ELECTRIC CARGO BIKE PROJECT TO START ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

A 2-month pilot project to see electric cargo bikes delivering goods on behalf of Cowes businesses is starting from August.

The Isle of Wight Council has appointed People Powered Community Interest Company (CIC) to run the project, with support from the Council’s Sustainable Transport Access Fund from the Department of Transport.

The funding will see 6 electric cargo (e-cargo) bike demonstration events across the Island, allowing businesses to try out the bikes in a safe setting, as well as Island-wide short term free e-cargo bike loans for businesses and a free ‘bike and rider’ service, targeting businesses which make local deliveries.

Article continues below this advertisement

Will Ainslie, Director of People Powered CIC said:

“We look forward to piloting three diverse e-cargo bike projects in Cowes over the summer, and hope to establish sufficient demand to continue to deliver services on a commercial basis going forward. Interested parties can find out more at E-Cargo Bike Demonstration (people-powered.org.uk) .”

E-cargo bike deliveries offer a ‘clean’, green alternative to traditional diesel vans making those short ‘last mile’ deliveries, which create pollution and congestion on roads.

Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet lead for infrastructure and transport, said:

“With the recent publication of the Governments Transport Decarbonization Plan, it is timely that we are able to announce this exciting new project. E-cargo bikes are becoming increasingly popular for ‘last mile’ deliveries, particularly in cities, and this pilot will allow us to understand what opportunities these present for the Isle of Wight.”

Article continues below this advertisement

The delivery service will start on Monday 2nd August and be available for local businesses who want to make deliveries in the West Cowes, Gurnard and Northwood area. In addition to delivering on behalf of Cowes-based businesses, ‘last mile’ deliveries from elsewhere on the Island will be received at a micro-hub in Cowes and then distributed by e-cargo bike.

The project is supported by Isle of Wight Council’s Sustainable Transport Access Fund, using funding which was secured competitively from the Department of Transport to deliver a wider programme of sustainable transport projects.