reservations, a lot of bakfiets are three wheelers.

[@NotJustBikes]

Yeah, I think that the three wheelers are OK for Denmark or the Netherlands, where the cycling infrastructure is of good quality and the average speeds are slow, but I really wouldn't want to own one in North America, where you really need the speed and agility of a two wheel bakfiets.

[@joramvandervorst7715]

Three wheelers should be banned 🤐 driven by scared people who think they will fall over on a 2 wheeler.

[@hendman4083]

@@joramvandervorst7715 So, you would rather see them taking a car?

[@TarkynSharples2]

I have a three wheeler bakfiets that tilts like a two wheeler. It is stable, and handles corners at speed. It's visible in the video at 5:30, the Butchers and Bicycles MK1-E. It can handle a 80-100 kilogram load in the cargo box alone.

[@anthocyaninin]

Some of the three wheeled cargo bikes have much less of a tipping problem at higher speeds, like the Butchers and Bicycles MK1E (seen in this video), the Chike, the Babboe Carve, and the Johanssen Oscar S. Going 50+ kmh is pleasant, and slipping in the winter is much less of a problem.

[@icingfeestbeest]

Great Topic, I've always been intrested in getting one of them. Now I'm just hoping that german cities will widen their bike lanes a bit ...

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

That’s the biggest criticism I’ve heard of them: current bike infrastructure (lanes, bike racks, etc.) isn’t built around them. That’s why I think I’ll stick to saddle bags while waiting for the needed changes. Of course I don’t have kids so I guess that makes it an easier decision for me…

[@mUndertakerg]

Hahahaha good luck waiting

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

Bochum, Duisburg, Emmerich, Kleve are already linked to the (Dutch) cycle highways. Bremen is building one to Groningen. Munster, Zwolle and Enschede are busy planning/building one (F35 150 km when finished kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpzJeKOmjt98e5I). I think Germany will have a cycle highway network before the cities become totally made for bikes (much more planning and 'sacrifices' needed and really a 30 year plan if you don't want to bankrupt yourself) but it's already a huge step in the right direction. It's now pretty easy to cycle from the Ruhr to anywhere in the Netherlands (and beyond). That should generate a lot of cycling advocates.

[@betaich]

My German city already has it and I even used one furniture shopping, the furniture place had cargi bikes you could rent at the normal counter.

[@starluigi5297]

Then there's me hoping we get a bike lane in the first place :/

[@earthling_parth]

Glad I didn't miss the footage of the cat going to the vet in bakfiet. On a serious note, I have been using Curiosity stream + Nebula bundle for over two years now and I love it. The Nebula specials alone would justify the cost but the documentaries on Curiosity stream are nothing to sneeze at. Also, love the bakfiet concept