Leuven introduces shared electric cargo bikes

The city of Leuven already offers shared cars from Cambio and Partago, but on Wednesday, June 1st, the city introduces shared cargo bikes from the Dutch company Cargoroo. In the first phase, nine vehicles will be parked in the inner city and on two locations in Kessel-Lo. Later this year, the number will go up to 15, and in spring 2021, another 15 bikes will be added to a total of 30.

Shared mobility

With the initiative, Leuven hopes to improve shared mobility. During the inauguration of the bikes on Tuesday, David Dessers (Groen), Alderman for Mobility in Leuven, referred to the plans to install 50 so-called ‘mobility points’, where several modes of (public) transport can be shared and combined. The first mobility point will open this year after the summer.

Earlier this year, the city of Mechelen introduced the same Cargoroo bikes as part of its mobility plan called ‘Stroom’.

Cargoroo was founded in Amsterdam. The company already offers shared electric cargo bikes in several cities. Those bikes have a 100 km range, and people can use them through an app. Users pay one euro per trip plus 0,06 euros per minute for the ride. The social economy company Velo in Leuven will maintain the vehicles.