Source: Cycling Industry News

London remains a standout in the UK when it comes to cycling, with cargo bike usage in the city surging by 63%, according to Clean Cities analysis.

In early August, a group of cargo bike operators, representing 54 businesses including plumbers and electricians, took to the streets of central London, crossing London Bridge and passing the Houses of Parliament as part of the annual Cargo Bike Cruise. They were rallying behind Clean Cargo Capital, a new campaign aimed at promoting the adoption of electric and pedal-powered commercial vehicles as part of a ‘green deal for freight’.

Campaigners and businesses are urging the Mayor to enhance support for cargo bike adoption as a cleaner alternative to polluting diesel and petrol vans, which impose hidden social and environmental costs estimated at £2.46 billion annually in London.

While Transport for London (TfL) has committed over £100 million to help businesses scrap polluting vans, none of these funds have been allocated specifically to boost cargo bike adoption.

Campaigners and cargo bike operators view this as a missed opportunity and are calling for a “Green Deal for Freight.” They propose that remaining funds be allocated to a “Bikes for Business” initiative, providing tailored advice and subsidies to London businesses interested in adopting cargo bikes.

The group is calling for measures to level the playing field between cargo bikes and more polluting delivery methods, including a fairer Congestion Charge that better reflects the environmental and social costs of different modes of transport. They are also pushing for an urgent river crossings package for cargo bikes, as they are currently excluded from the Silvertown Tunnel, set to open next year.

Jack Skillen, Director of Sustainability and Place at Team London Bridge, the business improvement district, said: “In this area alone, over 200 businesses have switched to cargo bikes for transporting everything from legal contracts and blood samples to stationery and waste.

“The change in London Bridge has been dramatic, and is having such a positive impact on the environment and the public. But there are barriers limiting progress, so we need partners, including the Mayor, local and national governments to share our vision if we are going to see this positive transformation continue across London.”

Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums For Lungs added: “We know that a quarter of a million children in London have asthma and that comes at a huge human and financial cost to all of us. When every breath we take has toxins in, the impact of this crisis is one that affects each and every Londoner, but it is a crisis that is avoidable.

“As demonstrated today with the Cargo Bike Cruise, there are alternatives to the dirty diesel and petrol vehicles we see on our roads in still increasing numbers. We must see London transition to a cleaner and greener city, we must incentivise businesses to adopt not only electric vehicles but innovative and yet simple solutions such as the cargo bike.

“Whether it be grocery deliveries or a local electrician, the humble cargo bike is being shown as an impactful tool in decarbonising local economies and cleaning up London’s air. We need to see further support from the Mayor for businesses to take part in this pedal powered revolution.“