A few photos of cargo/working bikes spotted in Japan and Hong Kong, April 2007.

View page containing non-bicycle photos from same trip to Asia

View page documenting the New Cycle Truck, my custom cargo bicycle built by David Wilson

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Cargo bikes lined up outside the Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo. The Japanese seemed to favor rear-loading on their traditional cargo bikes, although some of them also sported lightweight front baskets. The rear racks are made from solid steel stock.

This model, by Maruishi, is called "Atlas" - this is a great name for a cargo bike.

This one features a stylish signplate between top and downtube. Many of these bikes were inscribed with a lot of script in white paint on the rear fenders - identification of some sort, but I can't read it.

The flat rubber straps seen on all these racks were offered for sale at a stall near the Fish Market - I suppose these are the traditional Japanese version of the bungee cord.

A porteur inside the Fish Market.

Tokyo street scene - delivery bicycles and scooters coexist.

Delivery bicycle equipped with awesome steadycam-like gantry. These are used in Tokyo for pizza delivery - the device swings to keep your cargo level through corners, and is fitted with suspension to limit the bumpiness. This was the only such device I saw fitted to a bicycle; it was typically fitted to a "Super Cub" scooter.

Honda "Super Cub" scooters - these are usually 100cc and are used by couriers all over Tokyo. They are not exported to the U.S., which is unfortunate, because I would trade my car for one of these in an instant. They were made in different styles for different user groups. A lot of mail carriers use these.

Cut to Hong Kong, where the cargo bikes were front-loader models, but alas, there were not many bicycles to be seen on the roads. This bike was used for delivery of oil or something - the driver came out a moment later, placed a cylindrical steel tank of about 5 gallons in the front rack, and rode away. Note that the cranks aren't parallel.

Cargo bike-themed hipster t-shirt brought back from Hong Kong. I think it is meant to portray something once common and unique to Hong Kong, but which has been lost through modernization.