Thursday, September 19, 2024
Electric VehiclesLatestNews

E-cargo bike scheme extended in Oxford

An Oxford City Council initiative that offers electric cargo bike deliveries for businesses has been extended until February 2025, following a successful six-month period.

In March, the council and Velocity Cycle Couriers launched a 12-week partnership offering free same-day and next-day zero-emission deliveries by electric cargo bike for Oxford businesses to destinations within the ring road.

The initiative was extended until 31 August 2024 and has now has been further extended until 28 February 2025.

In the six months since its launch, the initiative has made around 1100 deliveries within the Oxford ring road covering approximately 3094 miles, and has saved an estimated 813.5 tons of carbon.

For the past six months, the council has used grant funding it had received to improve air quality, to subsidise 100% of the cost of the deliveries made using the electric cargo bikes. 

When reviewing the extension of the partnership, there was “significant support” to extend the initiative for a further six months, the council said. The local authority will be reducing its subsidy to 50% of each delivery fee with participating businesses to pay the remaining cost. This subsidy allows the partnership to continue for as long as possible, it said.

The extended initiative will also offer deliveries outside of the ring road, with Velocity charging an additional fee per mile for deliveries made outside of the ring road.

Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council said:

“It is fantastic that we are able to extend the Velocity electric cargo bike delivery service for a further six months. The trial has been a success so far and I am pleased that we are able to support Oxford’s businesses with exploring cargo bike deliveries.”

Jake Swinhoe, Director, Velocity Cycle Couriers, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to agree an extension to the OCC project that will continue to support city centre traders with their distribution of goods.

“The transition to a sustainable transport network can be a complex topic but finding viable solutions needs strong partnerships – working with so many amazing local businesses coupled with the enthusiasm and support of the City Council feels like a very positive movement.”

Image from Shutterstock

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