Businesses across North Somerset are invited to apply for a free one-month loan of an electric cargo bike, to help them reach their customers while cutting congestion, carbon emissions and costs.
Industries already benefitting from zero-emission cargo bike deliveries include courier companies, food and grocery companies, tradespeople and other service providers.
Kerry O’Neill is a Business Engagement Officer with North Somerset’s Sustainable Travel and Road Safety team said,
Electric cargo bikes are efficient. Using cycle and bus lanes they can make short, fast local journeys. They can be wheeled through pedestrian areas and are easy to park, making pick-ups and deliveries quicker than using a van.
Restaurants seeking delivery staff say it’s easier to recruit bike riders than drivers of motorised vehicles, offering additional potential for healthy job creation alongside savings on vehicle and fuel costs.
The electric cargo bike is available for one-month trials from November 2020. Should any business then decide to buy their own, they can apply for grant funding (up to 50% match-funding to a maximum of £3,000 per business) to purchase their own electric cargo bike or to help with other sustainable and active travel initiatives.
North Somerset Council is also continuing its ongoing ‘Claim a Stand’ initiative, which allows businesses to apply for up to five free Sheffield bike stands to install on their own premises to encourage more journeys to be made by bike. Visit the TraveWest website for information on this and other sustainable travel-related offers and initiatives.
For further information on loaning an eCargo bike to help replace motorised journeys with zer-carbon journeys, contact Sustainable Travel Officer Kerry.oneill@n-somerset.gov.uk via email.