News / Bristol Cargo Bikes for Businesses
Riding towards a more sustainable future for businesses
A new scheme aims to innovate freight delivery for Bristol businesses by offering a sustainable alternative to traditional transportation methods.
The programme, being rolled out by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and Redcliffe & Temple BID will provide subsidies to businesses that switch to using cargo bikes to deliver their freight.
Tom Swithinbank, project manager for public realm and sustainability at Bristol City Centre BID and Redcliffe & Temple BID, described the launch as “an opportunity for us to provide a really user-friendly solution to sustainable transport for cargo”.
The service is available to businesses across all sectors in Bristol.
A new scheme aims to innovate freight delivery for Bristol businesses by offering a sustainable alternative to traditional transportation methods
In the majority of cases, the scheme will be utilised for inbound freight for hospitality venues and office blocks receiving goods such as catering supplies and consumables, while in some cases beneficiaries will include businesses doing outbound deliveries like coffee shops delivering external catering, or florists in the city centre.
As concerns over climate change and air pollution continue to mount, cities around the world are seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprint. It has been pointed out that a significant contributor to urban emissions is the transportation sector, particularly the reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles for freight delivery.
Reports show that since the closure of Bristol Bridge to traffic in August 2020 and the introduction of the Clean Air Zone in November 2022, Bristol’s city centre has seen a reduction in vehicles on the road, helping to reduce road danger as well as improving air quality.
The newly introduced Bristol Cargo Bikes for Businesses scheme is designed to help businesses to contribute towards a more sustainable future.
As part of the scheme, both BIDs will offer guidance to help businesses make informed decisions about how they can adopt sustainable practices for receiving and distributing goods.
As part of the scheme, both BIDs will offer guidance to help businesses make informed decisions about how they can adopt sustainable practices for receiving and distributing goods
Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “Many businesses in the centre of Bristol have ambitious sustainability goals and we hope that this scheme gives them a leg up – or wheel up – to achieve these. This approach has been tried and tested by other cities in the UK with fantastic results, so we are hoping for similar results in Bristol.”
Steve Bluff, head of Redcliffe & Temple BID, added: “Sustainability is a huge part of our ethos, and we are always looking for new ways to help businesses go green. The Bristol Cargo Bikes for Businesses scheme is very easy to implement and a quick and effective way of reducing vehicle emissions in the city.”
The project attempts to replicate the successful programmes delivered by the consultant MP Smarter Travel in London Bridge, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Brighton, where a range of businesses have been subsidised for participating in the schemes in those areas.
Bristol Cargo Bikes for Business will be used mainly for inbound freight for office blocks receiving goods
Bristol Cargo Bikes for Businesses is jointly funded by Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID, and Bristol City Council, who are working with MP Smarter Travel to provide expert advice to businesses to help find the perfect cargo bike service to suit their business needs.
All photos: Bristol Cargo Bikes for Businesses
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
