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A new cargo bike initiative has been launched at a Bristol hospital following a £920,000 investment.
The year-long trial, beginning in June, will see e-bikes used as direct replacements for vans at the Bristol Royal infirmary in the centre of the city.
Funded by a £920,000 investment from central Government, the trial will be operated by the West of England Combined Authority, as GPS tracking will be used to measure how the initiative will impact delivery performance.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “If we are going to reach our ambitious net-zero targets, we urgently need to put on the brakes and re-evaluate how goods move across our region. I’ve spoken to many smaller businesses who sing the praises of electric bikes, but getting these larger organisations to sign up is a significant step. I’m proud that the West of England Combined Authority under my leadership is helping ensure polluting diesel vans are a thing of the past. From groceries to medical supplies, e-cargo bikes can help cut congestion and clean up our toxic air. That’s a win-win for our region.”
The trial will use GPS tracking to monitor the carbon savings offered by the use of cargo bikes over vans, as recent estimates suggest e-bikes will make deliveries 60% faster than diesel vans, and cut carbon emissions by 90%.
Metro Mayor Norris met with trial participants, including the Bristol Royal Infirmary’s Stewart Cundy, Annette Giles, and Paul Griffiths, to learn about how the site is using bikes for medical supply deliveries.
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The Urban Freight Project is just one of a series of initiatives being tested out as part of the Combined Authority’s Future Transport Zone.
Bristol is also home to a Voi e-scooter rental trial, and a Bike Issue Bike e-bike rental project.
