Get out of the van and on to the bike

There are nearly one third more vans on Britain’s roads compared to a decade ago, according to research released by campaign group Cargo Revolution who are calling for businesses and councils to switch to using cargo bikes.

There were 54.3 billion van miles driven across the country in 2021 (the latest figures available) compared to 41.6 billion in 2011, an increase of 30.8 per cent.

The figures are particularly stark when compared to the numbers of miles driven by cars and taxis, which have fallen by 8 per cent in the same period.

The increase is partly driven by home deliveries.

The UK deliveries market grew from £6.9 billion in 2013 to £13.9 billion in 2021, and by 50 per cent during Covid.

The increase in diesel vans, which are some of the most polluting vehicles on the road, is causing spikes in air pollution and congestion.

Transport is one of the biggest contributors to deadly pollutants such as Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM 2.5).

These are associated with diseases and conditions including lung cancer, heart disease, dementia and asthma.

On June 29, a group of 35 businesses who operate cargo bikes travelled through central London in a spectacular convoy to celebrate different organisations using cargo bikes.

They rode a circular route through central London leaving 8 Holyrood Street at 2pm, returning to the same venue in time for a networking event until 5pm.

Businesses from couriers, to plumbers and electricians joined the convoy along with local authorities who have joined the cargo bike charter.

The convoy passed over London Bridge, along the Embankment to Big Ben, then returned to London Bridge past Waterloo and Bankside.

The convoy is celebrating 150 businesses that have ditched vans / cars for cargo bikes as part of the Bikes for Business project.

Their research estimates that those switches will save London 31.8 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “I’m delighted to join London’s fourth Cargo Bike Cruise to showcase the Cargo Bike Revolution taking place across the capital.

“We’re supporting the growth of cargo bikes as a sustainable alternative to vans and lorries through our recently launched Cargo Bike Action Plan – helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality contributing to a safer, greener London for everyone.”

£660 million could be saved by councils and thousands of diesel vans could be taken off the roads by switching to using electric cargo bikes according to figures published by the campaign group Cargo Revolution.

The NGO are calling on local authorities to switch to cargo bikes for services such as litter cleaning, keeping parks tidy, and doing maintenance to council estates.

Already businesses such as electricians and drain cleaning companies have made the switch to cargo bikes.

Aaron Fleming-Saheed, founder of Cycling Sparks, an electrician who uses cargo bikes, said: “The charter is encouraging and will go a long way for making e-cargo both visible and more importantly, viable for local businesses.

The convoy is a good representation of those businesses that have been working hard to make these changes happen.”

Jack Skillen, Placeshaping Director at Team London Bridge, the business improvement district, said: “”In this area alone over 150 businesses have made a switch to cargo bikes, whether it is for transporting legal contracts, blood samples, stationary or waste. This has such a positive impact in reducing air pollution and carbon emissions, and creates new opportunities for local businesses to flourish. These days, when you walk along the Low Line railway arches, the constant flow of cargo bikes shows that they have become a mainstay of the local economy”.

To date, six councils have signed up to the ‘Cargo Bike Charter’, which pledges to switch council vans to cargo bikes, where possible, while enabling residents and businesses to use pedal power to make deliveries and provide key services.

Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth, Waltham Forest and Westminster have signed the Cargo Bike Charter which includes a five point plan to improve the infrastructure for cargo bikes and support individuals and businesses to switch away from polluting vehicles.

Recent research showed that over 90 per cent of vehicles operated by local authorities run on diesel despite council efforts to tackle air pollution.

Edie Gill Holder from the Cargo Revolution campaign, said: “The cargo bike charter really goes to show that there is a cargo revolution happening in London, and the convoy is an excellent opportunity to both showcase and celebrate the businesses who are at the heart of this”

Fleets (both private and public sector) can play a hugely important role in this as they account for over 50 per cent of new vehicles on the road and ultimately help drive the second-hand car market.

 

Picture: Cargo Revolution Picture by Ben Stevens