‘Win-win for business’ – London politicians call for action on cargo bikes
Adik Khan called for action to help businesses swap their vans for cargo bikes, as City Hall politicians hailed the cars’ “revolutionary” capabilities.
In a new report London The Assembly’s economic committee said the mayor should allocate more money to district councils to organize freight bicycle exchange and training schemes.
The committee’s inquiry looked at how businesses in the capital could be incentivized to ditch diesel vans and switch to using cargo bikes for deliveries and other jobs.
Cargo bikes can range from two- or three-wheel bikes with trailers or storage boxes on the front or back, to four-wheel covered vehicles, and can cost up to £12,500 – while the cheapest electric vans cost around £24,000.
The committee found that cargo bikes allow businesses to travel within the ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emission Zone) at a relatively low upfront cost and reduce congestion and pollution.
Their report urges Transport for London (TfL) to share with the committee any analysis it has carried out to ensure that there is uptake in the purchase of cargo bikes as part of the Ulez recycling scheme – and that it should also consider increasing funding for cargo bikes to encourage more companies to switch to them when the current recycling funding runs out.
Committee chair Hina Bokhari said: “The whole point of this incentive is to make sure businesses see options.
Hina Bokhari, Liberal Democrat, Chair of the London Assembly’s Economic Committee
/ Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service“We have big businesses like Amazon that are taking them on board, and now we want to make sure that smaller businesses that want to do the same feel that they can make that transition – and that can happen with the support of the mayor , [and] government support.”
Ms Bohari added: “We’ve spoken to the plumbers, we’ve spoken to the electricians who are doing this transition and they said it’s [using a cargo bike] saves them time because they can get to the meeting on time and fit in more meetings.
“It’s great for their business, it’s also great for their mental health … it’s a win-win for a lot of companies.”
Brian Whiting, head of operations at homelessness charity Under One Sky, tested one of the bikes and ordered one to help deliver it around London.
Brian Whiting, operations manager at homelessness charity Under One Sky
/ Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service“It’s faster than a van, I don’t have to worry about parking. i can get anything [and] “If there’s a lot of traffic, I can take an alternative route,” said Mr. Whiting.
“Clean, non-polluting – that’s the main thing. And it’s good exercise, I felt good when I was on the bike,” he added.
Oliver Lord, who heads the UK branch of the Europe-wide Clean Cities campaign, said: “We are concerned about the level of air pollution in London, particularly in central London…
“We see this as a really positive business decision. Obviously, this won’t be a solution for every business, [but] if you look at the number of vans driving in London, it’s increased by about 30 per cent in the last decade – that’s something we can’t support, so it’s a space saver.
Oliver Lord, UK, leads the Clean Cities campaign.
/ Noah Vickers/Local Democracy Reporting Service“This is a great initiative to try to reduce the costs of businesses in the context of the cost of living crisis and, frankly, as an environmental company, it will help us save the planet, but more importantly, save our health, because air pollution is a problem.”
TfL’s cargo bike action plan has recently been published estimates that by the end of the decade these cars could replace up to 17 percent of the kilometers traveled by vans in central London.
Responding to the committee’s report, Will Norman, Mayor of Walking and Cycling The commissioner said: “Cargo bikes can be a game changer when it comes to delivering goods and providing travel services.
Will Norman, Mayor of London’s Pedestrian and Cycling Officer
/ Alex Lentati“Not only do they benefit the environment by not contributing to air pollution, they also make travel more efficient and pose a much lower risk of danger to pedestrians and cyclists than vans and trucks.
“TfL recently published its cargo bike action plan and we will continue to explore how we can increase the use of cargo bikes on our roads to help both environment and the health of Londoners, and to build a better, safer and greener London for everyone.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cargo-bikes-london-assembly-pollution-congestion-funding-b1074720.html
