Emission-free cargo bikes used for deliveries in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone

40 local businesses have transitioned to using emission-free cargo bikes in the London Bridge area, under the Bikes for Business scheme by Team London Bridge.

Small local businesses, charities, hospitals such as Great Ormand Street, and big companies including IKEA, Sainsbury’s and TNT, have used the cargo bikes to make deliveries within the city’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), where vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards have to pay a daily charge.

The charge is £12.50 for most vehicle types including cars, vans and motorcycles. Lorries over 3.5 tonnes or buses and coaches over 5 tonnes incur a fee of £100. This is in addition to the congestion charge that applies during working hours.

Congestion and air pollution are particularly bad in the run-up to Christmas when there is an influx of parcel delivery vehicles in the area. Personal parcel deliveries to the workplace increase by two thirds during peak season, according to Transport for London.

However, the number of environmentally friendly cargo bike deliveries has risen to 50 a day since the ULEZ was introduced in April 2019, helping to reduce the impact.

Source: Business Green

Header image: Mourad Saadi