Dublin and roadworks and cargo bikes

Harrybelafonte

I think this piece appeared in 2010 or later:

http://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-shops-to-get-deliveries-by-bicycle-47335-Nov2010/

Since then I've seen an increase in cargo bikes used by courier companies, and the obvious private use for transporting kids, but the growth still seems limited and businesses really don't seem to want to embrace it. When I was working in graphic design for example I tried to push the company to use a cargo bike courier company to deliver some of the smaller amounts of printed material that we'd produce, a no goer. It was never explained to me why.

Do any of you who work in businesses about the city have any info or opinion on why the uptake is so slow?

tomasrojo

I don't have a business perspective on it, but I've found with bikes in general there is a crank/hippy "halo effect" around them that "grown-ups" want nothing to do with.

Perhaps less so now.

("Safety" is also cited by people, but I think that's an ostensible barrier rather than a real one. It's more acceptable to say that you're concerned about safety than say that the idea your interlocutor is promoting is the preserve of children and well-meaning but impractical idealists.)

Harrybelafonte

tomasrojo wrote: »

I don't have a business perspective on it, but I've found with bikes in general there is a crank/hippy "halo effect" around them that "grown-ups" want nothing to do with.

Perhaps less so now.

("Safety" is also cited by people, but I think that's an ostensible barrier rather than a real one. It's more acceptable to say that you're concerned about safety than say that the idea your interlocutor is promoting is the preserve of children and well-meaning but impractical idealists.)

This is my first impression. But it's very cynical and doesn't sit well with me as a result.

buffalo

Why are there roadworks in the title?

Harrybelafonte

Because the article mentions road works for Luas/metro North and the disruption they would cause.

nak

I went to the council meeting, as far as I know no one was interested in the Petite Reine franchise.

The courier companies are not really using the cargo bikes to their full potential either, as they have to keep the van drivers and motorbikes couriers happy. The constant undercutting that went on a few years devalued the service to the point where bike jobs are now being done at a loss for the courier companies.

Harrybelafonte

nak wrote: »

I went to the council meeting, as far as I know no one was interested in the Petite Reine franchise.

The courier companies are not really using the cargo bikes to their full potential either, as they have to keep the van drivers and motorbikes couriers happy. The constant undercutting that went on a few years devalued the service to the point where bike jobs are now being done at a loss for the courier companies.

Ok. Makes sense. Also confirms what I'd heard re the cargo bikes within courier companies... Under-utilised and more of an advertising board?

Were there reasons given for lack of interest in the franchise?

nak

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Ok. Makes sense. Also confirms what I'd heard re the cargo bikes within courier companies... Under-utilised and more of an advertising board?

Were there reasons given for lack of interest in the franchise?

Pretty much just advertising. Most people in Dublin don't seem to believe that a cargo bike can transport large items.

Think it was too much of a change to be honest and logistics - the idea is to have a central hub where the trucks drop deliveries and electric cargo bikes deliver into the city centre. A lot of questions raised as to who would ride the bikes I know a lot of exisiting couriers wouldn't) and seemed to be more setup for shop deliveries as opposed to a courier service.

Probably not a great business idea either as you would need to charge low prices to compete with other businesses.

tomasrojo

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

This is my first impression. But it's very cynical and doesn't sit well with me as a result.

Yes, that was a bit cynical. Fair point.

Would a congestion charge on petrol/diesel-engined vehicles favour more use of cargo bikes?

Harrybelafonte

tomasrojo wrote: »

Yes, that was a bit cynical. Fair point.

Would a congestion charge on petrol/diesel-engined vehicles favour more use of cargo bikes?

Maybe, but I'm not in favour of congestion charges in Dublin City tbh.

donkey balls

tomasrojo wrote: »

Yes, that was a bit cynical. Fair point.

Would a congestion charge on petrol/diesel-engined vehicles favour more use of cargo bikes?

The charge would be put on to the end user i.e the customer just like fuel surcharge that airlines put on ticket prices.

tomasrojo

donkey balls wrote: »

The charge would be put on to the end user i.e the customer just like fuel surcharge that airlines put on ticket prices.

Yes, but in theory you can undercut the competition who are passing on the congestion charge by using cargo bikes or electric vehicles, since you won't be charged. Depends on whether the cost of switching vehicle is sufficiently small, and whether those class of vehicles that evade the charge can do the transport adequately.

I'm thinking in theoretical terms. I have never worked in a delivery business of any sort.

donkey balls

I work in the transport industry and a company that I worked for used electric and LPG vans & trucks for deliveries in and around London,The thing is they are not as reliable as a diesel engine;) there is also the security aspect of using these bikes both from an aviation and pharma point.