Larry vs Harry Study: Cargo Bikes from Urbike in Brussels Deliver Faster, Greener, and Cheaper

Deliveries on the last mile are increasing significantly, and cargo bikes have the potential to transform the business. That's for sure, but so far there is little concrete data on the economics and efficiency of cargo bikes. Danish manufacturer and pioneer Larry vs. Harry wanted to know more and started a rather unique last-mile project in Brussels: Together with cargo bike logistics provider Urbike, they analyzed everyday operations supported by GPS and scientifically monitored. The results are now available.

According to the study, when delivering goods in Brussels' city center, the electric and classic Long-John eBullitt cargo bikes covered 30 percent shorter distances and traveled at 16 km/h compared to 11 km/h for delivery vans, which were hindered by traffic jams. The cargo bikes were more than twice as fast as delivery vans and took 48 minutes for a typical 8.5 km bike route in Brussels' city center compared to 99 minutes.

Six weeks, one message: Double package rate

Over a period of one and a half months, the cargo bikes delivered an average of 10.1 packages per hour, while the delivery vans could bring 4.9 packages per hour to the same destinations. The bikes bypass traffic jams, take shortcuts through streets closed to through traffic, and average up to 30 meters close to delivery points, minimizing walking time. Previous studies, by contrast, have shown that delivery vans can spend up to 25 minutes per stop searching for a parking space. For the study, GPS data from two-wheeled electric Bullitt cargo bikes of the courier service Urbike in Brussels, Belgium, were used. In the absence of van data, the GPS data of the bikes were compared with simulated van data.

Operating Costs Much Cheaper: It Really Works!

The modeling of total operating costs also demonstrates the economic advantages of bicycles. The acquisition costs for electric Bullitt cargo bikes are only a fraction of the costs of typical diesel and electric transporters. When you add the costs for insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and energy, the expenses for transporters per package are up to 10 times higher. Considering the fixed and variable costs, each delivery with the cargo bike costs €0.10, with a small diesel van €1.10, and with a small electric van €1.05.

Emission-Free Bicycle Logistics

The electric Bullitt cargo bikes reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 96 to 98 percent compared to diesel and electric transporters, based on comprehensive lifecycle analyses, the report states. By 2025, 200 billion packages will be delivered worldwide, a significant jump from less than 90 billion in 2018 (Statista, 2021). A recent study conducted in Paris showed that 67 percent of the daily transports of a well-known logistics company could seamlessly and at no additional cost be switched to cargo bikes (Robichet et al., 2022).

The use of cargo bikes thus not only ensures an efficient, fast, and reliable system for last-mile delivery but also contributes to a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions, air pollution, and traffic collisions, emphasize the authors of the study.

Less Pollution, Noise, and Accidents

This is increasingly a compelling argument for urban policymakers advocating for the switch to cargo bikes. And also for their voters, the city residents, for whom the transition to more human-centric cities will contribute to better and safer living conditions. If you live and work in an urban area and commute to work daily - perhaps also taking your child to daycare or school - you can save many hours of driving per year by using a cargo bike instead of a car, promote the creators of the study.

The Potential of Cargo Bikes

The efficiency of delivery by bicycle is not widely known among logisticians. "Many companies still do not understand the potential of cargo bikes," says Nicolas Collignon, co-founder of Kale AI with a PhD in cognitive computer science and lead author of the report.

"Many decisions that are made are still based on assumptions and misconceptions. Data and studies that demonstrate the advantages and potential of cargo bikes can accelerate the transition to a much more sustainable and efficient mode of transportation in cities," argues Collignon.

One of the major misconceptions about urban goods delivery is that speed of the vehicle is the most important factor. However, studies have shown that more than 50 percent of a delivery driver's day is spent looking for a parking spot or parked because the driver prefers to walk between stops rather than find another parking spot, summarizes the scientist and entrepreneur.

Traffic Jams and the Boom of E-Commerce

According to Maria Sinziiana Astefanoaei, Assistant Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, who holds a PhD in computer science and is involved in human mobility and spatio-temporal data, the problem of traffic congestion in cities will only worsen:

"With such a strong increase in urbanization as we are currently experiencing, space will become a very valuable and scarce resource," predicts Astefanoaei.

The e-commerce sector experienced a boom during the pandemic with home delivery, which will further increase in the coming years. Traffic and congestion in all major cities are rapidly increasing; delivery vans are a significant part of this development. Therefore, one must ask whether it makes sense to get stuck in rush hour traffic with half-empty delivery vans or if there is a better solution. Replacing diesel delivery vans with electric delivery vans does not solve the space and congestion problem, the scientist believes.

"The cargo bike is a real and much more efficient alternative in dense urban areas due to its small size, maneuverability in traffic, and the ability to park close to the destination," summarizes the professor.