E-cargo-bike to borrow for transporting bulky waste
Amsterdam residents can borrow a sturdy electric cargo bike to bring bulky waste to a Recycle Point. Since October, these bikes are available at four Recycle Points in the city.
With these e-cargo-bikes, the municipality makes bringing large items to the Recycle Point easier for residents without a car. That are about 75% of all adult Amsterdammers, 18 years and older. In the past, citizens have expressed the wish for such a service.
Demand for the e-cargo-bikes varies per location, reports Danish Bhugwansing of the Recycle Points. It is most popular at the Recycle Point on Henk Sneevlietweg in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. That location gets about 4 requests per week, Bhugwansing estimates. The Meerkerkdreef location in Zuidoost receives the fewest requests: about 1 per week. The other two locations (on Marie Baronlaan and on Rozenburglaan in Oost) get about 2-3 request per week. The reason for these differences is unknown, hasn’t been studied yet.
Reserving a cargo bike
Residents (18 years and older) must reserve the cargo bike in advance. On the website they can choose the day and time and the Recycle Point and fill out their details. If a cargo bike is available, they can pick it up at the Recycle Point and borrow it for a few hours. Borrowing is free of charge, but the cargo bike may only be used to transport waste to the Recycle Point. A large pile of garden waste is also allowed.
Generous dimensions
The cargo bikes of type Urban Arrow Tender have a loading capacity of 300 kilograms, the box has generous dimensions of 140 by 94 centimetres. The cargo bikes are equipped with a 250W motor. Anyone who borrows the cargo bike will be instructed by an employee of the Recycle Point on how to use it. Maintenance of the cargo bikes is done by the dealer. The cargo bikes have an all-risk insurance.
