If you read this last week’s Austin Chronicle article about Copenhagen, you’ll realize how primitive Austin’s environmental initiatives are. While earlier this year Austin began a pilot program testing a single bike locker, Copenhagenizer is reporting Copehhagen is introducing lockers to accommodate cargo bikes.

Image courtesy of Copenhagenizer.

If you’ve ever ridden a bakfiets, Xtracycle, or Madsen, you know they are great on utility and hauling things/people but some trouble when it comes to parking. The heft and storage that make them so useful can be a liability. Add to that the fact that most cargo bikes cost as much as double regular utility bikes, and you see the need for some additional accommodations.

On-Street Bicycle Parking in Portland.

One of the best things about these lockers are that they are in the shape of car and take out an on-street car parking space. Replacing automobile parking with bike parking has been done elsewhere like Portland and Edinburgh. This makes car use more difficult encouraging alternative transportation use and supporting cycling. It also highlights the importance put on bikes as equal players on the road. If we are going to get serious as a city in reducing carbon emissions from transportation, we need to be actively making using a car expensive and inconvenient while doing the opposite for cycling, walk, and transit. We can wait for gas prices to go back up to do it for us or take control of our community and do it now while we have a choice.