About the project
Newham Council is supporting businesses and organisations across the borough to use cargo bikes for deliveries of goods and services through our Newham Cargo Bikes for Business scheme.
We are offering free advice and one-off subsidies to help your business switch to either utilise a third-party cargo bike delivery service or to put towards the purchase of your own cargo bike. The subsidy for the purchase of a cargo bike is up to £1,500 and is available until August 2024.
Changing the way goods and services are delivered across the borough by using cargo bikes, where there is an opportunity to do so, helps to improve local air quality, reduce congestion, and contribute to our aim of carbon neutrality by 2030.
Who can apply?
Newham Cargo Bikes for Business subsidies are available to any business, charity, market stallholder, or organisation based in Newham.
The scheme is running until August 2024. You can apply now for either:
- Up to £1500 towards purchasing or leasing a cargo bike
- 50 per cent off the cost of using a cargo bike service (up to £300)
For full terms and conditions please get in touch using the contact details below.
How does it work?
Newham Council is working with MP Smarter Travel to help organisations make the switch to cargo bikes.
The MP Smarter Travel team and Newham Council are offering:
- Free impartial expert advice on the best cargo bikes or services to suit your budget and business needs
- Free rider training
- Marketing and promotion of your business as a showcase of good practice for clean and sustainable business deliveries
This service is completely free of charge to organisations in Newham.
Get in touch
To find out more or to register your interest contact Oli Ivens at MP Smarter Travel using any of the following:
- Email ollie.kirman@mpsmartertravel.co.uk
- Call 020 7960 2583
- Fill in the Newham Cargo Bikes for Business contact form.
- A cargo bike is a human-powered vehicle designed and constructed specifically for transporting loads.
- Many cargo bikes are now electric-assisted, which increases their operating range and carrying capabilities.
- Cargo bikes come in various shapes and sizes with two-, three-- and even four-wheel versions. Some models come with large containers and trailers which combined can carry up to 300kg.
Put simply, anything that will fit in the container or can be tied to a trailer or rack safely and securely can be transported by cargo bike.
Cargo bikes can carry most things up to 300kg depending on the model and will have either a lockable container, rack at the front, or trailer at the rear which can be used to tie items to.
As cargo bikes are so versatile, they can be used to transport large and small items including:
- Legal documents
- Flowers
- Food trays for catering events
- Bottled or canned beverages and bags of coffee
- Sculptures and art
- Computer equipment
- Construction tools and material samples
- Advertising portfolios
- Baked goods
- Cargo bikes do not require driving licences and with just a little training most people will be able to ride them.
- Cargo bikes have lower running costs compared to vans and there are no congestion or emission charges, or parking fees. They can also be faster than a van as the bike can avoid traffic by using cycle lanes.
- With zero exhaust emissions, cargo bikes can help cut local air pollution levels and help you do your bit to reduce your business' emissions as we work to reach net zero carbon emissions in Newham by 2030. Using a cargo bike also reduces noise from traffic and road danger, creating a more pleasant urban environment.
- Cargo bikes can demonstrate your commitment to sustainability to your customers and function as a positive branding opportunity. Cargo bikes are easy to brand with your company logo if you go down the route of purchasing one.
We will ensure that all the couriers we recommend have insurance and have training of riders as part of their operations.
If you choose to use a cargo bike courier, all goods must be appropriately packaged with suitable materials.
Cargo bike couriers will take every measure to ensure that parcels are delivered undamaged, but businesses will need to take their own precautions to properly package their parcels.
Newham Council, MP Smarter Travel, and cargo bike couriers cannot accept any liability for items that are poorly packaged.
