An update on ‘Metrofiets’, the Portland-made bakfiets
Jamie Nichols is a metal fabricator and a partner in “Metrofiets”, a new company that is building a bakfiets-style cargo bike in Portland.(Photo © J. Maus)
Cargo bikes
Welcome to our coverage of cargo bikes. From the first shipment of bakfiets to arrive on U.S. soil, to the latest trends in business and designs, we’ve covered cargo bikes since the beginning. Scroll down to browse our stories. (If you have a cargo bike story idea, please get in touch.)
First day of business for new bike delivery service
[Updated: August 2nd, 8:30am] Free bike delivery at People’s Food Co-op!(File photo) Starting today, shoppers at People’s Food Co-op (3029 SE 21st Ave.) who arrive by bike, foot, or transit don’t have to worry about how they’ll get all their groceries home. That’s because the Portland Pedal Power Bicycle Delivery Service will make free home … Read more
Clever Cycles opens for business
Clever Cycles is now open.View gallery(File photo) It’s been almost ten months since I first mentioned bakfiets on this site. Back in August, I spotted one on NE Broadway and I was blown away by the simple, elegant utility of it. That story sparked a lot of interest and it was clear Portland was ready … Read more
A Portland-born bakfiets is in the works
[File photo] Northeast Portland native Jamie Nichols “totally flipped” when he saw his first Dutch bakfiets cargo bike. He sees them as the perfect way to replace the family car for short neighborhood trips and even sees them as an answer for what he calls “a looming fuel crisis”.
Bakfietsen go mainstream
Scott Mizee aboard a bakfiets.File photo The Oregonian’s inPortland secion has a nice story today that will give a big boost to Portland’s awareness of and interest in bakfietsen (Dutch for “box bikes”). The story focuses on how great the bikes are for kids and families, and even mentions a woman who uses one as … Read more
Signs of life from Clever Cycles
Can you spot the bakfiets?Photo: Clever Cycles on Flickr Clever Cycles, Portland’s soon-to-be-opening retail shop that will carry bakfiets cargo bikes and “a complete line of resoundingly practical biking gear” is showing signs of life at their location on SE 9th Ave., just south of Hawthorne Blvd. Part of a Dutch bike invasion sweeping North … Read more
Bike trailers, big loads show Portland spirit
When a rack is your closet, bed, kitchen, bathroom… In the past, I’ve brought you stories of the ingenious trailers and cargo-bike contraptions used by Portland’s homeless and low-income population. Remember Bill and Buster and their bike move that never ends? Or how about Mike Colhour’s bike-based scrap metal recycling business? And we can’t forget … Read more
Clever Cycles signs lease on new shop
[Clever Cycles’ Todd Fahrner in San Jose.] Cleverchimp founder and Clever Cycles co-owner Todd Fahrner is here at the Handmade Bicycle Show and he just gave me an update on his plans to open up a new bike shop in Portland. Todd and his partners in the business (his wife Martina Fahrner and Rachel and … Read more
Bakfiets shipment arrives, sightings begin
[Bakfietsen. They’re here.]Photo: Clever Cycles
A Clever cargo bike gallery
[A truck full of Dutch cargobikes bound for Portland!] Todd “Cleverchimp” Fahrner and Dean “Bakfiets” Mullin have just returned from a top secret European foray where they did some business networking and researched the inside dope on city and cargo bikes. They’re gaining steam for their Clever Cycles business and they’re anxiously awaiting their first … Read more
Bike move spirit conquers rain, cold, and heavy loads
[Overloaded? No such thing!] What do I love most about Portland’s bike community? That’s impossible to answer, but very high on the list would have to be bike moves. Last night, amid dark and drizzly skies, a cheery group of people showed up to help Ernie Wisner move from his place near SE Belmont and … Read more
New hotel will have Dutch bike fleet
[The Ace Hotel is coming and they’re bringing Dutch bikes with them.] The Ace Hotel — Seattle’s “leading design hotel” — is set to open in Portland on January 30th of next year. I confirmed today with jorg&olif CEO Rob MacDonald that he is partnering up with the hotel to have a standing fleet of … Read more
Comment of the Week: The public health angle should matter more