Most people in Israel had big ol' plastic milk crates fastened to their rear bike rack, and a basket off the front handlebars if the design allowed. I did the same thing to my bike, and it was great! Not aerodynamic, of course, but I was in a town and speed/distance weren't really issues. Incredibly practical, no one stole them, and carried a LOT of food and other stuff. We got along like that without a car for over a year.