Photo Credit: Anders Hviid.
Originating from a time when cargo bikes formed the backbone of Copenhagen's transportation system, the Cargo Bike Championship - or聽聽(named after the swaying motion of the bikes when fully聽loaded) -聽has a聽聽history. The first聽was held in 1942, when a priest named聽Kristian Skjerring decided to shine a spotlight on the (otherwise invisible) underclass of men and boys who broke their backs pedalling聽these machines day in and day out. They grew in size and statue, with thousands coming out to witness聽the spectacle, and see the new聽"King of Copenhagen" crowned聽for another year. And then - in 1960 - motor vehicles began dominating the city's freight system, and the 厂惫补箩别谤濒酶产聽went on hiatus. It was聽revived again in 2009,听having been聽held in Copenhagen聽, and聽similar events popping up聽in聽,听,听, and聽.
Photo Credit: Copenhagenize.
滨迟'蝉听聽that we at Modacity聽are smitten with cargo bikes, and聽their ability to聽transform cities for the better: improving聽air and sound quality, road safety, and public health. Our own acquisition of a聽聽last year reinforced that belief, allowing us to haul not only our two kids, but groceries, appliances, and even our annual聽. We have documented Vancouver's聽听肠补谤驳辞听听飞颈迟丑听, and聽met many local families for whom the cargo bike has become an essential part of how they get from A to B. As we've discovered with the amazing reception we get every time we take ours聽out on the bikeways, seeing is truly believing, which is why we decided to organize Vancouver's very first聽厂惫补箩别谤濒酶产!
Photo Credit: Chris Bruntlett
So, in partnership with our friends at聽听补苍诲听, we are excited to reveal plans for Vancouver's very first Cargo Bike Championship. It聽will take place at Creekside Park () from 4-7pm, during the 'Bike to Work Week'聽聽on Friday, May 29th. We hope to have cargo bikes of all shapes, sizes,听and budgets on-hand, along with聽their owners to answer questions to the public and media, and that's where *you* come in! We want to stress that this is not an athletic competition, but rather an exercise in demonstrating the endless possibilities of a cargo bike, and most importantly - having fun!聽People of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds are welcome to apply.聽If you are interested in participating, please聽send the following information to聽our attention聽before a deadline of聽Monday, May 18th, 2015:
1. Name, age, occupation. Any other relevant biographical information?
2. Make and model of cargo bike? Where did you purchase it? Retail price?
3. Can you please provide us with a photograph of you and your cargo bike?
4. What is one unique item you haul that聽we could聽include in the competition?
And if you are a business owner interested in donating a small prize to one of our winners, please聽contact us聽as well!
Photo Credit: Copenhagenize
While we're on the subject, don't forget to sign up for HUB's biannual聽, which runs from May 25th until the聽31st. Registration is completely free, and there are all kinds of聽聽to be won, including a bicycle each day, and a trip for two to聽Prague from聽! You can either register as a Team Leader (creating a team) or a Rider (joining a team or riding solo). Encourage your colleagues to join your team聽using the聽聽HUB has provided, and聽then log your trips on their website聽during Bike to Work Week! As an added bonus, there will be over 50聽聽spread throughout the city over the course of the week, offering聽free coffee, snacks, and bike repairs. The entire affair will be wrapped up with the aforementioned *free* BBQ on Friday afternoon. We hope to see you there!
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Chris and Melissa Bruntlett are the co-founders of聽,听a multi-service consultancy focused on inspiring healthier, happier, simpler forms of urban mobility through words, photography and film. You can find them聽on Twitter:聽.
