Supporting the use of cargo bikes in delivery services

Aims of the partnership

Our aim is to better understand how to shift cargo bikes into the mainstream, to build a network of businesses committed to tackling air pollution, and have a direct impact on air quality in priority neighbourhoods. 

Project objectives:

• Direct benefits
  • Engage ca. 1,300 businesses, with ca. 300 switching to cargo bikes.
  • Reduce freight levels in the project area.
  • Support operators to promote e-cargo bike services.
• Indirect benefits
  • Businesses see the benefits and so use cargo bikes without subsidies post-project.
  • Raised profile of cargo bikes through the media.
  • Improved professionalisation of the industry, increasing safety and adoption of a code of conduct, now adopted by TfL.

Connection to our strategy

One of the key priority areas in our Health Effects of Air Pollution programme is to work with businesses to reduce business-related emissions. We know that freight (which includes deliveries and waste collection) contributes to 20% of nitrogen dioxide and 10% of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lambeth and Southwark.

Freight and deliveries play a significant role in London’s transport mix, with more than 20% of London’s road network capacity taken up by freight, deliveries and other commercial vehicles. Before the pandemic, Transport for London estimated that almost 25% of road transport carbon emissions in the capital came from goods vehicles.

Freight and deliveries have kept London ticking throughout lockdowns but with the steep increase in online deliveries, and with poor air quality disproportionately impacting the health of people living on low incomes, we urgently need to create a fairer, less polluting and efficient freight system.

Research indicates that cargo bikes could displace light good vehicles by as much as 14% in some areas of London by 2025. The same research suggests that without provisions, it is likely to be as low as 1%. This project directly supports progress towards the higher end in Southwark and paves the way for this to happen across our boroughs faster, more effectively and to a high quality.

We will undertake a rigorous evaluation of the project to enable us to understand the extent to which cargo bikes can be scaled across Lambeth and Southwark, what is needed to do that, and to share that information with relevant stakeholders, such as local authorities, funders and other business groups who will be needed to make it happen.