Electric cargo bikes will be used in a 2-month pilot scheme by the Isle of Wight Council for its internal mail runs.
The council has approached People Powered Community Interest Company (CIC) to start the pilot project this month (April) and will see the company delivering internal mail runs between council sites across the Island.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet lead for infrastructure and transport, said:
“We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and, as we could see the benefit of using e-cargo bikes for the shorter, internal mail runs within the council, we have decided to implement a trial to see how beneficial this could be in delivering not only our mail but our net carbon aims.
“E-cargo bikes are becoming increasingly popular for ‘last mile’ deliveries, especially in cities, and this pilot will allow us to evaluate the opportunities these offer the council by replacing the post room fuel driven vehicles and, in turn, reducing harmful emissions.”
People Powered CIC director, Matthew Whittaker, said:
“People Powered CIC are delighted to be working with Isle of Wight Council to look at ways in which the CO₂ emissions from their fleet can be reduced further, in a cost effective manner.
“This is a key part of the Electric Cargo Bike Delivery Demonstration we’re delivering with Wight Community Energy with funding from Power to Change and the Rural Community Energy Fund.”
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The move follows a successful 2-month pilot project last summer which saw electric cargo bikes delivering goods on behalf of Cowes businesses and was also run by People Powered CIC, with funding from the council’s Sustainable Transport Access Fund from the Department of Transport.
The council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and approved the ‘Mission Zero’ Climate and Environment Strategy 2021-2040 in September 2021.
The strategy commits the authority to making sure all strategic decisions, planning approach decisions and budget setting across all areas of council work are considered in line with its ambitious targets.
But IWC already use electric van for this ?. It’s often parked and on charge at side of County Hall ?. IWC keep saying reduce their carbon footprint, but increases mine as I can’t afford to rid of my polluting old banger and go carbon free because I have to pay high council tax to benefit them !
“I can’t afford to rid of my polluting old banger”
Yes, this an issue. To truly fight pollution we should have a free nationalised public transport system. But the Tories sold the UK to the oligarchs.
What utter nonsense yet again from our useless council. Why do they even have to use mail anymore? Competent companies scan their mail so that it can be emailed. While these totally stupid, dangerous ebikes are on the road it will clog up the traffic flow causing far more pollution, not less. These councillors are totally brainless.
Agreed, one cyclist on the road can create 100 x more pollution than they save by ques of vehicles behind in lower gear and higher reving , a cyclist from Ryde to Newport on the road holds up many 100s in the mornings. Bikes, scooter and anything slow should not be on highway and use designated routes only if we want to help environment.
Makes sense to keep cyclists and cars apart, agree. However, dedicated cycle routes (not shared paths) hardly exist, because there isn’t an adequate funding mechanism for them.
I’m sure most cyclists would be happy to pay a tax for dedicated cycle routes but not shared paths which don’t work.
You’re right. Far too often there’s queues of cars on the Blackwater Valley Road all having to drive at 15mph in 2nd or 3rd gear behind a group of cyclists who could just as easily use the cycle/footpath which runs all the way between Newport and Sandown.
Most slow vehicles, tractors, diggers etc, pull over sometimes to let others go past but have you EVER seen a cyclist pull over to let faster moving vehicles go past? No, they seem to take a perverse delight in holding others up. Why is that?
i all ways stop on my bike to let others pass me
you forget they have to justify how they are wasting our council tax money they think it makes them look good
Is there a management position running this new dept available I can apply for ??
Here we go again, ban electricity, kill it with fire, pitchforks out and ready….jeezus no wonder this Island is dead……
LoL yup. The only letters I get is from the NHS and the Council. I run a business selling software to other companies, never have we ever used paper. All emails, telephone and online accountancy software.
Stupid question I know, but just how many more ‘trendy’ schemes and pointless virtue signalling ideas can the IoW Council come up with?
They repeatedly claim that they need to cut, cut, and cut the budget year on year, whilst our Council Tax heads for the stratosphere, and yet they can ‘invest’ in idiot schemes like this.
A CLEAR example of spending other peoples money and not being sensible in expenditure!
Surprised ???
Another excuse to pointlessly spend some more of our money.
Everyone else as said before scans mail and sends it over the internet, is the Isle of Wight so different to the rest of the world or is just the people running it?
On another point these ‘Cargo Bikes’ are not very safe, went to go past one the other day on the main Cowes to Newport road, the rider got caught by a crosswind and nearly got blown into the side of my vehicle even though I was at least 2m if not nearly 3m away!
Seen them wobbling down through newport the other day, look very safe….not!
Christ you naysayers are so backward and retarded. What exactly DO you want on this Island? – only that which you personally find acceptable? and screw everybody else? You think the Island belongs only to you?. Get a life its 2022 not 1922. Bloody NIMBY yokels
I won’t resort to the sort of invective you use, but you have just bombed your own argument! Yes, it is 2022 so why aren’t the council scanning their paperwork and emailing it wherever necessary instead of coming up with a ridiculous scheme like this? You don’t happen to run one of these death traps by any chance do you? I am all for sensible modern schemes, not being a nimby and all, but not nonsense like this.
Thanks for not publishing my comments IE. Wouldn’t want to upset anyone by telling the truth, would we?
Excuse me, but when is the e scooter trial going to end and get rid of the awful things.. ??
Perhaps someone from the Council could tell us exactly what physical documents they are sending between offices and why these can’t be sent electronically? Even documents which need a signature can be sent and signed electronically.
Really, you feel this is just another attempt to ‘look good’ without really addressing the issue.
Why not swap all of them company cars we see parked there with electric bikes? No? Won’t make your staff go green but will force us!
Damn Council wasting money yet again, there is a far cheaper solution and it would reduce the carbon footprint further don’t use paper use something called an email. Oh wait they can’t do that because their wonderful computer system is not ready yet
If you want to reduce carbon footprint then get rid of the traffic lights at Stag Lane.