Beate Kubitz Associates provided technical and strategic advice on the Urban Freight Project, an ongoing trial of bike logistics by the West of England Combined Authority.
Funded as part of the West of England’s Future Transport Zone, project demonstrated the capabilities of cargo bikes in mixed fleets to lower the carbon footprint of the fleet and provide agile transport in tight settings. Initial partners included large institutions such as the University of the West of England and Bristol Royal Infirmary, who were supplied with e-cargo bikes to substitute for some of their conventional vehicle fleet use, and a local delivery service.
The trial presented a number of challenges including procurement of bikes, service agreements and insurance. Drawing on our experience of similar previous initiatives and setting up our own e-cargo bike delivery service, the project team delivered the first phase. From this phase and our other e-cargo bike experience we drafted a handbook for employers to help disseminate learning more widely.