Could this retro cargo trike be the future of pedal-powered deliveries?

In a world obsessed with electric everything, from scooters to toothbrushes, a new cargo trike has emerged that pedals against the current.

Meet the Cyclauto: A gloriously retro take on the standard cargo trike. Think 1950s charm with a dash of pedal-powered ingenuity - it looks less like something from your local bike shop and more like a prop from a Wes Anderson film. The biggest visual curveball is a steering wheel in place of handlebars, but the surprises don’t stop there. While most modern cargo trikes have for good reason succumbed to the lure of electric assist, the Cyclauto takes a more purist, albeit unconventional, approach. There’s no motor in sight.

Instead, like a unicycle, the crankset is built directly into the front wheel hub, turning the wheel via a compact, integrated three-speed gearbox. It’s clever, minimal, and possibly a leg workout you won’t forget in a hurry. Yet there’s more to the Cyclauto than good looks and mechanical novelty; modularity.

The trike’s front drive unit can be disconnected from its rear trailer section, allowing users to swap between different trailer configurations. Whether you’re hauling groceries, passengers, or pulling double shifts as a street barista, the Cyclauto can be adapted with cargo boxes, rickshaw-style seats, or even mobile food and coffee carts. It’s the kind of flexibility that turns heads at cycle shows, where a working prototype has already begun making the rounds.

As for when you might spot one outside a café or cruising through a low-traffic neighbourhood? That’s still up in the air. No pricing or release dates have been confirmed yet, but keep an eye on the Cyclauto website - here’s hoping it makes it to market soon.

Whatever your precious cargo, we're here to help.

ETA cargo bike insurance includes everything you’d expect, like theft, accidental damage and vandalism cover – plus a few things you might not. For example, we have a no-quibble battery theft policy, zero devaluation for life, and if you break down on your cargo bike, we'll rescue you.

Cargo bikes offer a clean, quiet and cost-effective way to carry stuff, but their size and weight can make a breakdown troublesome. It's the reason we pioneered Cycle Rescue – a 24/7 nationwide breakdown recovery service.

If your cargo bike suffers a mechanical failure, puncture, or even a flat battery, we'll rescue you, your bike, and any cargo (or kids) you're carrying.

No shed? No problem.

We understand it can be a challenge to store a cargo bike so our insurance allows you to keep it in your front garden, or on the street outside your home. And if you're lucky enough to have a shed or garage, we don't specify any particular standard of lock for the door, or ask that your bike be locked to anything once inside.

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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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