Cargo Bike Ride

Yesterday, I had a great time on what was originally billed as the Memorial Day Cargo Bike Jamboree, but, later, in an effort to expand the cycling constituency, was changed to the Memorial Day Barbecue. Both monikers express the essence of the occasion pretty well and I doubt anyone who participated would quibble about either name.

I showed up at Pike Market about noon with the Haulin’ Colin trailer, loaded up with my neighbor’s giant-sized Coleman cooler filled with a case and a half of beer, three ten pound bags of ice, and some tofu and Portobello mushrooms marinating in my “secret” sauce of olive and sesame oil, mustard, vinegar, and brown sugar.

There, I met up with about thirty other cyclists on various bikes designed or modified for carrying things. There were plenty of Xtracycles, several front-loading cargo bikes, a Baksfiets, a few old road bikes with big baskets in front, a handful of folks with racks and panniers, some riders with large backpacks or messenger bags, and a couple other rigs pulling trailers.

After milling around a bit, ogling each other’s rides, we set off en masse for Lincoln Park in West Seattle. I found it remarkably satisfying to be in a group of cyclists who were using bikes for such a utilitarian purpose and it was delightful to see the generally positive responses we received from pedestrians, other cyclists, and even cars as our rolling parade made its way across town.

The effectiveness of the bicycle as a means of hauling stuff was illustrated superbly by the bounty we unloaded at the park: copious amounts of food to be grilled, bags and bags of charcoal with which to cook it, and plenty of quaffables, alcoholic and non, to wash them down with.

I was pleased to be of special service to the group in the ice and huge cooler department.

After peak oil, I’m going to make my fortune delivering frozen water by bicycle.