Dane Buson wrote:

The length isn't the problem, longtails generally ride better than
shorter bikes. The problem is the linkage to the front wheel makes
steering mushy IMO. I don't care for it personally. On the other hand,
I'd still take it over a trailer.

I think the problem would be weight. A wooden box that size would have
to weigh 30-40 lbs., in addition to the weight of the much larger frame.
It's true, as someone pointed out, that there are no hills in Holland, but
there sure are in Utah. [Tangential note: the Tour of Utah is being run
again this year. Five days of racing, 30,000 feet of climbing.]
By comparison, my trailer weighs only 15 lbs., and will haul 100 lbs.,
without compromising the balance or steering of the bike. And being made
of aluminum and nylon, it never splinters and puts slivers in hands and
butts.
I do occasionally ride where there are bollards, too. I have yet to
have to do anything more to get the trailer through them than just slow
down, or at worst, put my feet down and walk the bike and trailer through
them. One MUP I use has a "mouse maze" fence arrangment where it crosses
a railroad track. I do have to fully dismount there. Total delay versus
an unobstructed ride is less than a minute.
Final advantage of a trailer over a Bakfiets: when I'm not using it
[1] I can detach it. I lay it on its side in my tiny garage, and it fits
fine, along with four bikes and a car.


Bill

__o | SUVs are the reason gas costs $4 a gallon.
_`\(,_ | Bicycles are the reason it isn't $10 (yet).
(_)/ (_) |

[1] Last week's trailer use: one day groceries, two days tools, one day
manure. Make up your own joke about hauling sh*t around.