“During the Covid-19 crisis, our Co Delivery cargo bikes have helped support local, independent businesses by providing a zero emission delivery service around the city.”
“We’re now seeing a huge increase in interest from other businesses wanting to explore how our eCargo bikes can help keep their goods and services moving around our city whilst helping achieve Exeter’s net zero Carbon target.”
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The problem of Sidmouth’s traffic in town might be addressed by introducing a fleet of electric vehicles – as suggested some weeks ago by a member of the VGS:
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Meanwhile, in Exeter, Co Bikes have been operating very successfully:
We are Co Bikes, Exeter’s on-demand electric bike scheme.
Because our bikes are electrically assisted, they make cycling a breeze – even uphill!
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Co Bikes also have been developing a delivery adapted bike which would fit the bill:
Discover a new way to deliver
Welcome to Co Delivery, the new name for Escargo, Exeter’s electric cargo bike delivery service. We’re now part of the Co Cars and Co Bikes family and, together, we’re bringing sustainable shared mobility services to Exeter and the South West.
https://www.co-delivery.co.uk/
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They are popping up all over the place:
Brighton delivery lorries to be replaced by electric bikes | theargus.co.uk
Electric bikes powered on to deliver medicines in Kensington | kcwtoday.co.uk
Queen Street, Oxford, to run cargo bike cycling trial + readers’ poll | oxfordmail.co.uk
Pedal Me, the e-cargo bike-based delivery service, warns Amazon: “We’re coming for you”| road.cc
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News just in that Nottingham have secured funding for a fleet of e-trikes:
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City secures funding to trial eCargo bikes
17:11 21 May
Amy Woodfield BBC News
A new electric bike scheme is being trialed in Nottingham after the city council secured £50,000 of government funding. The eCargo bikes are designed to be a zero-emission way of moving loads around. Other advantages are thought to include taking up less space than a van or truck and having health benefits for users.
The small fleet will first be trialled by the authority to replace journeys around the city currently done by petrol or diesel vehicles. Later this year they will be made available to organisations like Sustrans, Nottingham Bikeworks, Ridewise and the two universities. Local businesses will also be able to use them via the Workplace Travel Service (WTS).
Latest updates: East Midlands Live | bbc.co.uk
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And now they’re coming to Exeter – as reported by Radio Exe:
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Council gets £80k for eCargo bikes
Four bikes will be used to expand the eCargo courier service in Exeter, enabling more businesses to deliver goods across the city. Teams from the university will travel between different sites around the city. Devon County Council workers will be getting around carbon-free to slap tickets on errant motorists breaking parking rules.
The scheme will build on the partnership with Co Cars, which has more than 30 car club vehicles in Exeter, and its cycling arm, Co Bikes, the UK’s first citywide electric bike hire docked network which has 100 e-bikes in the city.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member responsible for cycling, said: “It will be another important contribution to reducing carbon emissions and reach carbon neutral targets by 2030 by helping to develop a more integrated, shared and sustainable transport network. The use of e-Cargo bikes will demonstrate to businesses and individuals that electric bikes offer a realistic alternative to meet local transport needs.”
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet liaison member for Exeter, said: “These will help to reduce car and van movements in the city, helping tackle congestion and carbon dioxide emissions in Devon.”
Mark Hodgson, founder and MD of Co Cars & Bikes, commented: “During the Covid-19 crisis, our Co Delivery cargo bikes have helped support local, independent businesses by providing a zero emission delivery service around the city. We’re now seeing a huge increase in interest from other businesses wanting to explore how our eCargo bikes can help keep their goods and services moving around our city whilst helping achieve Exeter’s net zero Carbon target. This very welcome announcement will allow us to scale up Co Delivery to meet the demand.”
Tim Anderson, head of transport at Energy Saving Trust, said: “The Department for Transport eCargo Bike Grant Fund attracted a significant number of applications. The 18 local authorities who have successfully secured funding will purchase a total of 273 eCargo bikes and nine eCargo bike trailers, enabling more businesses to benefit from access. eCargo bikes are an attractive low carbon transport solution which offer important benefits, most impressively fuel cost savings and contributing to improved local air quality. Last mile delivery is an important area for consideration in our journey to reduce transport emissions to net zero by 2050.”
Council gets £80k for eCargo bikes | radioexe.co.uk
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photo: co-bikes.co.uk/about-us/