Subsidize Bikes. Save The World.

Wouldn’t it be excellent if e-bikes (and bikes in general) were given tax incentives like those for cars like a Prius or Tesla? Subsidies for bikes? They take up less space and use less resources.

We don’t have time for generational change – the Netherlands is way ahead of us. ” Our car culture is a problem. They clog up our cities, they kill people through injury and air pollution, and they make us miserable and stressed. If we want to reduce our emissions and make our cities safe, healthy and fun places to live, then we have to change.”

“Supporting the uptake of e-bikes and cycleways is a way to start addressing this culture. And it’s hard to think of a more fun way to do it.”

Bikes are the new cars

“Four months ago we took what felt like a huge leap of faith and bought an e-cargo bike. The combination of three things tipped us over the edge: feeling the need to do something to reduce our carbon footprint, a fortuitous contract payment, and the excellent incentive of having no functioning car for the foreseeable future after someone drove into the back of it while it was parked.

It changed our lives. We were initially unsure how much we would use it; we use it all the time. In the four months we’ve owned it we’ve ridden it 1000km around town, averaging around 50km a week. Like most people in New Zealand, the majority of our trips are actually pretty short, within a 5-7km radius of our house: things like school runs, weekend shopping (yes, it fits groceries for a family of five), and taking our three kids to the pool, library, sports – you name it. ”

Want to know more:

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/20-10-2019/bikes-are-the-new-cars/?fbclid=IwAR1Cg0pu2N7L_Cq2iINh5n-WpazOJWY5GOHnh8GFBPfdw2O7Lph5ZOzwX58

Can UPS (and other delivery companies) Do This In Asbury Park?

Cargo bikes are becoming the answer to delivering goods to businesses on city streets all over Europe. UPS  is starting up in Seattle where UPS started in Seattle in 1907 as a bicycle messenger company. The company said it is pursuing the experiment for both for sustainability and business reasons. Bike delivery is aimed at helping achieve climate goals and also reducing “dwell time” — idling in traffic — a nod to the efficiency of bike lanes, especially in crowded urban areas. This would be a great solution to concerns about double parked delivery trucks on Main Street in Asbury Park!

UPS to Test E-Bike Deliveries in Seattle

By Angie Schmitt 

Get ready for UPS in the bike lane — in a good way, finally. The global shipping company is testing out special e-bike cargo delivery in downtown Seattle and near the Pike Place Market.

The pilot program will use a specially made detachable trailer that can hold up to 400 pounds, using a bike that will powered by both pedals and electricity.

In a news release, the company said it is pursuing the experiment for both for sustainability and business reasons. Bike delivery is aimed at helping achieve climate goals and also reducing “dwell time” — idling in traffic — a nod to the efficiency of bike lanes, especially in crowded urban areas.

Read more…

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/10/30/ups-to-test-e-bike-deliveries-in-seattle/