Not at all. Most cargo e-Bikes are designed with a low center of gravity and powerful motors, making them surprisingly stable and easy to handle, even when carrying kids, groceries, or gear.
Upway Stories: Everyday Wins with Cargo E-Bikes
Written by: Rémy Rossi | May 29, 2025 | Time to read 5 min
A cargo e-Bike tells a story before the rider even speaks— groceries, bulky items, or toddlers in tow. These electric haulers are redefining what it means to ride with ultimate practicality.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
I think cargo bikes are the most personal type of bike, or at least they are where the unique relationship between rider and bike is put on full display. Based on the accessorized setup, you can tell if someone has young kids, is a cargo messenger, or constantly runs errands.
Cargo bikes are ready for crazy levels of customization, wacky add-ons, and unexpected uses that stretch the limits of what two-wheelers are capable of. And there are tons of personal stories that can reveal just how useful cargo bikes are for their riders. From replacing car trips to transporting your kids, cargo e-Bikes are changing the way we get around. In this article, I’ll share how members of the Upway team use their cargo haulers!
Cargo bikes are ready for crazy levels of customization, wacky add-ons, and unexpected uses that stretch the limits of what two-wheelers are capable of. And there are tons of personal stories that can reveal just how useful cargo bikes are for their riders. From replacing car trips to transporting your kids, cargo e-Bikes are changing the way we get around. In this article, I’ll share how members of the Upway team use their cargo haulers!
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The ultimate family bike
I recently talked with Maxime Renson, the head of Upway US, about his new electric cargo bike. He’s riding the Riese & Müller Carrie Vario and has been thoroughly enjoying it. This model is the brand’s more compact cargo bike, and the Vario version features an Enviolo internal gear hub with a belt drive instead of the standard chain-driven system. This year, the Carrie model won a German Sustainability Award for its innovative product design!
Max told me that he’s riding his cargo e-Bike every day, using it to bring his young son to school and then heading to work. As a front-loading cargo bike, there’s a large cargo area that riders can set up to carry large items, transport pets, or bring kids along for the ride. The compatibility with child seats makes cargo e-Bikes great options for families.
Beyond the convenience day in and day out, Max’s cargo bike shows its practicality in all sorts of ways. He told me that he recently organized a family picnic in the park, and he was able to load all the food and other items in his bike while his wife rode with their child in her cargo bike. He also enjoys being able to go on long rides together with his son, and since he’s seated in the front part of the bike, they can have a nice conversation as they roll along. I asked him if there were any additional features he wished his bike had, but he said it's pretty much perfect for what he needs.
Small business do-it-all-machine
My daily driver isn’t a cargo e-Bike these days, but I’ve ridden my fair share of miles on one while working for bike shops and advocacy groups. I worked for the Boston Cyclists’ Union and Blackstone Bicycle Works in Chicago in different summers, and we were always traversing the city to attend or host events. Cargo bikes allowed us to bring all our gear and tools to rallies, farmers’ markets, community gatherings, or whatever else we were doing that day. I rode a Yuba cargo bike in Boston and a cargo tricycle in Chicago.
I was often tasked with driving the cargo bike, which was a fun responsibility, and the electric motor offered the perfect amount of assistance. These small organizations didn’t have the budget, space, or need to drive a van, and a cargo made perfect sense— often cargo bikes can be a game-changer for small business owners. Cargo bikes make it easy to run errands quickly in the city and still transport big items, and are much faster and easier to park than bigger vans. From flower shops to coffee spots and last-mile deliveries, cargo bikes are do-it-all machines!
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What electric bike is right for you? Cargo e-Bikes make sense for people who need to transport stuff around or carry kids (or pets!) while city e-Bikesare lighter, single-person rides ideal for commuting. Upway has a hugeselection of cargo bikes from the top brands that are sure to transformyour urban ride!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cargo e-Bikes hard to ride, especially when fully loaded?
What’s the difference between a cargo e-Bike and a regular e-Bike?
Cargo e-Bikes are built to carry extra weight and volume, featuring reinforced frames, extended racks, and space for child seats or large baskets. Regular e-Bikes are typically designed for commuting or personal transport with less cargo capacity.
Can I use a cargo e-Bike year-round?
Yes! With proper accessories like rain covers, all-weather tires, and lights, cargo e-Bikes can be reliable in all seasons. Many riders use them year-round for school drop-offs, errands, and commuting.
Key Takeaways
- Versatile Family Vehicles: Cargo e-Bikes like the Riese & Müller Carrie Vario are ideal for transporting kids, with options for child seats and roomy front-loading setups.
- Perfect for Small Businesses: People use cargo bikes to haul gear, make deliveries, and replace vans, proving that electric cargo bikes can be powerful, cost-effective business tools.
- Customizable and Practical: With endless accessories and use cases, cargo e-Bikes adapt to your lifestyle— whether you're planning a picnic, commuting, or making a delivery run.
