Cargobikes in Edinburgh: #SpokesMtg

Cargobikes are seen more and more in Edinburgh, and the potential is massive, as in many European cities and elsewhere around the world. Our public meeting on 2 September will feature the 90-minute documentary film MOTHERLOAD – a mother’s experience of how cargo bikes can be an antidote to the increasing isolation, disconnection, and planetary impact of life in C21. The meeting will then hear from local organisations in the forefront of cargobike development in Edinburgh

“Filmmaker Liz Canning cycled everywhere until she had twins in 2008. Motherhood was challenging, but to Liz hauling babies via car felt stifling. She Googled “family bike” and uncovered a global movement of people replacing cars with cargo bikes: long-frame bicycles designed for carrying heavy loads. Liz set out to learn more, and MOTHERLOAD was born.”

The film has now appeared in over 600 venues around the globe, making the case for cargobikes – and not just for families, but for a wide range of transport purposes worldwide.

Speakers

After the film there will be short presentations (5 mins or less each) from several local organisations using cargobikes, including…

• The Bike Station – continuing the work of former CargoBikeMovement
• Banzai [Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative] – runs a cargobike library
• Porty Community Energy – runs a cargobike library

• Then a QA with the speakers panel – due to the 90-minute film, the QA is likely only to be 30 minutes rather than our usual hour.

Arrangements

• Where Augustine United Church 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
• Date Tuesday 2 September
• Time  Starts 7.15, Ends 9.30.  Doors open 6.30 for coffee, stalls and chat, including a special stall to join Spokes or renew your membership. the meeting begins (and doors open) 15 minutes earlier than our usual 7.30/6.45 times to allow sufficient time after the film
• Questions Questions can be emailed (at least a day in advance) to spokes@spokes.org.uk. However, questions in person from audience members are likely to have greatest priority on the night
• Online We hope to live broadcast on our youtube channel – confirmation nearer the time – and make the recording available a few days later. for licensing reasons, the livestream and recording will not include the film
• Social media If posting about the meeting, use hashtag #SpokesMtg
• More info If you have any queries about the meeting, email imaxwell @gn.apc.org or phone Ian 07887 500667

Please help publicise our public meeting

• pass on the link to this article
• repost on bluesky
• like on facebook

Local cargobike organisations

• SW20 [South West Edinburgh 20 Minute Neighbourhoods] – runs a library of ebikes & cargobikes, Colinton Community e-bikes
• The Bike Station – continuing the work of former CargoBikeMovement
• Banzai [Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative] – runs a cargobike library
• Porty Community Energy – runs a cargobike library
• Wester Hailes Community Trust – runs a library of bikes including access to cargobikes, Wester Hailes Mobility Hub
• Cycling Gardeners of Edinburgh – a microbusiness using cargobikes as the main means of transport
• EdFoC [Edinburgh Festival of Cycling] – rents out their Urban Arrow cargobike
• Laidback Bikes – many Edinburgh bike shops now sell cargobikes, with Laidback Bikes being a specialist
• Other cargobike users – a page of organisations and individuals supported by Spokes to get a cargobike

Spokes cargobike grants

Thanks to generous donations from our members we are pleased to offer grants of up to £2K to local community organisations and very small businesses based in Edinburgh/Lothian to assist with the cost of buying a cargo bike. We also received support for this initiative from the Galashan Trust for a limited period of time, which enabled us to increase grant levels – support from other sources would be welcome!

For more information, and how to apply, see our website cargobikes page.