The Secret Cyclist: Cargo bikes could be the future of cycling in Ireland

Non-conventional bikes open up cycling to more people who find road bikes ill-equipped for day-to-day life or inaccessible due to age, ability, injury, or disability

More often or not, cargo bike purchases don’t compete with bicycle purchases, but with car purchases

In June 2020, Richard Silke posted photos on his Twitter account of his mother and her neighbour cycling in their housing estate in Galway. The photos quickly went viral and it’s easy to see why. Richard’s mother, Marie, 79, and her friend Mary were on two trikes. When interviewed a few weeks later, she explained that ordinary bikes are not an option for her as a result of hip operations and she was finding walking to be exhausting. Richard noted that seeing his mother on the bike has brought joy to the entire family. If you haven’t seen the photos yet, it’s almost impossible not to smile when you see them.

Trikes are just one example of how non-conventional bikes open up cycling to more people. Perceptions about cycling tend to be dominated by concepts of able-bodied, young, or middle-aged men on racing or road bikes. Road bikes are great if you want to cycle far or fast but for a lot of us, they are ill-equipped for day-to-day life or inaccessible due to age, ability, injury, or disability.