Peterborough could play host to electric cargo bike scheme
The trials are due to take place in the city if funding is approved
Electric cargo bikes could be made available to people and businesses in Peterborough as part of a try-before-you-buy scheme.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CAPCA), responsible for transport in the region, has submitted a £77,000 bid to EU-backed funding body Climate-KIC to support the scheme.
If approved, the scheme will run from April this year until July 2025 and allow Peterborough residents to book one of the four available family e-cargo bikes for a one to two week trial.
One bike would also be available for short-term business hire.
Jamie McAlley is the director of Fenland eBikes - he supports the idea:
"E-cargo bikes are incredibly useful and it's really encouraging to see the local authority look to promote them and encourage their use," he said.
"If you haven't already tried an e-cargo bike, this is a great opportunity to try one.
"It's not just a financial saving; it's a time saving and has other benefits such as improving your health from cycling more often."
What does the scheme aim to achieve?
The scheme aims is to help participants decide whether purchasing an e-cargo bike is right for them.
Running the scheme also helps CAPCA collect data about active travel habits in the city as each bike will be fitted with a GPS tracker.
Participants will be asked to take part in questionnaires about their intended and actual usage of the bikes before and after their trial.
CAPCA has said it’s a “big financial commitment”, but hope a trial can help overcome these challenges.
A similar scheme in Cambridgeshire was introduced in 2021 which CAPCA said has resulted in over 160 trials taking place.
It said roughly two thirds of participants reported their intention to buy an e-cargo bike afterwards.
What is an e-cargo bike?
E-cargo bikes are any kind of bike powered by electricity and have capacity for carrying either large objects or children, come in a vast range of sizes and styles, reflected in varying prices.
The bikes can range from £1,800 to £12,000 in cost.
Jamie tells us some of the benefits an E-cargo bike can bring:
"Getting around a congested city, getting your kids to school on the school run and getting from A to B and doing the things you need to do in the course of a day or week, it's an amazing revelation," he said.
"They are relatively affordable; if you look at the bigger picture, you start to realise most of the cost is upfront in the initial purchase and the ongoing maintenance and charging is minimal compared to running an electric car."
CAPCA said it will start the process of choosing an operator to run the scheme in Peterborough in mid-January if its funding bid is successful.
The money will also cover the continuation and expansion of the scheme in Cambridgeshire, with the county council's trial due to end this year.