Urbike
Cooperative cargo-bike logistics for city merchants
Urbike is a Brussels cooperative that delivers for shops, pharmacies and chains by cargo bike, using standardised 1.5 m3 containers that swap between vans and BicyLift trailers. Clients have included bpost, Delhaize, Multipharma and CSD, with 25,000 deliveries in its first 18 months. Beyond delivery it offers consulting, rider training and equipment to merchants switching to cyclologistics.
Our reading. Best for Brussels shops, pharmacies and local chains replacing van deliveries in the city core.
Strengths
- Containerised van-to-bike transfer makes city rounds efficient
- Cooperative structure with fair rider employment
- Consulting and training help merchants insource cyclologistics
Limits
- Brussels-centric coverage
- Capacity limits versus motorised fleets for heavy goods
Brussels cyclologistics cooperative founded in 2018; ~260 cooperators, still a niche local operator
Won the 2020 Brussels social economy prize; 200 tonnes transported and 60,000 km in its initial period; ~260 cooperators