Want to Go Car-Free? Test the Waters by Renting a Cargo Bike

I love my bicycle. If I could, I'd ride it everywhere for fun and even run errands on it. I also have an old car that I do my best to take care of and use for big trips, extensive errand running, or if it's just really gross outside. I've always wanted to put a dent in the car usage and get greener about getting around, but that's been a tough nut to crack. The most logical place to make the switch seemed to be on the grocery side of things. We've got a walkable but expensive grocery store down our street in Seattle, and I wanted to be able to do bulk runs to Costco and support my favorite local produce stand, MacPherson’s, for our household of two. MacPherson’s is a mile away, up at the top of Beacon Hill, and Costco is two miles away, clear on the other side of the hill. Heavy loads and big hills made me think an electric cargo bike could do the trick, but there was a bigger obstacle than the hill: money. A good electric cargo bike can easily cost over $2,000 and as much as $8,500, ... Read full article.