Preschool pilots

Preschools sharing cargo bikes

Direct placement at preschools in Växjö, Sweden.

Around 10 preschools in the municipality of Växjö, both in the city and in the surrounding villages were offered to borrow a cargo bike during a period of time. The bikes were moved between the preschools so as many as possible got the chance to try them out in the daily operations.
The cargo bikes were used to explore the local environment, traffic environment and different nature reserves. Trips to other playgrounds around Växjö, to the library and for mobility education like visiting recycle centers have been done as well.

Impact

The general assessment was positive since the kindergarten was with able to take longer (distance) excursions and trips away from the kindergarten, which itself had been very positive for both children and staff.  The children have been given the opportunity within the excursions to show where they live within the village which have been very appreciated.  This resulted in happier children and even more positive staff. The staff had been satisfied and thought it was very fun to use the bikes together with the children. 

Cargo bikes support the life in kindergartens in a very positive manner. Many good conversations between the children and the educators during the trips occurred which helped them exercise and practice their usage of language.

Both the children and the bikes have been very appreciated by the local inhabitants. Finally, the use of the bikes had the following consequences: One kindergarten has bought one cargo bike of the same brand as the one they got via the project; more than one of the educators bought an own e-bike after they had seen and used the bikes. Several families have thought about the possibility to purchase their own and at least three families have realized that thought and bought their own cargo bike.

Lessons learned

• The cargo bikes at preschools do not save any CO2 emissions, as they have not replaced any car or bus trips, they just increased the preschools range of operation.
• The impact is an effect in the next stage – general visibility and increased knowledge of cargo bikes in the community, early impact on the children who get used to the idea of cargo bikes from early age and finally the positive experience of the families, making them more prone to buy a cargo bike themselves.

Communication

Personal calls and e-mails to the head of preschools are the main communication method for getting a trial period started. Social media was used to spread inspiring stories to a wider audience.

CoBiUM partner: Växjö municipality

Preschool “Skovtrolden”

Direct placement at the preschool “Forest trolls” in Guldborgsund, Denmark

The teachers using the bikes in the preschools attest to them being quite useful, as they are very much needed when going on a school forest trip, walk or farm visit. Due to the fact that these bikes are suitable to use in areas where there isn’t any public transport, makes them an essential tool to access different areas and get around more easily. Moreover, these bikes are safe and suitable for all children, making them an accessible and inclusive asset in the school trips. 

Additionally, the bikes make the educational process more fun and engaging as the children have the chance to talk with the teachers about what they discover in the environment or forest they cycle through. They also provide a great opportunity for the teachers to connect with the children on a daily level, which otherwise might be difficult to achieve during a busy day in school. The bikes are applicable to use throughout the whole year, despite the weather conditions. Even if the weather is not ideal, the cargo bike ride can be a fun and enjoyable experience for both the teachers and children.

Impact

The bikes helped encourage the staff for more use and to move further with the kids. It gave flexibility to move whenever it suited them without being forced to follow timetables of public transportation. The general assessment of cargo bikes as means of transport is positive: “We have been very happy to use the bikes”. Some staff members were happier than others, and some of them really got into using the bikes as a valuable tool in their planning of the week.  

The number of drivers was about 8 to 10 staff members and some of them used cargo bikes before. They transported mostly kids with the pilot cargo bikes, but some staff members used also the bikes to get goods from the construction market when they had to work at the playground. Bikes were even used to move goods as when a summer party for the kids and parents was conducted. The quality of tested model cargo bikes was assessed as good. The bikes seemed to be very stable, which is mostly important driving other people’s children around. 

In summertime cargo bikes are very useful for trips but not at wintertime, since it is too cold for kids to sit in the bike even in their blankets. The kids get to walk instead because they need to be warm for a whole day outside.

Lessons learned

• It is about spotting true enthusiasm and match expectations with others. It is not just about lending a bike, but somebody taking ownership of the idea and project.”
• The cargo bikes are a fantastic means of transport as they promote a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible development of a municipality and its residents.  They contribute positively to a more educational, engaging and enjoyable experience for all users. The more cargo bikes - the better - for an unquestioning development of a place and its people.

CoBiUM partner: Guldborgsund municipality  

Employees, children and parents

Direct placement at preschool in Slupsk, Poland

The target groups of this pilot are parents, children and kindergarten employees. Parents could borrow the cargo bike and try it in their daily commuting to kindergarten and when cargo bikes are not rented, they are used by kindergarten employees.

Impact

Children are the most enthusiastic about cargo bikes since it is expected that they will enhance their parents to borrow cargo bikes. Getting more knowledge about cargo bikes is an excellent replacement for a car; promoting active mobility among the youngest citizens. Additionally, employees will replace the car in their day-to-day tasks to using a cargo bike.

Lessons learned

The project was a good experiment for the city because it shows how small things can make an impact on whole city – the bike not many citizens know about and the possibilities of riding it comfortably was shared and it is planned to expand the rental system so everyone can access cargo bikes and make their own experiences.
 

CoBiUM partner: City of Slupsk   

City administration and services pilots

City administration and university

Municipality service pilot Greifswald, Germany.

In all institutions of the city administration logistics makes up a part of the work which is often lost sight of. This work is traditionally done by car. This pilot project has set itself the task of tackling this problem. Cargo bikes were provided for two different municipality organisations of the city administration in Greifswald:
 

1. City administration 
   The cargo bikes of the city administration of Greifswald are located at the town house in the old part of the city. It should enable employees to carry out small transports quickly and easily. The bikes are not used by departments of the city hall only, but also by a kindergarten or the local public library.
    
2.  University Greifswald
   1. AStA – Student association at the university
      The Student Association uses the cargo bikes in two ways.  First, they utilise them for the organisation of their activities in the city. Since they host small events, they need to transport items between the university and the event places. Previously, these distances were covered by car. Due to the pilot, cargo bikes are now used instead and offer a sustainable and flexible logistics.  Secondly, students of the university can borrow the bikes for private use. Since many students do not own a car, the cargo bike allows these individuals a new freedom of mobility. The goal here is first and foremost to increase the acceptance of cargo bikes among young people. Both AStA cargo bike projects thus serve the independence of the students and promise to shape the attitude regarding mobility choices in the long term.  Thus, sustainability is promoted to the generation of the future.
      See the film on YouuTube
   2. URZ – Computer centre
      The facilities and buildings of the university which are connected with and served by the computer centre are spread all over the town's area. In 2019 nearly all facilities need to be equipped with new network tools. While before those tasks would be done by a car the start of the pilot assured that the employees can now use the cargo bikes for it. In addition to the practical reasons of flexibility and simplicity of handling, Co2 emissions can be reduced and the visibility of the cargo bikes can be increased.

Impact

In this pilot, different scenarios for the use of cargo bikes in municipality institutions were tested. While the usage numbers of the university showed that the use of cargo bikes by the AStA is mainly occasion-related and therefore not very regular, the rental of cargo bikes to employees of the municipality was comparatively consistently booked. Also the municipality employees drove on average the longest tracks in average 4,6 kilometres. This explains the high number of avoided greenhouse gas emission by the city employees: 204.082. But also the AStA has saved greenhouse gas emission: 80.456; and the Computer centre as well: 30.661. 

Lessons learned

• The administrative procedure, means the documents to hand over the cargo bike from university to pilot agents as well as insurance issues and search for an appropriate location, was more difficult and more time consuming than expected.
• Looking at the technical site of the bikes an electric engine, a second battery and a strong lock
• At the University: one person to be responsible for the bike is better than many people.

Communication

The Communication for the AStA has been done by the association itself. They have posted on social media about the project and used mailing lists. The computer centre send e-mails to every student. For the city employees the existing intranet was used, direct mails were send and a press article has been released. Additionally, the bikes were public demonstrated at the "day of mobility"

CoBiUM partner: Greifswald university with assosiated partner Greifswald municipality
 

Rent a cargo bike

Rental service for municipality employees in Gdynia, Poland
The goal of this pilot is to use cargo bikes for everyday logistical tasks in the city administration. Routes that were previously done by car or on foot can now be done quickly and with low CO2 emissions thanks to the provision of cargo bikes. Within the city administration, the use thus primarily serves to expand awareness of the practicability of the sustainable means of transport in daily work routines.

Impact

The implementation of the pilot was successful. While it was assumed that about 15 employees would make use of the cargo bikes, it became apparent during the course of the project that more employees were interested in using them. Thus, a total of 30 employees took advantage of the offer for logistical tasks.  Since the cargo bikes of this pilot were also used at the pilot 'Rent a cargo bike citizens', statements about the actual use of the bikes can only be made in relation to both pilots. Here the numbers indicate, that both the bad weather conditions and the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 (spring 2020) led to a drop in usage. When looking at the overall results, it can be seen that in 19.3% of the trips the car could be replaced by cargo bikes.  As a result, 1,204 car kilometres were replaced. It should be noted that due to the availability of trackers only 8 of the 10 available bikes could be included in the calculation, which indicates that the number of unreported cases is higher. 

Lessons learned

• 3-wheeled cargo bikes are considered "dangerous" on the curve of the road and overturning when exceeding the designated speeds. But safer for the transport of large and heavy loads. 
• 2-wheelers are considered more agile and faster.

Communication

To promote the pilot, several social media posts were published, flyers were distributed, and the cargo bikes were covered with stickers for project and promotion of cargo bikes. A website was developed for booking the cargo bikes. Training workshops about cargo bikes were organised for city employees.

During the city events, employees of the Mobility Management Unit used cargo bikes very frequently and encouraged other city hall employees to use them in their daily activities and duties. Municipal employees as well as city representatives such as Deputy Mayors and City Councillors had a chance to test cargo bikes in many occasions during meetings, workshops and events, but also they have an opportunity to rent a cargo bike for their unit or department.

City branded cargo bikes were used by city units during Civic Budget as a mobile voting points in the residential areas. It was very helpful especially for elderly people who needed in-person help rather than using internet form. Moreover it was a promotion of Civic Budget idea among other inhabitants.

CoBiUM partner: City of Gdynia  
 

City administration, theater and garden maintenace

Direct placement at different municipal services in Slupsk, Poland

One cargo bike were places at the municipal theater Tesca, were it weas used for transportation of props and for marketing. The employees of the municipal infrastructure management  used cargo bikes while doing their normal tasks instead of using cars or even walking. The main object was to use cargo bikes to maintenance two graveyards in Slupsk and for gardening by the sports and recreation center. The employees at the city hall had one cargo bike to use for errands and for handing out information to tourists.

See the film on YouTube

Impact

The procedure of implementation was heavily disturbed by the restrictions due to Corona pandemic. Most relevant and chosen pilot units were closed, i.e. theatres, the stadium of SOSiR and kindergartens.

Lessons learned

Reducing carbon print of municipal employees showing them that there is an alternative to cars and raising awareness of using cargo bike as a useful tool by creating a new environmentally friendly way of dealing with small tasks.

Communication

Social media and leaflets

CoBiUM partner: City of Slupsk     

Sustainable transport for tourists

Direct placement for the tourist office in Guldborgsund, Denmark

The municipality of Guldborgsund in Denmark has initiated an innovative way of shifting towards a more sustainable transport system. By  lending two cargo bikes to the tourism office, this initiative has supported the green transport and sustainable development of the municipality. Moreover, it has contributed positively to create a better, cleaner and easier-to-access environment through enjoyable cargo bike trips for all.

Impact

As a tourist office, it has been a great advantage for them to to be able to offer their guests the possibility to borrow a cargo bike free of charge. Many foreign tourists, local people, employees and people with disabilities have taken up the offer of an alternative mode of transport by using these bikes. The reactions have been solely positive experiences for the people travelling and ensuring a more sustainable development for the tourist office and municipality.

Lessons learned

The cargo bikes are a fantastic means of transport as they promote a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible development of a municipality and its visitors.

CoBiUM partner: Guldborgsund municipality  

Municipal caretakers

Direct placement for caretakers in Slagelse, Denmark
Two employees at Slagelse municipality use a cargo bike each to get around to the buildings owned by the municipality. Normally they use a car because the caretakers need to bring tools, and other equipment. The advantages of using a cargo bike is that it easy to make short cuts,  and park closer to the buildings. The municipality benefits by reducing the CO2 emissions and make it possible to reduce their car fleet eventually.

CoBiUM partner: Slagelse municipality     
 

BikeLab

Bike library for citizens in Växjö, Sweden
As cargo bikes are a bit of an investment, the idea of the bike library is to let people test them for an extended period. The three-week loans, free of charge, give people interested in buying a cargo bike an opportunity to find out how it might work out in their everyday lives, and to try various kinds of bikes, as the library has several different models of different brands, and both two- and three-wheel cargo bikes.

See the film on YouTube

Impact

The initiative was a success! In the first week all the bikes were booked for the coming six months. A follow up survey showed that 39% of the users bought or were going to buy a cargo bike. The library created momentum, adding more cargo bikes to the cityscape, and providing prospective buyers with personal experience of cargo bikes in their everyday life. The cooperation with bike dealers were a particular well-operated system, creating both Indirect impact eventuates in climate targets, health, and city environment traffic benefits.

Lessons learned

• Plan and budget for a maintenance agreement either internal or external. In this pilot a lease model was developed in partnership with bike shops, who handled both
• Plan for at light introduction on how to drive cargo bikes, as especially three-wheeled ones behave somewhat different from ordinary bikes.

Communication

For the first period a press release were sent out, combined with Facebook ads and information on the municipal Facebook and Instagram pages. The interest were overwhelming, and the campaign had to be shortened and the booking page closed after a week, due to a fully booked period.
For the next period there were only information on social media, the ad campaign were not necessary.

CoBiUM partner: Växjö municipality   
 

Lara G

Rental service for citizens in Greifswald, Germany
Cargo bike can improve the everyday mobility of citizens in many ways. They can be used to do the shopping, carry luggage for excursions, and even transport children. And especially for families the advantages of doing nature trips in areas where cars are not allowed appear valuable. In addition, they create a new fun with each other and guarantee exercise in the fresh air. In order to provide accessibility to cargo bikes for citizens, this pilot was established. It aims to make the attractiveness of a cargo bike for private use tangible and inspire for a new sustainable and healthy mobility for citizens. 

Impact

While the rental service for the citizen permitted them nearby trip destinations, which without the cargo bikes would have been made either by bike and foot or not at all, the results of the pilot show that 45.9% of the trips were made specifically as a substitute for a car. Accordingly, CO2 emissions could be saved immensely by the pilot. In general, a total number of 485 times the cargo bikes were rented in this project and in total 4326 km were driven by the cargo bikes users. As a result of the high demand, it was decided to continue the project after the end of the pilot by the city administration.

Lessons learned

• Before implementing the pilot, the search for agents is essential. They should be located at different position in the city, offer long opening hours (including Saturday), have a storage room and most importantly be enthusiastic about it. 
• The price of cargo bikes in Germany is high due to the low number of experienced cargo bike providers and the high level of security requirements
   

Communication

For this pilot a website was created and an extra online booking system on wordpresss was established. For the dissemination of the rental bike offer for citizen a campaign was initiated, which included social media and print media publications. For certain city happenings, such as the Climate Action Day, the bikes were placed at the centre of activity to increase visibility and draw attention to the project. Most successful has been the placement of a large banner at an important intersection in Greifswald. 

CoBiUM partner: Greifswald university with assosiated partner Greifswald municipality
 

Rent a cargo bike for businesses

Rental service for businesses in Gdynia, Poland
Depending on the type of business, business have to deal with diverse logistic tasks in their business executions. From the organization of promotions to product deliveries, there are many routes that are often completed by car. If companies operate in city centers, the disproportionate emission of CO2 for short distances as well as the stress of the employees due to the charged traffic situation become apparent. This pilot offers companies the opportunity to try out a new sustainable transport option and integrate it into their daily routine.  The goal is to demonstrate the benefits of cargo bikes in this field and to encourage companies to supplement cars by cargo bikes for their logistic tasks in the long run and therefore reduce CO2 omission. The advantages of cargo bikes for companies are manifold. Cargo bikes not only offer businesses and their employees the opportunity to move flexibly, quickly and easily in urban areas, but the bikes themselves can also be used as a mobile advertising surface. This also enables companies to sharpen their own external image as a progressive, sustainably operating company. In addition, the use of cargo bikes by businesses creates further visibility of cargo bikes in the public space and thus leads to an increase in awareness among the population. 

See the film on YouTube

Impact

This pilot offered new perspectives for various companies and ensured that they could do without the use of the car for a limited period of time. In the process, CO2 was saved and awareness of cargo bikes and their benefits was driven forward. Long-term changes were achieved for some companies. A flower store in the city for example decided to abolish the use of a car for their daily logistical tasks overall. 
Looking at the number of users, more than 200 employees of different companies contacted the pilot project and finally used a cargo bike for an agreed period of time.  The cargo bikes were shared with the pilot 'Rent a cargo bike for municipalities'.

Lessons learned

• Because cargo bikes are heavy and need barrier-free paths drivers should plan their ways carefully to avoid stairs and steep paths. 
• To avoid the careful planning of the trips electric bikes can overcome small infrastructure barriers more easily
   

Communication

To promote the pilot, several social media posts were published, flyers were distributed, and the cargo bikes were covered with advertising stickers. In addition, a report was broadcast on local radio about the pilot and an article was published in the national news. Furthermore, the pilot agents attended conferences and promoted the project here.  

A website was developed for booking the cargo bikes. On the main city website – Gdynia.pl – several articles with photos and videos were published, promoting cargo bikes and CoBiUM project. Mobility Management unit was also a guest in the national TV presenting the cargo bikes and pilot activities.

City of Gdynia organised Polish Cargo Bike Festival in 2019, which gathered over 100 cargo bike owners from whole country. It was an opportunity for inhabitants and local entrepreneurs to do test rides with different models of cargo bikes. Cargo bikes were also exposed in Gdynia Entrepreneurship Support Centre and were available for rent for customers of the centre – local businesses.

CoBiUM partner: City of Gdynia  
 

Housing association

Slagelse housing association in Engdraget in Slagelse, Denmark
There are 125 families using the cargo bikes for shopping, small trips with children and for attending events in Slagelse City.
The two cargo bikes of the pilot “Housing Association” which can carry children were used almost every day; all three cargo bikes were used for shopping.  The normal habit when going shopping is to use a car but it is often easier to use a bike or a cargo bike in order to make a shortcut and to avoid parking.

See the film on YouTube

Impact

The people who live in Engdraget are not looking forward to the pilot coming to an end because they do not have money to buy their own cargo bikes. Only a few families have their own cargo bike.

Approximately 60 percent of the trips with cargo bikes have replaced a trip with a car. The pilot bikes have replaced small trips using the car while traveling with children, but the bikes have not been able to replace a car for transporting large things.

Lessons learned

• It is possible to change the habit of not taking the car by using a cargo bike.
• It is great to have “ambassadors” in the area as with the pilot at Engdraget – Housing association” and “good relations help a lot.
   

CoBiUM partner: Slagelse municipality   

Harbour 

Bike placement at organizations in the harbour of Bisserup, Slagelse, DenmarkThis was a placement of a cargo bike within a business in order to test its functionality. The president of the yacht club and the director of the harbour in the small village of Bisserup in Denmark got the opportunity to borrow two cargo bikes. The men both live about two kilometres from the harbour in Bisserup, and instead of driving their cars between their home and the harbour, they now use the cargo bikes to bring tools or goods back and forth. The cargo bikes are easy to use and can be parked close to the harbour. With the cargo bikes it is easy to get around, bike on small trails and to take shortcuts.

Impact

Both men, Freddy Dahl Thomasen and Jens Christian Eskjær Jensen, use the cargo bikes almost every day and often many times per day. The bikes substituted most commute trips saving equivalent of 4h driving over a number of days.

The pilot raised awareness and strengthened the social fabric, as it allows small talk and general conversation about their experience with the cargo bikes.

Lessons learned

• Cargo bikes have a place in business logistics as well as in the daily use commute.
• Direct placement of cargo bikes benefits from having a network of contacts in the municipality. Bisserup Harbor and The yacht club heard about the project from a citizen living in the village, who cooperate with Slagelse Municipality.
   

Communication

The informal network and personal contacts were needed to find participants to the pilot.
To promote cargo bikes to the wider public a press release based on the harbour example were distributed to media. It resulted in two radio interviews and three articles in local newspapers. Good stories are an important part of the snowball effect that pilot initiatives need to create a larger impact. 
 

CoBiUM partner: Slagelse municipality