Many of my car journeys are within a mile of my house, hauling toddlers and groceries to and fro. It would be much easier, more fun, and better for the environment, if I could replace at least a few of those trips with an electric cargo bike. However, a few hurdles stand in my way.

The first is cost. I loved the versatility and power of the R&M Load, but at $7,000, it costs as much as my current car. Going completely carless would justify the price, but it’s hard to make the commitment. I don’t know what my mom would say if I picked her up at the airport and strapped her into a cargo box to ride home. But I can picture her face, and it’s not pretty.

The second is convenience. Yuba, Riese & Müller, and other e-cargo bike manufacturers only sell through preferred retailers. Since I live in a city that is positively infested with high-end bike shops, I find picking up an electric cargo bike to be a simple, if time-consuming, task. But for many others, stopping by a shop and riding your new bike home is a lot harder. If Yuba's preferred retailers aren’t in your city, you might be stuck taking a train and biking 50, or 100, miles back home.

Animation by Rad Power Bikes

Seattle’s Rad Power Bikes operates on the principle that everyone who wants an electric bike should be able to get one. The RadWagon, their e-cargo offering, starts at $1,599. It costs only a fraction more than a decent road bike. And since they’re direct-to-consumer, they will deliver a bike directly to your door.

In terms of price and convenience, Rad Power Bikes already have the competition beat. Now it just remained to see if the bike itself was worth it.

Built to Spill

Rad Power asked if I wanted to assemble the bike or have it assembled for me. For an additional $199, Rad Power offers full assembly through a mobile bike shop called velofix, if you live within an area that velofix serves. But since the whole point was that anyone, anywhere, can order a Rad Power bike, I opted to put mine together myself.