Car-Free Lifestyle
Car-Free Moving
Bike Move
One Less Van: transporting bulky furniture is no problem with a bakfiets box bike
(Photo: gabemac on flickr)
Used in The Netherlands and western Europe for almost a century, a bakfiets (literally translated as 'box bike' from Dutch; plural 'bakfietsen') is ideal to quickly, affordably and sustainably transport larger loads around town including bulky furniture pieces that do not fit into many cars.
Spin Cycle: transporting a washing machine is easy with a triporteur cargo trike
(Photo: Bode)
Long in use in China and the Far East with an increasing number being imported into Europe, a delta-style triporteur is easier to handle than a fully-loaded bakfiets or Christiania given that only the front wheel section and not the entire load-carrying portion of the cycle need be steered.
In North America you can buy a pre-owned bicycle trailer for little more than the cost of renting a moving van or truck and hiring movers for a day. Unlike the rental, bike trailers can be used after the move on an on-going basis for example to do the weekly grocery shopping. Alternatively, you can build a diy bike trailer to your own specifications for moving items.
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Friends
Helping Hands: bike trailers can easily move smaller household inventories
(Photo: radagast51 on flickr)
So-called 'bike moves' are increasing popular in North American cities and around the world with close-knit cycling communities where fellow cyclists help each other to move household inventories over short distances, for example, to another part of the neighbourhood or across town.
Recruited friends and volunteers assemble on moving day to load the household inventory on to their bicycles equipped with bike trailers of various sorts or onto special-purpose cargo bikes.
Bike Move: bike trailers, a bike with sidecar and cargo bike move home inventory
(Photo: cleverchimp on flickr)
Pizza and beer usually follow most bike moves.
Professional Movers
Moving Company: heavy-duty cargo bike trailers used by eco-friendly pro movers
(Photo: Transport Myette on flickr)
In 2008, Transport Myette, a company based in Montreal, Canada began offering eco-friendly professional bike moves. Movers use moving blankets to properly protect items which are covered by moving insurance. As of 2012, the fleet of customized heavy-duty cargo bike trailers have logged over 8,000 km with 1,500 clients across the city, demonstrating that moving by bike is not only possible but can be a successful business.
Keywords
car-free, bike move, move by bike, cycle, relocate, relocation, friends, family, bicycle trailers, cargo, boxes,
