Cargo bike sharing to launch in Stoke Newington, London Fields and Shoreditch
The first publicly available cargo bike sharing scheme in the country is being launched in Hackney this month to help residents and businesses carry goods by bike and support them to reduce transport emissions.
Eight new electrically assisted cargo bikes will be available to rent from four docking stations across Hackney, with two in Shoreditch, close to the borders with Islington and Tower Hamlets, one in London Fields and one in Stoke Newington.
Each of the e-cargo bikes are capable of carrying up to 80kg – and can be used for shopping, deliveries, and moving small items of furniture.
The scheme – called Cargo Bike Share – is funded by the Mayor of London and the tri-borough Zero Emissions Network, which helps residents and businesses in Tower Hamlets, Islington and Hackney save money, reduce emissions and improve local air quality. It is being delivered by Beryl, an urban bike share provider.
Cllr Mete Coban, Hackney Council 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, said: “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.’’
Residents and businesses will be able to pick up a cargo bike from Fleetwood Street in Stoke Newington; Broadway Market; and Calvert Avenue and Pitfield Street in Shoreditch. The locations of the docking stations have been chosen because they are near high streets, with high footfall from residents and businesses.
The bikes will be available to hire through the Beryl app when the scheme has launched. Docking stations are being installed at the start of September.
