Quels sont les freins et incitants au développement du vélo cargo comme solution logistique alternative en ville? Focus sur les PME du centre de Liège

Abstract

This study emerged from observing a paradoxical reality. On one hand, cargo bikes are regularly presented as a concrete ecological alternative to conventional vehicles for city center transportation, offering solutions to urban environmental issues such as traffic congestion, poor air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, it seems that cycle logistics companies are not proliferating, and those that do exist are not experiencing significant growth. Through meetings and interviews with key stakeholders, including small and medium-sized businesses in the center of Liège potentially concerned with this issue, we sought to understand the gap between the theoretical benefits highlighted in the literature and the limited enthusiasm observed in practice. In the first phase, we redefined the various concepts applicable to the theme we are exploring. After a brief historical overview, we contextualized the debate within the broader framework of climate challenges, before examining how the literature addresses the opportunities and weaknesses associated with the use of cargo bikes. The second part of our work focuses on reporting the interviews conducted with business owners in Liège. The results are grouped around various sub-themes to compare them as effectively as possible with the conclusions of the literature. Subsequently, we attempt to identify the reasons behind the general lack of enthusiasm among businesses for adopting cargo bikes. As a counterpoint, we propose some avenues for reflection to help boost this mode of transport. At this point, we will see that solutions cannot be isolated from a broader vision of the supply chain and, more generally, our consumption patterns.