You may need a helmet the next time you pick up your reservation from the Lynn Valley library. Last month a new free cargo bike share with EVO and partners the DNV and CNV found a home in the North Vancouver District Library and two multi-family developments.
Get rolling
Last year councillor Jordan Back put a motion forward to the District Council to explore the idea of a ‘bike library’ inspired by Lynn Valley’s Duncan Wilcox’s passion for active transportation.
“Duncan is an e-bike enthusiast who saw financial barriers to families with this type of transportation,” said Back at the time. “There isn’t an opportunity to try these types of bikes out.”
Eighteen or so months later, with support from BC Hydro, the CNV, the DNV and LandlordBC and a partnership with BCAA and the District of North Vancouver Libraries, you can borrow a cargo E-bike at the Lynn Valley branch.
“Interest in E-cargo bikes is very popular right now,” said Leanne Buhler, head of Evolve Bike and Scooter Share with BCAA. “It’s very different from e-bike or e-scooter share where the rides are very short and there could be hundreds of devices in a city. It complements other forms of mobility in the neighbourhood. In Lynn Valley, there is EVO and public transit and people can walk. E-Cargo bikes are another option that people can try. It fits a different user and solves a different transportation challenge.”
Back in 2023 Back was optimistic there would be interest and support to get the wheels turning on this project.
“It’s not a huge investment and there are some other revenue streams and grants,” he said.
So much so, the pilot program – slated to run until the end of October before returning March-October 2025 – is free for users.
“Usually bike share programs get quite quiet over the winter and we decided to pull the bikes in for winter to keep them in good condition but I think if we hear feedback that they want to ride them year round we would be open to consider it,” said Buhler.
Test drive ride
The E-cargo and longtail bikes can be found at Lynn Valley, Parkgate and Capilano NVDPL branches at the CNV Library. In an intriguing twist brought on by the partnership with LandlordBC, they can also be found in two multi-family rental buildings in the CNV for those residents.
Leanne Buhler
Cargo bikes have long been popular in Europe for their versatility and ease of use for families and small businesses – often replacing a vehicle for community trips. The advancement in electric bike technology has made them a viable option for North Vancouver.
“E-cargo bikes can hold a bunch of cargo – both styles we have can hold up to 110 kilograms of cargo or passengers or a combination of both,” said Buhler. “It enables people to use a bike to do their grocery shopping, run errands, take sports equipment with them, and bring their family members with them on bike rides. It expands the type of use that a person can use a bike for.”
Available for free as part of the pilot program, riders can borrow a long-tail with an extended portion on the back for riders or cargo, and box bikes which have a large cargo box in the front or back of the bike. The hope is that trying out the bikes will make them a less intimidating option for daily transportation and be an option for residents who may have previously only considered a car.
“People are surprised that they are more comfortable and more stable than they expected,” said Buhler. “They are quite a bit larger and longer than a standard bicycle and I think it can look intimidating but we chose models that are built for new riders and are simpler for the users.”
Booking is available via the app and includes just about everything you would need for an active transportation adventure including helmets, cargo bags, locks and even chargers if you will be doing a lot of riding. .
“Folks can book them up to 30 days in advance,” she explained. “They are being booked up quite a bit and users may have to look in the EVO app to see what bikes are available and where and they may need to travel to another location to try the bike they are interested in. We include everything you would need to charge the bike, use the cargo capacity and lock it up safely. We even have a variety of children’s helmets if you will be taking young passengers.”
The biggest asterisk to the free program is that riders must return the bikes before the libraries close for the evening to ensure the bikes are secure overnight. Substantial locks are provided for trip security and other anti-theft precautions have been taken.
Theft and vandalism are a really rare occurrence. There are GPS trackers on each of the bikes and all of the bikes must be returned to the libraries overnight for safe storage.
Learn more about the program here.
Looking for more?
There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.