Time To Ditch Our Cars and Start Riding Cargo Bikes

[Narrator] When I first climbed on

the Yuba Supermarché cargo bike,

it seemed like an unwieldy beast

compared to my light and fast commuter.

But after a couple of weeks riding it

all over San Francisco,

I can clearly see that this is the future

of urban transport.

It's best to think of a cargo bike like this one

as a light-duty utility vehicle.

Yuba lets you pick whichever cargo option

makes the most sense for you.

This large bamboo box, in the front,

is the most versatile option.

It can hold up to 220 pounds.

The cargo rack on the back of the bike

can hold another 80 pounds.

It's a tank!

Once you load it up,

the Supermarché can be kind of tricky to pilot,

especially on busy streets at rush hour.

But in places where there's good cycling infrastructure

like the protective bike lanes

that are separated from cars and other traffic,

it actually becomes much easier to drive one.

The 20 inch wheels have wide tires for extra stability,

and the long wheelbase of almost eight feet

makes for a cushy ride.

This bike has a 24-speed traditional drivetrain

which is all I needed, even in hilly San Francisco.

Yuba includes the option

to add an electric-assist motor as well

so you can juice up your morning commute.

It cost $2,600, so it's not for everyone.

But for families who live in an urban environment

or any corner of the world

with a modern cycling infrastructure,

it's a smart alternative to a car.

More importantly, a cargo rig like the Supermarché

is how you make cycling work at scale.

Bikes like these can replace delivery trucks

and small cars in city centers.

They're low maintenance and low impact,

so they stay on the road longer than a car

and cause little damage to the street surfaces.

Utility bikes really have the potential

to be the future of transport in American cities.

But in order to arrive at such a future,

infrastructure to safely support more bikes has to be built.

City planners,

chambers of commerce,

and everyday motorists

will often need to be convinced that a bike-first future

is a smarter future.

But after a couple of weeks on the Supermarché,

I can tell you.

It's a battle worth fighting.