Cargo bikes and heavy-duty bike trailers are bulky and pricey, but so useful. While some people, like yours truly, are going to invest in cargo-hauling bike solutions, most people may not find themselves in situations where they need to haul stuff around by bike often enough to justify the cost and space required. And depending on people’s living situations, there may just not be a great place to store a large bike or trailer at home. This is where something like a cargo bike share system would be amazing.

It may not be a surprise to learn that there are already cargo bike share services in some of the world’s great bicycling cities, such as ones I noticed in Amsterdam by a company called Cargoroo. But Amsterdam has a long history with cargo biking and a dense city with a very high bicycling rate. The question is whether something like that could work in Seattle.

Muhammad Hasan wants to find out. A grad student at UW’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, Hasan has is currently seeking responses to an online survey about “a rentable grocery bike program in Seattle.” The concept at this point seems a bit open and is mostly focused on improving access to bikes for larger grocery runs specifically. The goal is “to explore the feasibility and societal impacts” of such a program.

From Hasan:

I am reaching out from the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Washington, where we are embarking on an exciting research initiative that has the potential to significantly impact our local community and beyond.

Our research aims to explore the feasibility and societal impacts of implementing a rentable grocery bike program in Seattle. This initiative is inspired by a vision of a more sustainable, accessible, and healthy urban environment where essential needs like grocery shopping can be met within a short, safe, and enjoyable bike ride.

The motivation behind this study stems from a growing need to address urban congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and promote a more active lifestyle among city dwellers.

Your support in spreading the word about our survey (www.bit.ly/seattlegrocerybikesurvey) would be invaluable. By encouraging community members to participate, you’ll help ensure that our research is grounded in diverse perspectives and experiences, enhancing the relevance and impact of our findings. The survey is designed to be inclusive, easy to understand, and quick to complete. We believe that this research could pave the way for innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our city today. However, the success of this initiative heavily depends on community engagement and support.

We would be incredibly grateful if you could share this within your network, post it on social media, or display it in prominent community spaces. Thank you for considering our request and for your potential role in driving positive change in Seattle.

Best Regards,

Muhammad Hasan

Graduate Student (Transportation) University of Washington.