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Mechanised mobility in the Stockholm Archipelago

S
Aug 6, 20262 min read

Some machines I have seen

In no particular order:

  • Bicycles. Their usual condition is most accurately described as "kind of rickety"
  • Quad bikes. I don't hold with them; they're too loud and they look like they're utterly lethal to drive. That having been said, they're often towing a trailer filled with improperly-secured children who are clearly enjoying themselves. Depending on the local lithology and topography they're essential if you need to move anything heavy, so, fine
  • Mopeds. I have never seen a Vespa-type scooter
  • Golf carts. Evidently second- or third-hand Club Karts. Stylish, but perhaps more suitable for an older generation
  • Several sub-species of cargo bike. Every one I've seen has been a retrofit; all have been front-cargo types with elevated cargo areas (like the Omnium) with the cargo bed often being a pallet, so you can easily seat a person on it. I haven't seen any electric models
  • Cargo trikes. These are also highly diverse designs, from born-as-a-trike models with wide quad-bike wheels to vehicles that began their life as a small motor bike. The blanket term for these is flakmoped (a typical example is pictured above). Motors vary from small Lifan petrol units to electric (Bafang and friends). As with the bikes, the cargo area is always up front so they're Bakfiets-shaped. I saw one with a seat for a dog today.

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