Our Story

Hi, I’m Ben, the founder of Yuba. I grew up on two wheels in Strasbourg, France. Here’s a photo of me and my cousin Benoit riding our first cargo bike.

 

Since that first ride, I’ve been in love with bikes and what they can do. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of adventures. I traveled in East Africa where I saw merchants transporting their goods on two wheels. I spent time in Latin America where dirt roads and broken trucks made bikes the best way to get around. Sometimes what I saw while traveling upset me: waste, environmental damage, or social inequality. For a lot of small businesses or for families living in remote areas, I saw that bikes could enable people and make their lives better.

Eventually I grew up(ish) and translated my passion for bikes and observations of the world into Yuba Bicycles, named after the California river where I love to kayak and connect with the natural world. My wife Emily and I started a family, and we couldn’t wait to pack the diaper bag and bring our toddler along on our adventures.

My family and I love to ride bikes. We also love to make bikes, and for us they are tools AND toys. If I try to put my sleepy, cranky toddler son in a carseat after a long day, the poor little guy howls. But when I put him on the back of a Yuba, he grins every time. We love being outdoors, living a healthy lifestyle, and waving at the neighbors as we pass. The best part of being the founder of Yuba is the moment when I see a family ride a new bike home from the bike shop, on their way to new adventures. When moms tell me they feel safe picking their child up from school and stopping on the way home for groceries, smiling the whole way…that’s when I know I’ve done my job well. Because I know as well as anyone that even us parents love to have fun, be outside, and share new experiences and adventures. I say, let’s bring the kids along!

 

See you on the road!

 

Our Mission

We are dedicated to helping change the way we commute while carrying gear, people, pets and more. With more than 15 years of experience solely focused on designing and building cargo bicycles and accessories, we are proud to support the growing community of cargo bike enthusiasts as they reduce their carbon footprint and realize a more economical and sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.

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