Three trailers, three bikes, two round trips. Need nothing more to move Nicolas’s apartment, from the 11th to the 20th arrondissement of Paris. Patiently, Florin and Tony, helped by a third colleague, load a bed, a sofa, a washing machine and more than thirty boxes into the trailers. Then they wander around the city, making their way on the bike paths.
Tony is Nigerian, in France since 2013, he has refugee status. Florin comes from Romania, he arrived in France when he was six years old and worked a number of odd jobs before becoming a mover. Both are employed by Full Boxa professional integration association specializing in urban bicycle logistics.
“It’s like Tetris”
For Florin, moving furniture by bike is a bit “like a game of Tetris”. You have to be methodical, find a place for each box, protect them, then transport a boat that can weigh up to 300 kg. To make it a little easier, the movers are equipped with electric bikes.
In total, this day of moving by bike cost Nicolas €600. A price approximately the same as that of a traditional move by truck, but without carbon emissions.
A concept born in Montreal
The concept of moving by bike, born in Montreal in 2007, has spread to France. As in Rennes where the solidarity cooperative All By Bike has been offering equivalent services since 2011. Lille and Grenoble are also among the pioneering cities. In Paris, Full Box launched this service in 2015 and remains for the moment the only structure to offer it in the capital.
Moving without carbon emissions
Cargo bikes and trailer bikes, very common in Holland and Denmark, are gradually making their way into the cities of France. More and more deliveries are being made with these non-polluting travel objects and craftsmen have abandoned their vans in favor of them.
L’association Bike boxesto which Carton plein adheres, lists all the professionals in the sector with a online map to find the professional closest to your home. It’s up to you if you want to reduce your carbon footprint.
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