Last mile: The cargo bike ensures flexible and environmentally friendly delivery of goods

(Allstedt, 29 January 2020) According to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the German parcels industry recorded year-on-year growth of 8.9 per cent in the first half of 2020 alone. The trend is likely to continue after the pandemic and lead to a further increase in urban delivery traffic. Yet delivery at the end of the supply chain in particular is still a major challenge. Narrow streets in old towns, lack of parking spaces, crowded pedestrian zones or environmental zones with driving bans are increasingly causing problems for logistics companies. One solution is cargo bikes. "They are emission-free, flexible to use, space-saving and the driver is assisted by a motor at speeds of up to 25 km/h. Moreover, cyclists do not need a driving licence," says Raik Vollmann, CEO of VSC Bike GmbH, a provider of cargo and company bicycles.

Relief for the metropolitan areas

According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, up to a fifth of inner-city goods traffic could be handled by a cargo bike in the future. Such new approaches are urgently needed to meet the steadily growing demand for deliveries. The density of competing transport companies has increased greatly. It is not uncommon for several delivery companies to drive into the same street, placing a considerable stress on people and the environment: traffic obstructions, stop-and-go, second- and third-row parking and increased traffic on play streets become a daily challenge.

The alternative would be to deliver goods outside the city and drive to a central environmental loading point in the city. From here, cargo bikes would be used to deliver the goods to their destination. Less particulate matter, fewer running engines and less parked-up public space - the quality of life in cities would increase significantly. Improving the quality of life in urban centres is a central task for politics, business and society, because more and more people will live in cities. By 2050, almost 70 percent of the world's population will live in cities, as the United Nations predicts.

Contribution to climate protection

Logistics companies are expanding their transport options with cargo bikes. In this way, they can accelerate the transformation of transport systems that have so far been geared to fossil fuels and make a decisive contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. The importance of multimobility is also highlighted by a group of researchers in the 5/2020 issue of the Journal of Mobility and Transport of the German Transport Science Association. In the article "CEP transports and the last mile: Notes on Potentially Dealing with the Boom in Delivery Transport in Neighbourhoods" it says: "The high volume of consignments and the customer density of inner city areas require a mix of different vehicles". Mixed-use areas are particularly suitable for the use of cargo bikes, as fewer large B2B shipments have to be delivered here. In inner-city conurbations, the comparatively short tour lengths also speak in favour of the cargo bike.

Increased demand and special requirements

The Allstedt-based company VSC Bike is also a pioneer in last-mile delivery. The provider of cargo and company bicycles knows the needs of logistics companies. "Bicycles for delivery are subject to special requirements. They have to be robust, ergonomic and versatile," says CEO Raik Vollmann, summarising key customer requirements. "In addition, an extra-reinforced frame and a low step-in promote riding comfort," Vollmann continues. VSC Bike is benefiting from the current change and will be able to significantly expand its role as an employer in the region as demand continues to rise.

Practical examples prove the current development: for example, the parcel service provider UPS relies entirely on cargo bikes in the Munich environmental zone. According to the company, a cargo bike can now replace a van in the inner city. UPS already delivers around two-thirds of all shipments in the city of Munich by transport bike - and the trend is rising.

About VSC Bike:

VSC Bike GmbH has been producing cargo and delivery bikes at its site in Allstedt since 2017 and currently employs 13 people. In 2020, VSC Bike GmbH joined forces with Pendix GmbH, a motor specialist from Germany, and can now offer both frame construction and drive construction. The products are optimally coordinated with each other, as the frame and motor concepts are developed in-house. Customers benefit from the great flexibility in product selection and through quick adaptations to their needs.

Contact for queries

Alexandra Elschker

Leiterin PR und Marketing / head of PR and marketing - VSC Bike GmbH

Phone: presse(at)vsc.bike