On 7 August 2024, over 80 cargo bikes from 54 participating businesses rode through Central London, over London Bridge and past the Houses of Parliament, to ‘celebrate different organisations using the sustainable alternative to petrol or diesel vans’.
The fourth annual Cargo Bike Cruise was reportedly ‘the largest convoy to date’ and riders ranged from MPs to couriers to plumbers and electricians. The event was in support of Clean Cargo Capital, which Clean Cities describes as ‘a new campaign aiming to accelerate the uptake of electric and pedal-powered commercial vehicles as part of a green deal for freight’.
According to analysis by Clean Cities, London saw a 63% increase in the number of cargo bikes in use from 2022 to 2023. Clean Cities notes that using cargo bikes instead of traditional last-mile delivery vehicles can ‘reduce congestion, improve business efficiency and support the development of more liveable and healthier cities’.
A 2022 report from Just Economics, Team London Bridge and Impact on Urban Health claimed that ‘the hidden social and environmental costs associated with diesel vans in London total £2.46 billion annually’.
Meanwhile, Transport for London conducted research which found that ‘cargo bikes could replace up to 17% of vans in parts of London by 2030’. This would be equivalent to over 62 million miles, resulting in a potential carbon reduction across Greater London ‘in the region of 30,000 tonnes of CO2 a year by 2030′.
Jack Skillen, director of sustainability and place at Team London Bridge, said: “In this area alone, over 200 businesses have made a switch to cargo bikes, whether it is for transporting legal contracts, blood samples, stationary or 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 clean air campaign group 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.”
Amongst those taking part in the Cargo Bike Cruise was Kevin Savage, COO of Delivery Mates. Speaking on the event and the importance of cargo bikes, Savage told CiTTi Magazine: “I think cargo bikes have come out of the novelty stage, somebody said that today. I think it’s just a mainstream activity now.
“So [when] people see cargo bikes riding around in a convoy, it’s a thing that people take notice of and for us, it’s about transforming from vans and into cargo bikes.
“We know now we can deliver the same on a cargo bike as we can in a van. We’ve gone beyond that, so it’s about getting products into London, getting more awareness, getting more bike lanes, and then things will be good.”
Councillor John Batteson, cabinet member for climate emergency, jobs and business at Southwark Council, was also in attendance to support the event. In a post on X, he said: “Businesses have a hugely important role in helping to tackle the climate emergency and transitioning to cargo bikes will reduce van emissions in Southwark.”
Achievements and innovations in sustainable transport planning will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector
