Tag Archive: England

  1. E-cargo bike sharing pilot and e-cycling hub receive UK funding

    Comments Off on E-cargo bike sharing pilot and e-cycling hub receive UK funding

    Source: Smart Cities World, ATE Image source: ATE

    Active Travel England (ATE) has awarded funds to 12 projects which promote walking, wheeling and cycling, with each receiving up to £100,000 (€115,690) following a competitive bid process in 2025. Winning projects include an e-cargo bike-sharing scheme in Brighton and Hove, and an e-cycling hub in Bradford.

    PedalUK was awarded £99,819 (€115,480) for its OurBike e-cargo bike-sharing pilot scheme to be delivered in Brighton and Hove, alongside the City Council and the University of Brighton. OurBike represents the UK’s largest community e-cargo bike share network, launched in 2022 and, until now, mainly operating across 16 London boroughs and in three rural communities. The bikes are hosted by local business and community hubs, and OurBike statistics show that 66% of users replace car trips.

    Emma Hughes, General Manager at PedalUK/OurBike, said, “This funding enables OurBike to launch and test our London e-cargo bike share scheme outside the capital in Brighton & Hove Building on research from the University of Brighton and working with Brighton & Hove City Council and local partners, we are addressing the real barriers to e-cargo bike use by embedding bikes in communities and making everyday cycling more accessible and affordable for families and businesses carrying children, goods or equipment.”

    Bradford-based Capital of Cycling was awarded £100,000 (€115,690) for its e‑cycling hub and toolkit which helps organisations to set up cycle libraries and loan schemes. The aim of the libraries and loan schemes is to turn the users into long-term cyclists under their own steam, by loaning standard or cargo e-bikes for periods of two to eight weeks to qualifying participants. Scheme users are encouraged to share their experiences with other users and Capital of Cycling, and receive guidance on acquiring their own e-bike or traditional bike at the end of the loan period.

    Other projects receiving funding include community behaviour change programmes, gamified walking campaigns and accessible wheeling apps.

    National Active Travel Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:

    “These projects are about testing fresh ideas in the real world and finding out what works.

    “By backing smaller, innovative organisations across the country, we are tapping into more imaginations, reaching people in the heart of the community and building a strong evidence base that will further improve everyday journeys for people who walk, wheel and cycle now and in the future.

    “The lessons we learn will help councils, businesses and communities invest in approaches that are inclusive, practical and deliver tangible benefits. It’s about making it easier for more people to choose active travel for everyday trips, whatever their age, ability or background.”

  2. UK bill grants local authorities new powers over rental e-bikes

    Comments Off on UK bill grants local authorities new powers over rental e-bikes

    Source: Zag Daily

    The UK’s government has passed the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill which introduces substantial changes to how transport is governed in England, including new rules around rental e-bikes.

    The bill gives new powers to England’s local authorities for the licensing of shared-use e-bike operators, and to set requirements for parking, safety and accessibility. England’s individual local transport authorities will receive the powers, meaning that there will be a variation of standards from city to city.

    The bill also creates a new category of Strategic Authorities, led by elected mayors, with enhanced power over transport planning and investment. The aim is to enable greater integration of networks across England, with locally tailored aspects. Spending and decision-making in mayoral authorities will be overseen by newly established Local Scrutiny Committees, with the aim of bolstering public accountability around transport, as well as other local services.

    One of the most notable changes will be in London, where the new licensing powers will go to Transport for London (TfL), instead of the city’s 33 separate boroughs. This will create a unified, London-wide regulatory framework for the city’s dockless e-bike operators, in contrast to the preceding patchwork of local regulations.

    Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said, “The Mayor and I welcome the work by ministers to give TfL proper powers to regulate the industry in London which will deliver higher standards, manage bike numbers and improve safety.” He also acknowledged that the piecemeal regulatory arrangement to date had undoubtedly caused problems, including a lack of rules in relation to poorly parked vehicles.

    Alice Pleasant, Senior Public Affairs Manager of LEVA-EU member Lime, said that the bill is a positive move, though called for “clear evidence-based guidance” from central government to avoid the emergence of more patchwork regulation. “In the context of the UK’s ambitious national and local travel targets, it is crucial that any changes made do not hinder people’s ability to cycle more.”

  3. Active Travel England invites SMEs and NGOs to bid for funding

    Comments Off on Active Travel England invites SMEs and NGOs to bid for funding

    Source: Cycling Industry News

    Active Travel England (ATE), the UK executive agency which aims to increase the number of local journeys being walked, wheeled or cycled, is inviting bids for grants of up to £100,000, from a £1 million funding pot distributed through the Active Travel Innovation Fund. Eligible applicants include Small / Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who can present new or already successful initiatives for promoting and supporting active travel.

    Examples of projects presented in the bidding process could include:

    • community initiatives designed to help under-represented groups in choosing more active travel options
    • partnerships between councils and local businesses and community groups for the promotion of active travel
    • digital tools designed to enhance accessibility to safe active travel

    Application for funding is open until midday on Friday 14th November, and the funding period for projects will run for 12 months, after which an evaluation process will commence – each organisation will be asked to report on how the funds have made an impact. The funding is accompanied by practical support to successful applicants from ATE and the Government Grant Managed Service (GGMS).

    Through the funding initiative, ATE is aiming to create a wide, collaborative partner network, and gather valuable feedback on the progress of active travel promotion and uptake. It follows an announcement earlier in the year of a £300 million funding package to support local authorities in the creation of new infrastructure for walking and cycling and the provision of cycle training for children. Multiple outcomes are expected, including reducing traffic congestion, cutting sick days, and helping to strengthen local economies.

    Former professional cyclist Chris Boardman, the National Active Travel Commissioner, said, “The Active Travel Innovation Fund will help turn great ideas into real improvements for people who walk, wheel, or cycle. Enabling more people get about under their own steam is one of the most important interventions we can make to improve the nation’s health, so it’s crucial that we support bold projects that will help us do this. We’re excited to see the creativity and ambition of applicants and look forward to working closely with the selected organisations to deliver positive and lasting change to the way people travel.”

    The Minister for Local Transport, Lilian Greenwood, said: “Walking, wheeling, and cycling bring huge physical and mental health benefits. We are determined to make them easy and safe choices for people across the country. The government is providing £1 million to back bold projects from small businesses and community groups to encourage more people to choose these healthier, more active, options for short journeys. We’re building a healthy, sustainable and joined-up network, a key part of our Plan for Change to boost local businesses, grow local economies and ease pressure on the NHS.”

    Organisations can apply for the funding here.

  4. CoMoUK publishes Report on Shared E-scooter Trials in England 2023

    Comments Off on CoMoUK publishes Report on Shared E-scooter Trials in England 2023

    CoMoUK, an organisation and charity promoting the social, economic and environmental benefits of shared transport, has published its report on three years of e-scooter trials in England.

    Download the CoMoUK report on the shared e-scooter trials in England here

    The charity shared, “We come to a number of recommendations, leading with the need for legislation. The trials have clearly proved popular in a sustained way and our work brings new insights into the trials, which have now been running for almost three years.”

    “Our report is here and results from data gathering from operators and dialogue with all stakeholders. We look forward to delving further into the dynamics of shared e-scooters in future work and have written to transport minister to further press the case for legislation to make e-scooters legalisation via creating a new low emission powered light vehicle class.”

    The report covers a wide range of topics and considerations, with trials totalling 2.3 million users and current e-scooter fleet numbers standing at over 24,000. Recommendations are given in the following seven areas: Communication, Infrastructure, Legislation, Stop treating e-scooters as cars, Procurement, Parking and Technology.

    CoMoUK holds a monthly forum for authorities working on or interested in shared e-scooter trials, with the most recent one having just taken place on Monday 15th May. Interested parties may email Antonia@como.org.uk to express their interest in joining.