E-cargobike trial and event

The families of five Wellington schools and early childhood centres are trialling electric cargobikes with the chance to win prizes.

A partnership between the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Bicycle Junction includes an $8000 e-cargobike prize pack, while nine other families will scoot off with a $200 Bicycle Junction voucher and four lucky families will have the option to buy an e-cargobike at 20% discount.

Winners will be announced at a Bicycle Junction Family Cargobike Picnic on March 14 involving a ride from Shelley Bay to Scorching Bay.

Cargobikes can carry up to three children plus their gear, making them a fun, safe and environmentally friendly way to get from A to B, council travel choice coordinator Hilleke Townsend says,

“Families have loved the fresh experience a cargobike offers to the sometimes stressful supermarket or school drop-off trip,” she says, adding the trial is an opportunity to try a new form of travel at no cost, and to enter a competition to win a cargobike and Bicycle Junction vouchers.

Each family submits a story and photo or video of their cargobike experience for the competition.

Greater Wellington councillor David Lee is on the judging panel and says it is “awesome” to see the community getting involved in sustainable forms of travel.

Bicycle Junction owner Dan Mikkelsen says feedback shows the trials have been eye-opening for many participants who hadn’t considered the possibility of riding with the whole family.

“We love seeing two or sometimes three kids on the back of their parent’s cargobike. We know those kids will grow up to understand that driving a car is not a rite of passage, just another less fun option to get about,” he says.

“These trials are a great way for families to try out the cargobikes on a recreational day out and a full commute cycle, and to see if it will work for the whole family before committing to buying one.”