October 31, 2024 - (Jaarbeurs, Utrecht, NED) The organisers of the International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) are looking back on a successful 2024 edition. The event, which took place for the first time in the world-renowned cycling city of Utrecht, the Netherlands on the 25th and 26th October, attracted a diverse range of exhibitors. Alongside the expo and test track, visitors were also treated to a jam-packed programme discussing topics relevant to cargo bikes, with panels and speakers drawn from across the globe, plus several side-events.
Also striking was the number new products or even brands unveiled at the ICBF. Yet more exhibitors made their Netherlands debut at the show, with ICBF attendees the first to experience these new developments up close. With the introduction of zero-emission zones from 1 January 2025, these developments are more relevant than ever. [Editors, see launch list below].
Networking
With free entry on offer, around eight hundred visits were made to ICBF 2024 across the two expo days. The event drew together the cargo bike industry’s top innovators, experts, and enthusiasts, as well as policymakers and both dealers and every-day users of cargo bikes. Networking was also high on the agenda, with 200 people using matchmaking tool ‘Conversation Starter’ to connect with other attendees and schedule appointments.
More quality, more impact
“For those familiar with larger shows like Eurobike and Velofollies, our visitor numbers may seem modest by comparison,” explains ICBF Co-organiser Tom Parr “but they reflect a dedicated and highly engaged audience focused specifically on cargo bikes. Our approach has always been different. What matters to us are quality and impact; not quantity. And by making sure exhibitors and visitors can interact in a relaxed environment, the result for both is a higher quality level of contact. Real conversation, real connection, building those all-important relationships. This allows exhibitors to explain their offerings and listen to visitors’ needs, while visitors feel heard and informed; making them more likely to buy the cargo bike or accessory that fits their requirements. It’s win-win, and often makes more actual impact.”
“Our communications also support this approach”, adds Parr. “By constantly engaging with our audience online, they show up to the ICBF clued-up and inspired. In other words, they already know what questions to ask. That online engagement also means that the brands we work with also get a lot of exposure to the people who can’t make it to the show.” And with exhibitors reporting several bikes sold from the expo floor at ICBF 2024, it’s a blueprint that seems to work.
Plenty of ideas for 2025
“A lot of people also mentioned the high quality of the exhibitors, attendees, speakers and panel discussions this year”, says ICBF Director Jos Sluijsmans. “When we reflect on the 2024 edition, what lingers most of all is the positive atmosphere at the event; something that we ourselves greatly value.”
Sluijsmans points to the changes made for the 2024 edition – returning to a standalone event; two expo days instead of three; free visitor entrance; and a new venue – saying that they are based on direct feedback from previous years. “Several exhibitors told us that they noticed we have really listened to them,” explained Sluijsmans. “We do our best to incorporate their opinions when we make improvements the ICBF. We don’t just organize the show for ourselves; it is for the manufacturers, speakers, visitors and ultimately to create better cities for all.”
“It’s our job now to go away, evaluate and come back even better next year. We already have lots of ideas for 2025, but more importantly, we will be asking both exhibitors and visitors to tell us what they think worked and what could be improved. In the meantime, Tom and I would like to thank the exhibitors, speakers, moderators, and behind-the-scenes contributors – they know who they are. Without them, ICBF 2024 wouldn’t have been able to happen. We’re grateful to them all.”
Dutch Cycling Week
This year’s ICBF was also noteworthy for being the first to take place in Utrecht. Following previous editions in Nijmegen, Berlin, Groningen and Amsterdam, the ICBF team chose to head to Utrecht and team up with Dutch Cycling Week.
“Our aim with Dutch Cycling Week is to show from different perspectives how cycling contributes to a better future” explains Ralf van Heugten, Project Manager of Dutch Cycling Week. “For example, by highlighting the importance of stimulating cycling, we contribute to the development of a healthier lifestyles, and mobility also plays an important role. Together with partners, stakeholders and organisers of partner events, our aim is to make the greatest possible impact in these areas, because we believe that the bicycle offers an efficient and fun solution to all kinds of social issues. For us, the success of the International Cargo Bike Festival confirms that this vision is gaining momentum.”
Next up: Carrier Issue 02
As well as moving on to ICBF 2025, the team are also already putting together the second edition of Carrier, their cargo bike magazine. The well-received first edition focused on the human stories behind cargo bikes wherever they are used; and the second edition will be no different. Readers can expect readable yet insightful perspectives from across the globe, tackling diverse cargo bike-related topics and zooming in on individual experiences while informing readers about wider context.
Carrier Issue 02 will be published in the first part of 2025 – further details on dates and distribution channels will follow. Brands wishing to associate themselves with this philosophy will be able to take raise their profile with advertising slots or branded content options. The first issue is available to read online free of charge.
List: Launches and debuts at ICBF 2024
• The new representatives of Car.Los, a brand until now little-known in the Netherlands, made a strong case for their long-tail and mid-tail cargo bikes to a Dutch public more used to front-loaders, while also displaying their foldable Compact-Utility-Bike aimed squarely at city dwellers;
• Dutch brand STOER Bikes were showing off their new, muscular CargoX model for the first time;
• Kleuster expanded their range by unveiling a new EPAC-compliant prototype trike which will go into production in 2025. It is aimed at organisations dealing with the transmission to zero-emission inner city logistics and operations;
• Also on the business side of the cargo bike market, GreenZen Solutions by Denso launched their new ‘Last Mile Control Cube’ with highly efficient cooling technology, remote monitoring, swappable batteries and state-of-the-art software for real-time cold chain traceability.
• Charger Vault brought their Lockey to the show – a charging locker which helps urban e-bikers easily charge two e-bikes simultaneously outside using their own chargers.
• New brand TARRAN’s T1 Pro model caught many eyes with its unique landing gear and a tech-heavy feature list as it made its Dutch debut;
• Cargo Cycling showcased their 4-wheeler Metrucks Doer with 1700 litre capacity;
• Caboocargo held their brand launch at the show, while displaying range of family-oriented two and three-wheelers;
• AL-KO’s CarryNex, a highly versatile new modular chassis system for cargo-bike trailers, was on display;
• Better known in the mountain bike world, Wren Sports branched out into cargo and made their ICBF debut, presenting their innovative inverted suspension fork that fits a front rack;
• Meanwhile, Muli, Kettler Alu-Rad, VOK Bikes, and Ananda, among others, all made their ICBF debuts.
Follow the International Cargo Bike Festival on:
LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / YouTube / Twitter/X
About the International Cargo Bike Festival
Founded in 2012, the International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) is the original event dedicated to promoting the cargo bike as a powerful tool for sustainable urban transport. It brings together manufacturers, experts, and advocates from across the world to celebrate and drive forward the cargo bike movement. The ultimate goal? To realise the gigantic potential of the cargo bike, with all of the global positive impacts on the environment, cities, health and societal benefits that entails.
The ICBF took place in 2024 as part of Dutch Cycling Week – an Utrecht-based umbrella organisation under which several cycling events, including Cycle Mobility Summit, Wielergala, Fietstest Xperience and Kampeer & Caravan Jaarbeurs all fall.
To conclude Dutch Cycling Week on Sunday 27th October, the International Cargo Bike Festival also participated in the 40th Anniversary ride of the Dutch Recumbent Cycling Association (Ligfietsvereniging (NVHPV))’s 40th anniversary ride around Utrecht.
