At a high-profile stakeholder event in Brussels last week the new European Innovation project “City Changer Cargo Bike” was announced to an audience of EU institutions, national and regional governments, advocacy organisations and business leaders.

The announcement was timely, because it took place alongside a wave of international news stories that highlight the huge potential of cargo bikes to solve many global mobility problems, a message reinforced by representatives of the EU Commission and EU Parliament.

Richard Armitage, Chair of the European Cycle Logistics Federation (ECLF) and business sector partner (CCCB) made the announcement of the new project.

Twenty partners from cities, research, NGOs and industry have united to grow delivery and passengers by bike, cargo bike and e-cargo bike in 100 cities. The EU’s Horizon 2020 Research Programme has contributed almost €4million to the three-year project because of the potential to replicate success from leading across the continent. ECF is leading communications and user engagement activities in the project.

Approaches to change cities in favour of cycling and cycle logistics include diversifying use to families, businesses, municipal fleets, pedicabs and food delivery. Measures to be researched include privileged access in cities for bikes over freight and car, financial support for cargo bike purchases, public sector cargo bike/e-cargo fleets and promotional funding and training for small businesses.

Herald Ruijters, Director of Investment, Innovative & Sustainable Transport from the EU’s mobility directorate, stressed the interest of the Commission to make the European Union to increase (EU) investments in cycling. According Mr Ruijters the positive impacts of cycling include reducing the 1% of the EU GDP lost by congestion where cargo bikes can play a big role.

Michael Cramer, Member of the European Parliament, Transport and Tourism Committee agreed, referring to the results of a previous cargo bike project which showed that bikes can replace 50% of urban deliveries. 

A first result of the new project is development of a new partnership between ECLF, European Cyclists’ Federation and the newly formed business association Cycling Industries Europe, where the three will collaborate on development of the project at the EU level.

Cargo bike producer Urban Arrow was also present to demonstrate its latest range of electrically assisted cargo bikes to the conference attendees. 

The announcement took place as a wave of stories about the potential success of cargo bikes and the value of the cargo bike market hit the media. This was partly triggered by a report from academics from Amsterdam and Rotterdam Universities who spent two years working with freight companies, municipalities and other experts to compile the  City Logistic: Light and Electric report. This study said cargo bikes could replace 20% of vans in urban areas. The study made its way into the industry media and global business magazine Forbes.

And in the UK outstanding lobby work by ECLF’s UK member saw the national government announce £2 million to support the uptake of e-cargo bikes. This measure was part of a wider statement about the decarbonization of transport, but saw the Prime Minister supporting cargo bikes in her speech at the launch.

Car company Volkswagen also showed a prototype Cargo E-Bike at Hamburg Motor Show. “The cargo e-bike is VW’s solution for the mobility challenges of tomorrow,” said Thomas Sedran, Chairman of the company’s Board for Commercial Vehicles. The vehicle may only be for show at the moment, but it added to the sense of momentum in the sector.

One can only conclude from the publicity given in the last few days that the cargo bike sector is now the focus of real attention, especially with the growing entry of e-assistance to make larger loads possible for a wider range of riders.

Follow the City Changer Cargo Bike project:

Website http://cyclelogistics.eu/cracker.php?id=4

Twitter @CycleLogistics

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