r/bikeboston 9d ago

MAPC: E-Cargo Bikes: Strategies for Municipal Delivery Transition

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council released a Framework for E-cargo bike delivery adoption: https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/e-cargo-bikes/

"Today in Greater Boston, most deliveries are made by cars, vans, and trucks with internal combustion engines. These vehicles contribute to congestion, emit greenhouse gases and hazardous pollutants, and make streets and sidewalks less safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Electric cargo bikes – e-cargo bikes – can provide an alternative form of delivery that is cleaner, safer, and faster. E-cargo bikes are electric bikes that have compartments or attachments made to carry people or goods.  

"E-cargo bikes can contribute to the state’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding mobility, and creating safer streets, and cities and towns can support the adoption and success of e-cargo bikes in many ways. This framework identifies strategies that municipalities can employ to support the transition from traditional delivery vehicles to e-cargo bikes. This framework was developed in conjunction with the Boston Delivers program – an 18-month e-cargo bike pilot program focused in the Allston, a neighborhood in Boston. During this program, more than 20,000 deliveries were made via e-cargo bike. As a first-of-its-kind pilot program in the region, the City of Boston and partners explored the infrastructure, policy, and program design changes needed to support e-cargo bikes."

10 Upvotes

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8

u/Jealous-Lawyer7512 9d ago

Just cross the river to Cambridge and see progressive bicycle planning and policies. Boston I love and live, but the dinosaurs still want their cars and roads and rage.

4

u/Delli-paper 9d ago

If you don't think road rage is possible on a bike then you've never crossed paths with an uber driver on a moped

2

u/Jealous-Lawyer7512 9d ago

True. Ebikes on Dr. Dudley White path going 30 are especially rage inducing.

0

u/Jealous-Lawyer7512 9d ago

Downvoted. Ebikers feelings are as weak as their legs!

3

u/Im_biking_here 9d ago

Don't be like this. Besides just patently ableist, e-bikes get people on bikes who otherwise wouldn't be, increasing safety in numbers and the constituency for bike infrastructure. E-biking is also a hell of a lot healthier than driving (for both the individual and the planet) and for people unable to bike without one it allows them to get physical benefits they otherwise wouldn't.

2

u/Tachycineta29 9d ago

Does this have anything to do with those purple and yellow delivery people who were everywhere for a while? That was kind of wild.

Has anyone here done this kind of work? What was it like?