Cargo Bikes in Denmark - All You Need to Know
I got a cargo bike a few weeks ago. It was a decision long in the making, and in this video I’ll tell you all the different variables you need to consider to see whether cargo bikes are a good fit for you as an expat in a city like Copenhagen.
If you’re new here, I’m Mario and on this channel I help expats in Denmark - and some Danes - on finance and living their best life in Denmark.
What Is a Cargo Bike
If you live in Copenhagen or Amsterdam you must have seen cargo bikes.
In essence, they’re a bike that has a box-type of thing up front. In the box you normally have a seat for at least two small people, and sometimes more. You can use them to carry people or things or both.
The most common have two wheels up front - like, at either side of the box - and then one in the back. But you also have versions with just two wheels as well.
Then, there are the details: most have the boxes made of thick wood for a sturdy and safe look, they come with multiple colors, with detachable roofs/rain covers, electric motors, and more.
They’re quite common and you’ll see all over the place in Copenhagen.
Pros and Cons
But — Why would you want to consider one?
PROS
1) Convenience
If you live in the city and have kids, it’s one of the most - if not the most convenient - way to move around. It kind-of removes or minimizes the need for a car for city commutes.
This is especially the case when you’ve more than one kid.
So - Yep, kids are most common use case: especially taking them to day care or kindergarten and then for little tours around.
We walk to the kindergarten as it’s super close for us, but we’ve now been using the bike to go to things like Tivoli or the aquarium, or Torvehallen, etc. Super convenient.
2) Carrying Capacity
You can carry up to three or four people in the box, depending on the bike. Again, convenience: if you’ve two kids you can take them both and then two friends as well.
Also - It’s not just about people. My second son is just one, for instance, so even if we bike to the zoo, for instance, we need to have the stroller with us when we get there. Now we just put in the box as well, and it fits along the two kids nicely.
And… Like, the food bag, clothes, etc. and all that stuff you need to have with you when you go out with kids.
3) Safety
If you want to move the kids around, the cargo bike box feels more substantial — it’s like quite sturdy, and I feel more comfortable riding with it than having the kid in the little seat in the back of the bike.
It’s not that it will protect you from crashes or the like, but it feels and likely is a lot safer than the cars.
CONS
1) Price
These bikes are pricey! If you want an electric one, you’re talking of a price of 20-30K minimum if new. We paid almost 30K. That’s serious money for a bike.
I got the Babboe which is kind-of mid-range and there are some cheaper ones but the reviews didn’t look good. Then there are some more expensive Danish brands like Butcher’s and Bikes that look phenomenal but it’s like close to 50K.
If you’re lucky you can find a good second-hand one. I have friends that did. We looked over a few weeks but didn’t find a good fit. If you’re patient you’ll likely have better luck.
2) Maintenance
OK - I’m a zero at bike maintenance. But, this looks even harder: you need to service them once a year at least (which means higher cost) and then when something breaks is a mess.
We got a flat tire in our first week - like, yeah, come on - and it was terrible. You just can’t walk the bike to the next shop as they’re so heavy and the tire without air gets destroyed. We had to use one of those companies that come to your house and fix the bike.
Just know that these things happen.
3) They Get Stolen So Much
Denmark is SAFE - I keep stressing that in this channel, but NOT Bikes.
I heard stories from friends and colleagues that had their cargo bikes stolen from even their home’s basement, their batteries broken apart and more wild things like that.
If you get one of these, you need to lock it with a gigantic chain lock to SOMETHING. Like a big pole or something. It’s not a guarantee it won’t be stolen but at least you stack up the odds in your favor.
I know from friends that have TWO chain locks. You just need to be vigilant.
Also - I think insurance is a must. It’s expensive, but the peace of mind that comes that you don’t need to pay 20K or more again in case some bad boy steals it is worth the price. (For reference, I use Undo insurance, link in the video description).
My Recommendation
My Recommendation is: DON’T GET A CARGO BIKE IF YOU DON’T NEED IT.
It’s expensive - upfront and then in insurance. It’s only worth if it you really need it.
For instance, we only pulled the trigger once we got a second kid and the kid is kind-of big enough that he can go inside it.
Before that, we managed well without it. We had - and still have - a bike with a child seat and the big boy was good there.
If you don’t have kids, honestly, I wouldn’t bother unless you’ve a specific use case. Like, you need to carry cargo from one place to the other.
But, if you’ve kids, and want to move around without a car, and especially want to go out as one parent only, this is great.
I’m very happy with the purchase and recommend it.
And - before you ask - driving these things is easy. It takes a few days to get used to, but once you do you’re good to go. It’s a non-issue.
LAST - I went with the electric option and I’m glad I did. I never used an e-bike before but it’s a breeze. I think if you’re going to take kids around especially on longer tours is super convenient.
Else, you’re in for a proper workout - especially if you’re going to do any uphill climb with this thing, it’s serious business.
In all, I was ALMOST thinking of whether we should get a car, but with this we’re covered for the foreseeable future. If you want to hear more tricks like this on how to save money in Denmark, watch this video over here,.
