Cargo Bike for Rent?

Someone wrote in to ask if I knew of a place where one could rent a cargo bike or a trailer. Something like this or this. It seems MassBike in Boston does this. Sounds like a great program. I mean a lot of people might need a cargo bike every once in awhile, but few need one all the time. WABA doesn't really have space for one - and I'm not sure a bike shop would, but if someone could find the space I bet they could rent it out every weekend. Phoenix Bikes? Mt Rainier Bicycle Co-Op? DDOT? Any ideas? Maybe someone out there wants a side business.

Comments

[James]

I thought WABA *had* a bike trailer, or at least Glen has one with a WABA sticker on it, which I've witnessed him use as a mobile bike valet unit. I don't think they rent it out though, and I wonder if it would be worth their while to do so.

you don't need to make space for a bakfiets inside - she's an outdoor girl. Anyway, a dutch cargo trike is WAY too heavy to steal if you engage the ringlock.

The DC code would seem to indicate a cargo trike could be parked on the street at the curb "1209.6 - Except as provided in this chapter, no person may park a bicycle upon a
highway other than the roadway against the curb"

Anyway what are they going to do, tow the thing? Write you a ticket?

You've hit the nail on the head though - someone should have a stash of these to rent out in the city. I would use one on grocery day! http://www.workcycles.nl/workbike/bicycles/worbikes-or-bakfietsen.html

[Ian]

Bikes of Vienna has something like, not sure if they would rent it.

[tsvidogg]

This is a great idea. This video shows how you can move an entire apartment using only bikes and a bunch of friends. Might be a bit crazy, but so are most of my bike friends. http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/bike-move/ If you could rent out even a couple of these someplace central, it'd be really handy.

[Ross]

I sent in the email that prompted this post. Beyond MassBike in Boston, I also know of a Bike Co-Op in Minnesota that rents these out (http://www.bikeped.org/rentals).
I would imagine it wouldn't really take up that much space. Particularly if you put it up vertically against a wall.

[Eric]

We have a kid's trailer and one we call the MOAB, the Mother of All Bike Trailers that can haul 300 lbs. We have not made these readily available, but if you need to borrow one give us a call and we'll see what we can do.

[Bruce]

Bikes@vienna has a Batavus Personal Delivery Bike and I think John Brunow would probably rent it. He's using it for carrying bike boxes from storage back to the shop. I think he's also ordered a Yuba cargo bike. See the bikes@vienna blog for info on the Batavus.

http://bikesatvienna.blogspot.com/2008/07/batavus-bike-arrives.html

[Richard Layman]

Note that I recommend this in my paper on making cycling irresistable in DC.

http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2008/07/ideas-for-making-bicycling-irresistible.html

[Laura P.]

Not for rent, per se, but one of your neighbors on Cap Hill builds cargo trailers and other hauling bikes, sorta along the genre of the keg trike: http://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/meet/trike/index.html