We are Dave and Jess.
In the spring of 2023, we launched our small cargo bike rental company without much fanfare, but after a year of planning, it was exciting to make this dream come true with people wanting to rent cargo bikes from us! Jokingly, Jess will say it was all about N+1, having the opportunity to ride more cool bikes. But in reality, it was more of a journey.
Our personal journey with eco-friendly transportation began when we moved to Ottawa in 2015. We explored different neighbourhoods like Hintonburg, Bells Corners, and Barrhaven, and eventually settled in Hintonburg. Living in an older neighbourhood with all the necessary services within walking, biking, or public transit distance, we realized that using a car was often unnecessary, less convenient, and contributed to car congestion. Our household quickly transitioned to walking, biking, and using public transit for most trips, with a car only used for longer journeys across the city.
Then came a leg injury for Dave during the pandemic and getting around independently became challenging.
The "e-bike" is changing lives
This leg injury and subsequent reconstructive surgery meant walking and driving was not possible, and public transportation was not that reliable. Enter a co-worker with a friendly loan offer for his e-bike. The e-bike opened Dave's world, providing a pain-free way to get around our neighbourhood, run errands, and get to and from his essential job. The electric-assist bike was a game-changer and the first step to realizing that this bicycle technology can change lives. We were confident that a bike with electric assist would be part of our future.
Our first e-cargo bike experience
Then in 2022, we welcomed a new member to our family - the furry kind. When planning a weekend trip to Montreal, we were trying to figure out how we would get around. By car? Nope, there is too much traffic. Metro? We didn't know if we could with a pup. Walking? In the heat of the summer, this would be limiting as we didn't want the hot asphalt to hurt those little paws. Our search led us to Allo Velo who had e-cargo bikes for rent. Having never used a cargo bike, but needing a way to carry our pup, we reserved a Triobike Boxter and hoped for the best! This day changed our lives. Moving between different neighbourhoods in the open air, with the lovely e-assist and all being together was so enjoyable. We were hooked.
At this point, we faced a decision. We could purchase an e-cargo bike to further reduce our reliance on cars or share our positive experiences with others. We realized that not everyone in Ottawa would have the opportunity to experience the joy and convenience we had in Montreal. So, we made a choice. We decided to start a cargo bike rental business, with the goal of giving people in Ottawa the same opportunity we had in Montreal.
This was the birth of Let's Go Cargo!
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