Cargo bikes can curb van use in London, says cycling commissioner

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Clean, space-efficient cargo bikes could cut future van mileage in central London by nearly a fifth, the person charged with promoting cycling in the capital has said, urging companies to embrace a greener future. environment.

Will Norman, Commissioner for Cycling and Walking for the UK capital, spoke as the Mayor of London’s office and Transport for London implement the first ever Cargo Bike Action Plan by a UK local authority.

The policy, released on March 31, aims to encourage the adoption of bicycles to stem the rapid growth of congestion and pollution from vans. Typically there are cargo bikes, which can have two, three or four wheels large cargo boxes and use electricity to assist the cyclist.

Norman pointed out the “interesting” modeling featured in the relationship calculating that the switch to cargo bikes could reduce van mileage in central London in 2030 by up to 17%. Van traffic in Greater London increased by 18% in the five years to 2019, according to statistics from the Department for Transport, and the mode has declined much less than other forms of transport during the coronavirus pandemic.

A traffic transfer from motorized vans to bicycles powered by pedaling and electricity it was part of London’s journey towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030, Norman said. It was also instrumental in tackling congestion.

Proponents say currently around a quarter of the cargo carried in light vans could be transferred to cargo bikes, which can handle loads of up to around 250kg. Operators say the vehicles are faster and more flexible in busy cities than space-consuming vans.

“It’s good for everyone,” Norman said.

The local government in the capital has drawn up its own plan, Norman added, to ensure that the change goes as smoothly as possible.

“We have to make sure that the potential is fully realised, that we’re doing it in a coordinated way,” he said.

The action plan says local planners should prioritize land allocation for hubs such as the one operated by Cambridge-based cargo cycle operator Zedify in Hoxton, north-east of the City of London. The site, in a basement under a high-rise, houses storage for heavy-duty tricycles and light-duty two-wheeled cargo bikes.

The vans deliver large shipments of the goods that Zedify distributes on behalf of clients such as Zara, the fashion retailer, and Grubby, a vegan meal brand. The riders then exit the hub carrying goods to their final consignees.

Zedify CEO Rob King said logistics systems need to be rethought to ensure cargo bikes reach their full potential. Retailers and logistics companies generally operate from large depots on the outskirts of cities.

“You have to come up with a whole new business system to make them work at scale,” King said of the cargo bikes.

Deposit sites are scarce, but they’re critical to ensuring companies like Zedify can capture a larger share of the market for high-volume deliveries, King said. Zedify already operates in nine UK cities and plans to operate in nearly every UK city with a population of more than 100,000.

“It’s a bit of a market failure,” King said of the hub availability. “Normally, in a dense urban area like London, a block of flats will give a developer a better return than a logistics hub.”

King pointed to some other issues, notably the challenges of financing the cargo bikes, which can cost £8,000 each. Many financial institutions are wary of involvement.

Beyond distribution, Aaron Fleming-Saheed, founder of Cycling Sparks, an electrical contractor, said tradesmen were discouraged from using cargo bikes because it required them to think about doing jobs in a new way.

“It’s basic, simple flexibility,” Fleming-Saheed said of how his business operated. “This is what a lot of people feel like they don’t have the time to do.”

Norman said that as well as pushing for the development of new delivery hubs, the mayor’s office and TfL were developing standards for hub design and for rider training and safety.

“We know there are challenges, which is why we pitched the plan,” Norman said.

Hina Bokhari, a Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly, said Norman should go even further. As a member of the assembly’s economic committee, Bokhari helped write a report recommending that before the imminent expansion of LondonIn the ultra-low-emissions zone the mayor is set to set up a £100m fund to encourage businesses to scrap vans and replace them with cargo bikes. The recommendation was not accepted.

“To reach net zero by 2030, we need to invest money in these strategies,” said Bokhari.

Fleming-Saheed, meanwhile, insisted his business already had significant potential to grow beyond its current staff strength, with one full-time and two part-time workers alongside the founder.

“There’s a market here and essentially it’s a really cool place to be at the moment,” he said. “I have big ambitions.”

Having started the business in 2017 hitting sites on a regular mechanical bike, Fleming-Saheed first purchased a cargo bike in 2019. The company currently operates five Urban Arrow electric cargo bikes.

“Any new business starting now must have the environment at the top of its agenda,” said Fleming-Saheed. “Things can’t go the way they’ve done before.”