Courio-City - When Urban Logistics Becomes a Moving Work of Art

The story

Courio-City, based in Yokohama, demonstrates just how versatile bicycle logistics can be. The team travels around the city by bike, handles deliveries, manufactures its own messenger bags, organizes events, and is constantly developing new ideas related to cargo bikes and sustainable urban mobility.

It’s about more than just getting from point A to point B. Courio-City wants to show how bicycle logistics can transform cities—making them quieter, more sustainable, and more creative at the same time.

CARLA had been following the team on Instagram for some time. In 2024, the idea finally became a reality: Courio-City imported the first CARLA to Japan and put it on the streets of Yokohama.

Today, it serves as a mode of transportation, an experimental platform, and—through the “One Little Art, One Little Flower” project—even a moving canvas for local art.

The challenge

Yokohama is a city of over a million people with heavy traffic—and some pretty steep streets. Professional bicycle logistics therefore require a transport solution that can handle large and heavy loads while still moving safely and flexibly through the city.

At the same time, Courio-City wants to demonstrate that urban logistics doesn’t necessarily have to rely on delivery vans.

That’s why they were looking for more than just a bike trailer: a versatile system that works in day-to-day delivery operations while also leaving room for new ideas.

The solution

Today, Courio-City is on the road in Yokohama with a CARLA and a FUJI Far Point e-bike. The electric assist not only helps with heavy loads but is especially useful on the city’s many hills. At the same time, the CARLA’s powerful brakes ensure that even fully loaded trips remain under control.

The CARLA transports all kinds of items: beer kegs, printer toner, event supplies, and other deliveries within the city. In the future, the CARLA will also be used to collect compost and coffee grounds in collaboration with local businesses and the city. Even a food truck version is already in the works.

But perhaps the CARLA’s most extraordinary task right now is something else entirely:

For the “One Little Art, One Little Flower” project, Courio-City is teaming up with local artists to transform CARLA’s transport box into a “Moving Mural”—a work of art on wheels.

Under the motto “A Little Joy in Daily Life,” colorful works of art are being created that don’t stay on a building wall but instead travel through Yokohama. Both sides of the box feature different motifs and artistic styles. This way, the art reaches new people every day—pedestrians, children, commuters, or simply someone who happens to pass by the CARLA.

The idea behind it is simple: whoever discovers the artwork should experience a moment of joy, stop for a moment, or perhaps even strike up a conversation with others about it.

As a result, the CARLA in Yokohama has long since ceased to transport only goods.

It carries art, ideas, and the vision of a city where sustainable mobility can be visible and, at the same time, fun.