Biking Toward a Better Winnipeg: Plain Bicycle’s Quiet Transformation

In Winnipeg, Manitoba, there’s a quietly radical project underway. Plain Bicycle is importing sturdy, upright, no-nonsense Dutch bikes—affectionately called omafiets—and getting them under everyday riders. These aren’t racing bikes or weekend warriors’ toys. They’re workhorses. Grocery-getters. Kid-haulers. Rain-or-shine, get-it-done machines.

Plain Bicycle’s mission is simple and powerful: build better cities by making practical, joyful, everyday biking more accessible. They run community programs, host pop-up shops, and provide pre-loved bikes that are meant to last generations. In a city with real winters and wide roads, they’re proving that the right kind of bike can make all the difference.

We’ve been thrilled to support that mission. We sent Plain Bicycle a few of our favorite cargo rides: Christiania trikes and the Long John Model. These Danish cargo bikes are built for big loads and daily life—perfect for Winnipeg families, food couriers, or anyone ready to rethink what’s possible on two (or three) wheels.  It's great to see Christiania bikes rolling through new neighborhoods and helping fuel a movement rooted in community, sustainability, and good design.

From Santa Cruz to Winnipeg—here’s to strong legs, sturdy bikes, and people-powered change.