Histoire des vélos cargo

Cargo bikes have existed for more than a century, quietly serving a range of commercial and personal transport needs long before modern electric assistance became mainstream. Their development reflects the shifting patterns of urban logistics, human-powered mobility, and design ingenuity across different regions and eras.

In this article we will show the history of cargo bikes, from early delivery tricycles in 19th-century Britain to today’s high-performance electric cargo bikes, their core purpose has remained consistent: to carry more than a regular bicycle can, without sacrificing maneuverability. This article traces the evolution of cargo bikes—how different formats emerged, declined, and then re-emerged in response to changing urban needs and technologies.

À Regen, understanding this history helps us approach cargo bike design with a deeper perspective. As a company that develops and manufactures OEM and ODM cargo bikes, we recognize that today’s innovations build on more than a century of trial, error, and practical insight.

From Carriers to Butcher’s Bikes: Early 20th Century Beginnings

Early 20th Century Origins: Cargo bikes trace their roots to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when bicycles were adapted for commercial and industrial use. As early as 1877, British inventor James Starley sketched designs for heavy-duty “carrier” tricycles to move goods and people . By the early 1900s, heavy cargo tricycles with box beds and stout “butcher’s bikes” (two-wheeled delivery bicycles with large baskets) had become common tools for tradesmen. These early cargo bikes were essentially reinforced versions of standard bicycles – often built with sturdy frames, double top tubes, and sometimes a smaller front wheel to accommodate a large delivery basket . In the UK, the archetypal tradesman’s bike earned the nickname butcher’s bike (or “delibike”), as it was used by butchers, bakers, and postal workers for local deliveries . For example, the British Post Office maintained a fleet of tens of thousands of delivery bicycles in the mid-20th century (often outfitted with front carriers for mail) . In the United States, too, specialized cargo bicycles appeared – notably the Schwinn Cycle Truck introduced in 1939, which featured a 26-inch rear wheel and a smaller 20-inch front wheel supporting a frame-mounted basket for heavy loads . These early designs demonstrated the utility of pedal-power for “last mile” deliveries before the ubiquity of automobiles.

The Invention of the Long John: A major innovation in cargo bike design arrived in the 1920s with the creation of the Long John style cargo bicycle. Originating in Denmark circa 1923, the Long John was a two-wheeled bike with an extended wheelbase that placed a cargo platform low and centered between the handlebars and front wheel . Unlike a butcher’s bike (which kept cargo over the front fork), the Long John’s front wheel was pushed forward and reduced in size, and a linkage rod connected the distant front fork to the handlebar for steering . This allowed a large wooden box or platform to sit just above the ground between the wheels, dramatically lowering the center of gravity of the load. The Danish company Smith & Co. (SCO) was the first to build this type of cargo bicycle, unveiling the original “Long John” to the public in 1924 . With around a 30–40 inch (76–102 cm) long cargo area capable of carrying ~100 kg, the Long John design quickly proved its worth for carrying everything from milk churns to spare parts . Variations of the Long John spread through northern Europe, and the term bakfiets (literally “box bike” in Dutch) came to refer to these front-loading cargo bikes, especially in the Netherlands . By the 1930s and 40s, cargo bikes – whether two-wheeled Long Johns or three-wheeled box trikes – were a familiar sight in European cities, used by tradespeople of all kinds. Bicycles dominated urban streets during this period, and the cargo bike became an indispensable tool for farmers, vendors, postal services, and small businesses moving goods locally .

Post-War Decline: After World War II, the rise of the internal combustion engine and affordable motor vehicles led to a decline in cargo bike usage in many industrialized countries . As vans and trucks took over delivery routes, the heavy pedal-powered freight cycles were gradually retired from service in North America and Western Europe. By the late 1950s, cargo bikes had all but vanished from regular commercial use in places like the Netherlands . However, in parts of the developing world, pedal tricycles and rickshaws remained vital for freight and passenger transport. For example, cycle rickshaws (a form of passenger cargo trike) became ubiquitous in many Asian cities for short-range transportation . Even in industrialized nations, certain niche uses persisted – large factories or railway yards sometimes employed cargo trikes for on-site hauling, and postal services in some countries continued using delivery bicycles into the 1970s.

Late 20th Century Revival: A renaissance for cargo bikes began in the late 1970s and 1980s, driven by both practical need and visionary design. Notably, in 1976 the Christiania bike was developed in the Freetown Christiania commune in Copenhagen, Denmark . This design was a modern take on the classic Danish cargo tricycle: a stable, front-load tadpole trike (two wheels in front) with an open wooden box for carrying children. The Christiania bikes caught on as car-free family transport in Denmark, demonstrating that even in the era of automobiles, a pedal-powered box trike could be a viable (and trendy) way to move kids and groceries. By the 1980s, small workshops in Denmark and the Netherlands (like Christiania Bikes and Nihola) were producing front-box tricycles for an emerging market of eco-conscious families. Around the same time, Dutch cycling culture began to rekindle its cargo bike heritage. Dutch designers took inspiration from Denmark to create a new generation of two-wheeled bakfietsen for child transport . A key insight was that a long two-wheel box bike could safely carry multiple children without tipping over, provided the weight was kept low . This led to the introduction of the two-wheeled family cargo bike in the Netherlands in the late 1990s, which quickly revealed a latent demand among parents for car-free school runs . By carrying toddlers in a wooden box in front of the rider (where the parent can see them) rather than behind, these modern bakfietsen offered a convenient and convivial mode of family transportation . What had been a rarity on Dutch streets in the 1980s became increasingly common by the early 2000s, as the “bakfiets trend” took off in cities like Amsterdam and The Hague.

Meanwhile, outside Europe, inventors were expanding the cargo bike concept in new directions. In 1998, an American company, Xtracycle, introduced the first longtail cargo bicycle extension . The Xtracycle Free Radical was a bolt-on frame that could transform a standard mountain bike into a longtail bike by extending the rear wheel backward and adding a long cargo deck over the rear wheel . This effectively created a longer wheelbase bike with an integrated rear cargo rack, capable of carrying loaded panniers or even a passenger on the rear end. The longtail approach differed from the front-loading bakfiets: it kept the silhouette of a regular bicycle and handling that felt more “normal” to riders, while still allowing hundreds of pounds of cargo to be carried at the back . Xtracycle’s innovation spurred others – by the late 2000s, manufacturers like Kona and Surly had begun selling purpose-built longtail bikes (e.g. the Kona Ute and Surly Big Dummy, both released in 2008) instead of just bolt-on kits . Around the same time, Danish designers reimagined the classic Long John with modern materials: Larry vs Harry launched the aluminum-frame Bullitt cargo bike in 2008, a lighter, faster front-loader aimed at bike couriers and urban delivery workers . The Bullitt’s sporty performance (with a low-slung cargo platform and mountain-bike riding position) attracted new interest and “marked the beginning of a revolution” in pedal-powered logistics , proving that cargo bikes could be cool, high-performance machines and not just stodgy utility vehicles.

2010s to Today – E Cargo Bike Boom:

In the 2000s and 2010s, cargo bikes went from niche to nearly mainstream in many cities, thanks in large part to electric assist technology and increasing environmental/urban mobility concerns. By the early 2010s, the first commercially successful e-cargo bikes hit the market – for instance, Dutch startup Urban Arrow debuted a family-oriented electric cargo bike in 2010, featuring a pedal-assist motor to help haul kids and groceries with ease. The availability of reliable battery-powered mid-drive motors (such as the Bosch e-bike system) was a game-changer: it allowed cargo bikes to conquer hills and longer distances, overcoming one of the main limitations of load-carrying bicycles . This innovation greatly expanded the appeal of cargo bikes to a broader audience, including businesses. Major logistics and delivery companies began adopting e-cargo bikes for urban deliveries, seeing them as a solution to city congestion and emissions. By the mid-2010s, it was increasingly common in Europe to see package couriers, food delivery services, and even municipal fleets using cargo e-bikes for “last mile” delivery tasks . Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen saw an explosion of family cargo bikes as well – the sight of a parent pedaling with two or three children in a front box became emblematic of modern Dutch and Danish city life . In effect, cargo bikes had come full circle: once a staple of 1910s commerce, then a forgotten relic, they were reborn in the 21st century as an innovative tool for sustainable transport.

Today, the cargo bike industry is flourishing worldwide, with specialized models for every use case – from compact two-wheelers that ride like regular bikes, to heavy-duty electric tricycles that can carry 1–2 cubic meters of freight. The historical journey of the cargo bike underscores an interesting point: while technology (from motors to materials) has enhanced these vehicles, the core idea of moving goods by pedal power remains as relevant as ever in our modern quest for clean, efficient urban transportation.

Timeline of Cargo Bike Evolution

To summarize the historical evolution, the timeline below highlights when major types of cargo bikes emerged and key milestones in their development:

• 1877 – Early Carrier Designs: Inventor James Starley in England sketches some of the first pedal-powered carrier tricycles for transporting goods . These prototypes were heavy and primitive by modern standards, but they laid the conceptual groundwork for using bicycles to haul cargo.

• 1900s – Commercial Cargo Trikes and “Butcher’s Bikes”: By the early 20th century, pedal-powered delivery tricycles (with a box over two front wheels) and heavy-duty two-wheel delivery bikes had become common. Tradesmen used these bikes for mail, milk, bread, and other deliveries . In the UK, such bikes – often with a front basket fixed to the frame – were nicknamed butcher’s bikes and widely adopted by small businesses for local transport .
• 1923 – Invention of the Long John: The first Long John cargo bike is built by Smith & Co. in Odense, Denmark around 1923 . Unveiled publicly in 1924, this two-wheeled design places a long flat cargo platform low in front of the rider, using a smaller front wheel and linkage steering . The Long John becomes an iconic cargo bicycle format in Denmark and beyond, capable of carrying ~100 kg of goods while remaining stable and maneuverable.

• 1939 – Cycle Truck in the USA: Le Schwinn Cycle Truck is introduced in the United States in 1939 . This purpose-built delivery bicycle features an extra-sturdy frame and a 20-inch front wheel (paired with a 26-inch rear) to accommodate a large frame-mounted front basket . Produced until 1967, the Cycle Truck exemplifies the small-front-wheel cargo bike style and finds use with newspaper delivery boys and industrial couriers in mid-century America.

• 1976 – Christiania Cargo Tricycle: The modern Christiania bike is designed in 1976 in Copenhagen’s Christiania community . This three-wheel cargo bike (two wheels in front, one in back) has a wooden box over the front axle and is intended for carrying children. Its success in Denmark during the late 1970s–80s marks the revival of cargo bikes for family transport, inspiring other designs and signaling a renewed interest in car-free cargo utility.

• 1998 – Birth of the Longtail Bike: California-based Xtracycle releases the Free Radical longtail extension in 1998, creating a new category of cargo bike . By bolting on this extension to a normal bike, riders can extend the rear wheel backwards and add a long cargo deck and panniers. This innovation effectively launches the longtail bicycle concept – a cargo bike with an extended rear end for passengers or freight – which later leads to dedicated longtail models by mainstream bike makers in the 2000s .
• 2000s – Modern Family Bakfiets and Cargo Innovations: In the early 2000s, two-wheeled front-load bakfiets bikes gain popularity in the Netherlands for transporting children, sparked by Dutch designers adapting Danish cargo bike ideas . Simultaneously, new high-performance cargo bikes emerge: e.g., the Bullitt (launched in 2008 by Larry vs Harry in Denmark) updates the Long John with a light aluminum frame and sporty geometry, appealing to couriers . By the end of the decade, cargo bikes are no longer just old-fashioned curiosities but a growing trend in urban cycling culture worldwide.
• 2010s – Rise of Electric Cargo Bikes: The past decade saw an explosion of electric cargo bikes. By the mid-2010s, many cargo bikes come equipped with electric pedal-assist systems, dramatically increasing their range and payload capacity . Brands like Urban Arrow, Riese & Müller, and Yuba introduce e-cargo models that make hauling kids or freight up hills much easier. As a result, the use of cargo bikes expands into new arenas – from parcel delivery in crowded city centers to family mobility in hilly cities – fueling rapid market growth (the global e-cargo bike market was estimated at over $2 billion in 2024 and climbing) 

E-Cargo Bike RS01 – Designed By Regen Tech

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