BikeCartAge Delivers the Goods for Earth Walk
Wheel Life column - 17 April, 1999
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

"Deliveries powered by digestion, not combustion," is the motto of BikeCartAge, a new service that uses bicycle cargo trailers to move newspapers, groceries and furniture anywhere within the Victoria area.

The Victoria Centre for Appropriate and Responsible Transportation (VCART), a local organization supporting the development of alternative transportation, provides this innovative service.

VCART started with one U.S. built cargo trailer, then worked with local engineers and metal fabricators to develop their own design. They found, for example, that locating the wheels in the center of the trailer improves balance, and that a ball-and-cup hitch (like those used on automobile trailers) works better than the light-duty hitches used on most bicycle trailers.

The trailers are custom built of marine grade aluminum by Harjim Industrial Services of Victoria. The result is an extremely strong and versatile trailer that can carry just about anything you can load on it. Unhooked from a bicycle, they make a convenient handcart that can be wheeled directly into a building or work area.

Since V-carts (short for Victoria carts) are modular, they can be converted into a display kiosk to sell wares at a fair or sidewalk. Accessories include reflectors, lights, plastic carryall containers, advertising signs, and lots of bungie cords.

The VCART Society sells V-carts locally and internationally. Fresh Pics Organics, the society's first local customer, will display their V-cart this weekend during the Island Parents Show at Pearkes Arena.

BikeCartAge currently has six cargo bikes and trailers, and ten employees, six of whom work each shift. Riders must complete a Can-Bike II course which provides 24 hours of advanced bicycle maintenance and riding skills instruction, plus an additional 8 hours training in handling cargo trailers. Riders are required to obey all traffic laws. The company supplies employees with rain gear and a special tax-exempt payment for fuel (food).

BikeCartAge distributes nearly 100,000 newspapers each week for Monday Publications. They deliver Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, starting before dawn, to 317 delivery points organized into efficient routes. More than 6 tonnes of paper are delivered on some days. A day of newspaper deliveries takes about as much effort as a 100 km bike ride. Starting May 5th they provide home delivery service for the James Bay Thrifty Foods Store.

This is just a beginning. Manager Steve Balyi hopes to expand the service to include baked goods, flowers, meals for shut-ins, household items, and pharmaceuticals, any light- and medium-weight goods requiring local delivery.

Balyi claims that cargo bikes are as fast, or faster than a motor vehicle for deliveries of less than 10 kilometres. Benefits include reduced pollution, increased employment, improved rider health and fitness, and proof that human-powered transportation is practical for many uses.

Although large contracts provide the bulk of their business, BikeCartAge is happy to perform single deliveries. Next time you need groceries shipped to your home, or household goods moved to a new location, call BikeCartAge at 480-7285 or visit their website at http://www.bikecartage.com.

BikeCartAge helped today's Earth Walk eliminate its use of fossil fuel. Human power delivered the tables, water, and other supplies to the Legislature where the annual walk ends. The Earth Walk leaves Centennial Square at 12:30 p.m. and arrives at the Legislature by 1:00 p.m.