RIPPL #48: KoMoDo cooperative micro depot opens in Berlin

A new depot for last-mile deliveries has begun operating in central Berlin, where around 800,000 people live within a 5km radius. The pilot project, dubbed ‘KoMoDo’, involves several different logistics operators working under one roof. Each logistics operator has access to a 14m² transshipment container within the facility and overall management is by BEHALA – a neutral provider. Packages are delivered to the hub by conventional trucks, then distributed by bike in busy city centre streets.

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RIPPL #47: The (heavy-duty) Elefant in the room

At the International Cargo Bike Festival in Berlin last month, it was impossible to ignore the Elephant in the room… sorry, aircraft hangar.

German cargo bike manufacturer Radkutsche brought with them a huge, eye-catching pedal-powered trailer they’re calling the Elefant. The trailer has a capacity of up to 500kg and building it has been Radkutsche’s way of exploring the trend towards larger, more heavy-duty designs in cycle logistics.

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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 #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 #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 #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”

RIPPL #4: Lastenrad Stuttgart – Cargo Bike Sharing

Lastenrad Stuttgart offers free cargo bike borrowing for anyone in Stuttgart. The project currently offers 5 cargo bikes and 4 cargo trailers with pedelecsThey work with different stations, for example health centers, cafés or district centresThe project is financed mainly through crowd sourcing and donations from people who borrow the bikes and trailers. All bikes and trailers can be booked via the website.  Continue reading “RIPPL #4: Lastenrad Stuttgart – Cargo Bike Sharing”