NEWS
Meet Your Maker // MJ – XYZ Cargo UK
We caught up with resident maker and forever inspiring soul MJ, who runs XYZ Cargo UK out of Edinburgh Open Workshop. MJ has a drive to educate and encourage folk to consider using cargo bikes more in their everyday life. The joy with cargo bikes is that they can be built to meet people’s lifestyles and requirements – whatever that may be (even if it’s a bit whacky). They are both sustainable in build and in use, often have a community or socially focused purpose and should often be the no-brainer option of transportation. So, let’s start spreading the word and using cargos more – but first let’s get a proper understanding of what they are, what they can do and find out more about MJ.
What are cargo bikes ?
The cargo cycle is as old as the safety bicycle.
In general terms, a cargo bike is designed specifically to carry people or things that you cannot fit on a regular bicycle. They come in all shapes and sizes; two wheelers, three-wheelers and 4-wheelers.
Cargo bikes were a popular way to move goods when car ownership was for the well-off only. If you ask older generations growing up in the 20’s and 30’s, they would know what you were referring to instantly.
The cargo cycle fell out of fashion, like bicycles did post war when car ownership was easier to obtain and we became a car dominated culture. The cargo cycle has had a renaissance with the advances in electric technology, especially in cities like Edinburgh where the topography of a city posed a challenge.
Right now, the cargo cycle industry is growing year on year with over 60% growth in the market in 2021 including the UK. (C.I.E)
I have been in the cycling industry for 15 years now, mostly working in third sector within bicycle re-use and community delivery. I have always been focused on utility cycling and cycling for emancipation versus sport.
I met XYZ CARGO in 2017, when I was looking for trikes to stock in a cargo bike library project I was managing.
I am short and the majority of cargo bikes are created by tall people, for tall people. The XYZ TRIKE rode incredibly well and was completely modular, meaning you can change the design to suit different topographies. This allowing different types of people to ride them, including those who are shorter or need some stability.
Over 5 years we developed a good working relationship. Between the “Great Resignation” and Brexit, XYZ asked if I wanted to start local production in the UK.
I have done a plethora of jobs in the bike industry; I am a qualified mechanic, mechanical instructor, cycle trainer and frame builder. I knew I had all the skills I needed to make the leap! I am also a lifelong lover of Mechano, so how could I say no!
What is unique about XYZ CARGO?
One of the most unique factors of XYZ CARGO is that began as a project by art and design activists. This versus the standard route of the corporate bicycle industrial complex.
XYZ CARGO was started in Copenhagen in 2011 by Urban Realm Art Collective N55 (in collaboration with Till Wolfer). They decided to use bicycles as a way of addressing aesthetic, ethical, social and environmental issues. They also wanted to work in a very direct way with public space and urban planning.
One of their aims was to develop an alternative small business, based on principles of fair and local production. Meaning that we try to produce as much as possible in a socially sustainable way.
We are producing high quality, extremely durable cargo bikes from materials that last. The bikes can easily be repaired and if needed, they can be reused either as parts for other bikes or recycled as materials at low energy costs.
To keep the costs low and to maximise profits, most brands of bicycle (standard and cargo) are produced in the lowest income areas in the world without any concrete considerations for persons, natural resources or the pollution of the environment. Other than a small handful of UK based manufacturers, your cycle will have travelled half way around the world before it has ever been ridden.
XYZ CARGO can easily compete with bicycles produced in low-income areas around the world. Our bikes cost the same or are cheaper than most large manufacturers who generally put profit over people.
XYZ CARGO UK is part of a network of local producers and distributors in a number of countries which you can find at our website www.xyzcargo.com.
Also check out www.n55.dk for more information on the XYZ spaceframe projects.
One of my favourite XYZ CARGO projects is the ADD-ON project; Part of the Open Next! Eu Project. As part of this we are looking at open source manufacturing of ADD-ONs to the XYZ TRIKE. So far, we have made a Pizza bike, DJ bike, Sliding tables, a broadcast station, Trikshaws, mobile office and mobile workshop.
If you visit Open Next you can see what the project is all about! I look forward to building programs here in the UK that can contribute to it in the future.
What are you reading / listening/watching at the moment ?
My musical tastes have not really moved on since the 90’s, when I was a 20 year old deep in the riot grrl scene. Thankfully the 90’s are having a revival, so I guess I back to being cool for a moment.
I love a good comic book/graphic novel! Such a great way to either escape or learn about people and events. My favourites would be a very long list, so I will just say that I will read ANYTHING by Mariko Tamaki or Greg Ruka.
Being Canadian, I like to seek out Canadian film and T.V content. It seems Canada has found a niche in queer SiFi, like Orphan Black, Wynonna Earp and Lost Girl. I also just finished the first series of “Sort of” by Bilal Baig and Fab Filippo and it is soooooooo good!!
I did not want anywhere else to be the home of XYZ CARGO UK! The ethos of XYZ CARGO and EOW is complimentary. XYZ CARGO is a bike that sits in collaborative community. I wanted to work in a collective environment, where many people share not only tools but ideas, concepts and decisions. I feel so lucky that the stars aligned in such a way to make it possible.
What is the most exciting use of or place you have been on your cargo bike ?
I could say all the distance I have travelled or I that I cycled a cargo to the top of Ben Nevis (I have not), but I am a bona-fide utility user, so “exciting” is subjective.
- Transporting a little Westie in the trike is a public health service. I am always excited to see the smiles on people faces, as even the grumpiest of the lot can’t help but crack a grin.
- It is #slowlife of a XYZ TRIKE, and being able to slow down, smell the flowers and interact with the world around you as a lifestyle.
- It is the ease of carry stuff and people around. There is always a bit of adventure everyday from being able to pick up something bulky at a shop to picking up your mate at the train station and giving them a lift home.
How would someone go about getting a XYZ CARGO cycle?
We offer people two ways of getting a XYZ CARGO: Either they build the model they want at one of our workshops with assistance from us or they get one fully assembled. All cycles are made to order and completely modular.
You can visit our website: www.xyzcargo.com to see what base models we produce and then e-mail us at [email protected].
We have some bikes out in the community that you can demo and more will hopefully be coming soon.
You can also visit us on Instagram @xyzcargouk
Workshops will be starting soon at EOW, so watch this space 😊
What is your vision for XYZ UK ?
I would love to see XYZ CARGO in as many community borrowing and loan schemes as possible. I want XYZ CARGO to be the go-to bike for being able to create programs that have a mission of social good.
I want to work with organisations to create cycles that work for their businesses be that gardening, coffee stall, libraries….you name it, we will try to build it.
I want to keep production local, small and fair. I do not want XYZ CARGO UK to expand and grow to become a large profit driven entity.
I want to contribute as much as possible in a social economy context, while still being able to pay my rent.
