RIPPL #35: Keeping it clean – Hamburg street cleaners trial switch to e-trikes

Stadtreinigung Hamburg (SRH), the organisation responsible for keeping Hamburg clean, have begun using cargo trikes for some of their operations. Two custom-built electric cargo trikes fitted with GPS trackers have taken on work that was previously carried out by light commercial vehicles. In total SRH will pilot ten cargo cycles as part of a research project. Continue reading “RIPPL #35: Keeping it clean – Hamburg street cleaners trial switch to e-trikes”

RIPPL #34: E-Bikes to the rescue in São Paulo

The road network of São Paulo is notorious for traffic congestion. According to Rede Nossa São Paulo, some motorists spend a month per year sitting in traffic. In 2012, the World Bank found that traffic jams caused by the 8.5million cars in São Paulo made it the 6th most congested city on earth and cost the Brazilian economy $17.8 billion; 1% of national GDP in 2012. Continue reading “RIPPL #34: E-Bikes to the rescue in São Paulo”

RIPPL #33: Velove and Radkutsche: Towards Container Standardisation

When talking about innovation in cycle logistics, the term ‘containerisation’ could refer to one of two things; use of shipping containers as flexible loading space, or the use of transferable containers to move items around using pedal power. Continue reading “RIPPL #33: Velove and Radkutsche: Towards Container Standardisation”

RIPPL #32: Fietskoeriers – nationwide, same day deliveries by bike

Fietskoeriers.nl is a collective of 15 bicycle courier companies who together cover every major town and city in the Netherlands. They offer a number of different services, but one in particular is unique: they are able to deliver packages by bike on a same day service, nationwide. Continue reading “RIPPL #32: Fietskoeriers – nationwide, same day deliveries by bike”

RIPPL #31: UPS – Reducing vehicle movements with city centre container hubs

Global logistics operator UPS have been trialling a new way to reduce vehicle movements in the dense city streets of Hamburg, Dublin and Leuven. Once every day, an on-street storage container – the rear of a short articulated truck – is placed in a pre-arranged central location. The container is pre-loaded with all of the packages to be delivered to the central area that day and becomes UPS’ delivery hub. Continue reading “RIPPL #31: UPS – Reducing vehicle movements with city centre container hubs”

RIPPL #30: La Tricyclerie – the circular economy, à la pédale

La Tricyclerie is an initiative based in Nantes, France, which collects organic waste from local businesses on cargo tricycles and bike trailers. The waste, which comes from 30 restaurants in three Nantes neighbourhoods, is collected by a team of volunteers. Twice-weekly collections add up to an estimated 20 tons annually, which is taken to local composting facilities. All collections are weighed, with the business or restaurant’s contribution tracked. Continue reading “RIPPL #30: La Tricyclerie – the circular economy, à la pédale”

RIPPL #29: PAZTIR – chasing efficiency in the time, management and security domains

How can cycle logistics operators become more efficient? How can they prevent theft? How can they better control their operations? PAZTIR is a system that aims to address all of these questions. Continue reading “RIPPL #29: PAZTIR – chasing efficiency in the time, management and security domains”

RIPPL #28: Box Bike Helsinki – What would cargo bikes look like if designed by urban teens?

Bike Box Helsinki was a project run by the Nature League of Finland (LUPPI) in which young people were invited to design and build a cargo bike. The idea for the project stemmed from the question: what would cargo bikes look like if designed by urban teens? Continue reading “RIPPL #28: Box Bike Helsinki – What would cargo bikes look like if designed by urban teens?”

RIPPL #27: Velove and Pling Transport – Pedal-Powered Logistics: exactly how energy efficient?

The Armadillo is a unique vehicle. It’s perhaps best to leave it to Swedish manufacturers Velove to provide a succinct description:

“a four wheel, fully suspended cargo cycle . . . Somebody called it a ‘mix of gokart, bike and van’, which we think pretty much nails it!”

Continue reading “RIPPL #27: Velove and Pling Transport – Pedal-Powered Logistics: exactly how energy efficient?”

RIPPL #26: TINK – Affordable Cargo Bike Sharing in Germany

TINK, or (Transportrad Initiative Nachhaltiger Kommunen – Cargo bike Initiative of Sustainable Communities), is a cargo bike sharing initiative based in two German cities. 24 cargo bikes and trikes have been made available to members of the public in the northern city of Norderstedt, whilst in the south 24 more are available in the University town of Konstanz. The two cities were chosen for the project because of the already high levels of cycling there. Continue reading “RIPPL #26: TINK – Affordable Cargo Bike Sharing in Germany”