UK’s first electric cargo bike sharing scheme launches in Hackney

Residents or visitors in Stoke Newington, London Fields and Shoreditch will this September be able to take advantage of a small fleet of rental electric cargo bikes, in the first scheme of its kind in the UK

With local councils in the country setting and chasing ambitious emissions targets, and the general public’s growing appetite for greener lifestyle options, it may come as a surprise that no such setup exists already. Under the name Cargo Bike Share, eight electrically assisted ecargo bikes will be available for hire via 4 docking stations. The bikes can carry up to 80kg and will allow people a more environmentally friendly option when it comes to moving heavy loads, such as bulky shopping, personal belongings, equipment and more.

This much-anticipated arrangement is funded by the Mayor of London and the tri-borough Zero Emissions Network, and is being delivered by urban bike share provider, Beryl, with hire arranged through their app.

Of the scheme, Cllr Mete Coban MBE, Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm said: “Our residents and businesses are passionate about doing all they can to help improve air quality – and we’re launching this scheme to provide easy-to-access e-cargo bikes for shopping and carrying goods.

Cargo Bike Share is a nationwide first, and is one of the many ways we’re working to rebuild a greener Hackney in the aftermath of the pandemic – with cleaner air, healthier lives and better neighbourhoods for all of our residents and businesses.”

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, commented: “We know that by taking steps to help residents and businesses lower their emissions, we can create a greener Islington and achieve net zero carbon status by 2030, to help tackle the climate emergency.

Cargo bikes provide a greener, healthier way for residents and businesses to travel around the borough, helping to reduce congestion on our roads and improving air quality for everyone and the ZEN project is a key part of how we want to encourage their use.

Through our people-friendly streets programme, we have been able to create safer, greener, healthier streets that are better suited to walking, cycling and using buggies and wheelchairs. We look forward to seeing Islington’s residents and businesses use these environmentally-friendly cargo bikes on the borough’s streets.”

Beryl chief executive Philip Ellis said: “For last mile deliveries or short journeys, e-cargo bikes are by far the best and often the most time efficient way to move large or heavy items. By replacing vans, a network of e-cargo bikes has the potential to transform local areas making them safer and more pleasant to live and work in, due to the reduction in CO2 emissions, noise pollution and stationary motor vehicles that take up valuable space on our streets.

We are really excited to be partnering with Hackney Council to launch this UK-first trial, which we believe will have a lasting positive impact on the community, and widen access to e-cargo bikes.

‘Beryl has always strived to be a micro-mobility pioneer that offers the broadest options in an affordable and accessible way. We believe this e-cargo bike trial has the potential to show what is possible in many urban areas across the UK, as businesses and residents explore more sustainable transport options.’’

Source: https://news.hackney.gov.uk/cargo-bike-sharing-to-launch-in-stoke-newington-london-fields-and-shoreditch/