Stories.
Stories.
Adler Pharmacy Sonthofen
The Adler pharmacy is located in the center of Sonthofen, opposite the town hall and close to the pedestrian zone. Sonthofen is the gateway to the Allgäu and lies directly in front of the Allgäu High Alps nature reserve.
Dr. Hans-Peter Keiß and his team of ten employees cycled a total of 3714 km in the Oberallgäu district in 2022, achieving a strong 3rd place. Since 2020, the colleagues at Adler-Apotheke have been using the CHIKE e-cargo primarily to deliver ordered medicines in the local area. This saves energy, emissions and often time too. In the first two years, they have driven 4874 kilometers with the e-cargo, saving the equivalent of around 600 liters of gasoline and thus around 1.2 tons of CO2.
Hans-Peter Keiß: "Our team doesn't consist of 'super athletes', but we all enjoy using bikes in our everyday lives and leisure time, which is of course a particular pleasure in the Allgäu region. I first came up with the idea of a cargo bike back in 2018 for personal reasons, but it quickly became clear that a cargo bike would be the ideal means of transportation for our pharmaceutical deliveries. There is nothing that combines our requirements for environmental protection, economic aspects, positive advertising and fun better than a cargo bike.
I was initially impressed by the design of the Chike. Despite its compact dimensions, it offers plenty of storage space. During a test ride, the cargo bike impressed us with its great handling characteristics - even at high speeds - and its maneuverability in winding alleyways. Our employees were very positive about the idea and quickly got used to the Chike.
Dominik Rüegg - Artist
What does sustainable mobility look like in everyday life? Dominik Rüegg from St. Gallen shows us how.
On the road with the Chike
My name is Dominik Rüegg, I am 38 years old and live in St. Gallen. I work independently in the field of facade design and illustration and run a webshop for Swiss designers.
My mobile studio
When my jobs are nearby, I do almost everything with the Chike. I pick up paint, ride straight to the wall and always have my materials with me. For more distant projects, I use the chike to get to the station - my handcart comes with me on the train and is loaded back onto the bike later. Back in St. Gallen, my chike is already waiting at the station.
From test to fixed component
Thanks to a campaign in my city, I was able to test Chike for a year free of charge. It quickly became clear to me that it made perfect sense both professionally and privately. I saved up and took over the bike after the test phase - including individual foiling of the box.
Everyday life without a car
My girlfriend and I travel longer distances by public transport, in the city we use bicycles - or I use the Chike as a cab service. We don't have a driver's license, so the Chike often replaces the car for us. It is our means of transportation for shopping, material trips and spontaneous excursions. We used to have a bike trailer - with e-assistance, my radius has increased significantly.
What I transport
Paint, building materials, furniture, sample books, tools, garbage bags - even a kayak to Lake Constance. After a festival, there was even a person on board who wasn't quite fit to drive.
What convinced me
The Chike is stable without a stand, can be easily pushed alongside and the box is detachable - so I have already been able to transport 2.5 m long roof battens. And: it is more compact than many other cargo bikes.
What I have learned
At the beginning, it was unusual to take the necessary space in traffic. Planning is also important: route, weather, amount of material - you have to keep an eye on all that. And don't forget your battery, display and keys - otherwise you'll have to climb another five storeys.
Does that save money?
Yes, I save on public transport tickets, arrive at customer appointments relaxed and have postponed my car test for the time being. I'm quicker on short journeys than by car - there's no need to look for a parking space or pay fees.
For whom is this worthwhile?
For tradespeople in urban areas who enjoy cycling. Anyone who works in the city center or has a workshop nearby will benefit in particular.
My tip
Just try it out - and don't forget to unblock the tilt during the test drive.
Reactions from outside
Customers think it's great, many want to take a test drive. The Chike is often a topic of conversation - sustainability, resource conservation, sporty appearance. Older people sometimes talk nostalgically about the past.
Melanie Papen, emmi - the soup bar
The emmi is Melanie Papen's soup bar in Bremen between the city center and the "Viertel". The team offers a lunch menu with regional vegetables and meat, as well as dairy products from the Bremen region. In addition, emmi supplies soup for small events - and that's where the Chike came in!
How are you traveling with the CHIKE?
Of course, I drive to the nearby weekly market, but I also sometimes rush to the wholesale market five kilometers away, especially for vegetables, if I've forgotten something in the large delivery. There, almost without an engine - and when loaded, I give myself a good boost!
But my main tours are the soup and rice pudding deliveries within a radius of around three kilometers. The Chike really opens up new options. Privately, it was once a fridge, and I drove a lot of stuff back and forth for the organization of a big soccer tournament.
The side walls of your E-Cargo are labeled with the emmi logo. Is that any good?
In any case! And only positive. I was approached several times about my soup delivery and two or three times I spontaneously invited interested parties for a test ride. Last year's customers explicitly requested soup by bike again this year :o).
Why did you choose a cargo bike?
Because I sometimes transported two pots of soup for 500 meters by car and that really went against the grain!
Was it a big change from the previous forms of mobility?
I used to cycle most of the time, but now I can plan much more relaxed and transport larger loads. It's a nice extension of my options, I'm more flexible. I can save on the cost of the bike courier. However, I can't always do without the car completely due to the sheer volume that we sometimes handle.
What advice would you give to other tradespeople who are considering buying a cargo bike?
You have to see whether a cargo bike can handle your everyday commuting and transportation needs. If you then have the option of parking the bike under cover or in a garage - which I have - then it's simply great fun!
Free cargo bike Röbike
The idea of a free cargo bike is not entirely new and it did not originate in Rösrath. But it's a pretty good one, so why shouldn't it work in Rösrath too?
With the ADFC-RöBike, Rösrath also has its first free cargo bike and is thus part of a large movement. The Free Cargo Bikes Forum now comprises 127 initiatives in Germany, Austria and Hungary. In March 2021, there are already 420 free cargo bikes on the road, helping their cities and people with the traffic turnaround.
Johannes Schweinem from the ADFC: "We appreciate the compactness of the Chike, it fits into any standard bicycle garage. The universal usability as a box truck, but also as a low loader, means that it can be used to transport the weekly shopping or even a complete house move. The Chike can be used at ADFC events at city festivals, as a demonstration cargo bike or as a stage. A forest farmer regularly uses the Chike for felling trees that cannot be reached by car. As a member of the RöBike team, I can only recommend the Chike."
Participate or donate
Free cargo bikes such as the ADFC-RöBike are deliberately managed as a community asset, operated and maintained by the community. They are made available to their users free of charge and thrive on "participation". In addition to donations, there are many other ways in which you can get involved. For example, the website is run on a voluntary basis and the bike itself is also maintained and serviced on a voluntary basis. Anyone who wants to get involved, start a similar project or simply has questions about the project is welcome to contact adfc@roebike.de.
Lydia with job bike
Lydia from Freiburg was looking for an attractive solution for her daily shopping, her commute to nursery school and work and her sporting activities - and ended up with the chike e-kids transport bike. The nature lover who
who lived in Australia for a long time, has been working in marketing at JobRad since 2017. Like all employees of the company bike leasing provider, she also has the opportunity to purchase her dream bike via JobRad.
Lydia, how did you come up with chike, what was important to you when you made your choice?
For me, safe transportation for children was particularly important. But also a bike that is fun and stylish. I was able to test ride the chike at our specialist dealer - and was convinced.
Why a transport bike and not a child trailer, as many people have?
The trailer is not so suitable for long journeys. My daughter is two and a half years old and complains after a while because she can't see anything sitting in the back and gets bored. Children can simply see much better in the front. It's also safer in my opinion. With a chike, you are perceived very differently in traffic.
What do you particularly like about the transport bike?
It is an agile, small city runabout. It fits through every door, in every elevator and around every corner. And the tilting technology is great fun! You can really lean into the bends - it's not just my daughter who loves that.
Transport bike sounds rather bulky, can you cope with chike in traffic?
I get along very well, fit on every cycle path, and the bike is shorter and narrower than you might think, which is a really well-engineered optimum. Because it's quite light, you can easily lift it yourself.
Have you already had a special chike experience?
Yes, I had the flu, was totally knackered and had to take my daughter to her doctor's appointment. My husband came by for the way back - and because I was so weak, I just sat in the front of the chike with my daughter and he drove the three of us home, which was great!
How do others react when you are out and about with your chike?
Enormous. People often look at you and talk to you, but everyone is very nice and interested. It's impossible to travel incognito with chike (laughs).
Does that mean you can combine leisure and work well with the transport bike?
Yes, I can combine everything without having to rely on a car: I can go to work in the morning, then pick up the children and pop into the supermarket on the way. I don't have to do much planning, I don't even need a shopping bag because I can store everything in the two removable boxes.
Instead of buying the chike directly, you opted for JobRad. Where do you see the advantages of the concept?
Without JobRad, I wouldn't have been able to afford the purchase. After all, a bike like this is in the higher price segment. The monthly usage rates, on the other hand, are really manageable. It's also insured and I don't have to rely on the car.
Back to chike. Could you say that chike has changed your life?
(laughs) The bike looks stylish, it's a cool feeling to ride, the child is happy and it's environmentally friendly and sustainable - chike is definitely a lifestyle!
Fuchs interior fittings
The idea of getting a cargo bike at Fuchs Innenausbau from Karlsruhe-Durlach had been around for some time. The right impetus came from the "Flottes Gewerbe" project run by the Cargobike.jetzt agency. The opportunity to try out different cargo bikes saved the company a long internet search. "The "Flotte Gewerbe" project was the impetus we needed. Without it, we would probably have kept putting it off until 'someday'," says Managing Director Martin Fuchs, and: "Sustainability, efficiency and flexibility played a decisive role in the choice of cargo bike, as we place great value on quality as a family business."
The cargo bike needed to be stable, powerful and offer enough storage space, "but what that actually means only became clear when we tried it out," says Martin Fuchs. The decisive factor for the CHIKE E-Cargo was ultimately the ability to use the transport platform so flexibly, for example with the straps in the airline rails.
In practice, however, it has been found that most transportation is done with the conversion. These are usually paint buckets, tools and everything that is needed on the construction site at short notice. The journeys range from two to 20 kilometers. The biggest load so far, however, has been six crates of beer.
What does Fuchs Innenausbau recommend to other trade businesses that are considering purchasing a cargo bike? A cargo bike works well for smaller transports, manageable distances in mostly good weather and if you are not always on the road in pairs. Anyone who wants to transport very bulky items - or is always on the road with several colleagues - will reach their limits.
However, the initial skepticism among the employees at Fuchs Innenausbau as to whether the bike would be used at all soon evaporated. The CHIKE E-Cargo is now an integral part of everyday life - whether for the quick transportation of materials, smaller measurements or repairs.
"The first few trips were unusual, but with a little practice it quickly became routine." And the customers? "They celebrate it! You often hear 'great thing', especially because of the sustainable idea." The cargo bike makes sustainability visible - and that is noticed, both internally and externally.
NHS London
Mobile clinic on three wheels for people in need in London
A mobile clinic based on a CHIKE E-Cargo has been on the road in London since 2023 to visit and treat homeless people on site.
The bike, converted by Velofracht from Berlin, enables British NHS staff to reach areas that are otherwise inaccessible by car or ambulance, such as parks, homeless shelters, soup kitchens or places under bridges.
It screens vulnerable people in north central London for blood-borne viruses, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and HIV, as well as providing vaccinations and general medical care.
The idea for the bike originally came from Dr. Indrajit Ghosh, consultant at CNWL's Mortimer Market Centre and Bloomsbury Clinic: "The electric clinic bike is a service for people who are otherwise hard to reach, such as those who are homeless or otherwise marginalized," he said. "It can be easily adapted to any situation, is flexible and can be fitted with individual medical equipment."
The bike was developed in collaboration with an aviation electrician and has a cooling system that ensures the safe storage of vaccines or medication. A solar panel provides an independent, climate-friendly charging option.
Professor Al Story, founder and clinical lead of the Find and Treat team at UCLH: "Find & Treat has been taking healthcare to the streets for 20 years. Our mission is to prevent serious infections and their spread. This new low carbon e-bike fits perfectly with our mission to help the most vulnerable, protect the air we share and promote better health for all."
Northside Bikes
Pop-up workshop for free bike service in Leicester, UK
Northside Bikes was founded in October 2014 by Christopher Dee to meet the need for affordable and sustainable bike repairs for students in Leicester and, in particular, those living north of the city center where there are few or no bike services.
A lot has happened around and with Northside Bikes over the past 7 years: they have repaired thousands of bikes for free, run a bike store, closed (for health reasons) and reopened a bike store, ridden hundreds of bikes and had a lot of laughs. In the past twelve months alone, Northside Bikes have run over 30 free bike repair appointments across Leicester.
Community projects
Working with groups and organizations, they run projects in Leicester to help people cycle - from free bike repairs to providing recycled bikes to people in need.
Christopher Dee: "With the Chike E-Cargo, we are able to offer our mobile repair service practically anywhere in the area. We simply ride out and have everything we need with us. Tools, spare parts, tent, posters, food: the bike works like a pop-up bike workshop."
How was the CHIKE E-Cargo chosen?
"The E-Cargo is very reliable and easy to handle. As we don't have much space in the store, the compact dimensions of the E-Cargo naturally also play a role. We can get through the door with the bike without any problems and it doesn't take up much space in the store. And not to forget: we are passionate cyclists and the Chike is simply fun to ride!"
Alex - Gardener
Alex has been working as a gardener and freelance designer for 20 years. She has been using a Chike E-Cargo for her work in the Rosenheim area since 2021. She says about her work with the Chike:
"I've been riding my Chike through the countryside for almost 3 years. When I test rode my cargo bike, I decided on the Chike pretty quickly because it pulled the corners of my mouth up when I was riding it. And that's still the case today.
In my job, I do garden maintenance. I transport tools, plants, soil and fertilizer, rainwear, swimming gear and food.
Traveling with the Chike is like magic. Everything I want to take with me fits into the box every day. On my way to the gardens I have to tend, I find the most beautiful paths off the beaten track and can enjoy every journey, no matter what the weather has to offer.
And when I arrive at work, I have a convertible with an open top in the Chike that I can swing my utensils into and I have a wheelbarrow that I don't have to push. My everyday life has gained enormously in quality of life."