What it does
EasyDock is a modular system that enables quick, tool-free transfer of cargo boxes from vans to cargo bikes at urban mobility hubs—solving last-mile delivery challenges, cutting emissions, and boosting efficiency in car-free city centers.
Your inspiration
This was a final-year assignment for "Industrial Design: Start-Up" at Howest, where we developed an existing concept into a fully worked-out start-up simulation. We first researched the change in mobility in European cities and their wish to erase cars from city centers. Here we stumbled upon the concept of mobility hubs - centralized locations at the outskirts of cities where people can arrive by van and seamlessly switch to cargo bikes for the last-mile deliveries. As of now cargo boxes on cargo bikes are hard to take off - they are simply not designed for it. This is not user-friendly nor flexible; something you need to convince people.
How it works
Mobility hubs are locations where public cargo bikes are parked, since you can't enter cities with cars anymore, you need a way to quickly load your stuff on to the bike. The idea is to arrive with your van to the hub, take your box out of the van, load it on the bike and enter the city. The bikes are fitted with a square aluminum profile that has a slit on the top, your box - suited to your needs - is fitted with 4 Nylon PA6 + 3% Teflon pucks that slide effortlessly into these rails and onto the bike. The puck has a clamp around it that can be tightened with a foot pedal around the profile, this way locking the box to the bike. We chose these materials because of their mechanical, resistant and self lubricating properties. The shape of the puck is designed so that it self-aligns into the rails so you don't have to guess where the two meet.
Design process
We started with researching the model of bike we wanted our system to work on; we landed on the Urban Arrow Cargo line since they are the leaders in the market and the most sold model in it's category. We prototyped our way to a fully functional proof of product that was self aligning, -lubricating and weather resistant. Also taking in mind the abuse these things will have to endure and a locking system that was both fast and strong enough. This everything needed to be as compact as possible in height, since the higher your box sits the less you can see of the road. Everything from transport, logistics, financial plan, packaging,... you name it has been researched and is ready for production.
How it is different
Easy Dock is unique in the literal sense of the word; meaning it is a first of its kind solution. There is currently no company that makes a system close to what we are making - especially not commercially available. This could revolutionize the way cargo bikes are implemented in European cities and provide solutions to green transport and urban logistics, helping to reduce emissions, optimize traffic flow, and lower operational costs.
Future plans
We are currently talking to Urban Arrow to make this dream a reality. With their financial help combined with our idea we think this could really become something. We already made a financial plan, found manufacturers and came up with a step-by-step plan on how this could become a real-world application.
Share this page on