NEP Embraces eCargo Bike as a Sustainable Transport Solution for Green Meadows Project
June 22 2023
As Nottingham works towards being carbon neutral by 2028, the need to create greener modes of transport has not only led Nottingham City Council to consider how transport can be more sustainable, but how it can be revolutionised. The eCargo Bike has emerged as a viable solution for organisations and businesses that rely on traditional means of delivery or community outreach. Recently, Nottingham Energy Partnership acquired an eCargo bike to support the Green Meadows project.
Emission-free, cost-effective, and adaptable to roads and cycle routes, the eCargo bike is an electrically assisted bicycle designed to transport cargo from A to B with zero emissions.
Nottingham City Council have launched their new Workplace Travel Service eCargo Bike Experience which encourages businesses, social enterprises and charities to trial an eCargo bike for 30-90 days. As pictured below, the bikes have enough storage space to transport goods around the city and a built-in electric motor to make this easier and more efficient for the rider. Additionally, by switching to eCargo bikes, businesses can reduce the running costs associated with petrol and diesel vehicles and boost the health and well-being of their employees.
Heather from Green Meadows showing the inside of the eCargo bike
Green Meadows, run by two organisations based in the heart of The Meadows - Nottingham Energy Partnership (NEP) and Meadows Ozone Energy Services(MOZES) - are one of the first groups to trial the new eCargo bikes, using them as a tool in their mission to engage the Meadows community to tackle climate change together.
The eCargo bike will be used to carry out visits in the community, to transport goods to local events and to transport the Future-Fit team from home-to-home when they carry out free energy surveys. Additionally, the eCargo bike will make more people in the community aware of this cleaner and greener mode of transport, whilst enabling Green Meadows to get around in a way that suits their commitment to carbon reduction.
Heather and Will from the Green Meadows Team, Ed Clancy OBE and Nottinghamshire City Council pictured with the eCargo bike.
“We’re very excited to try one of Nottingham City Council’s eCargo bikes for 90 days. As a climate-aware organisation, it will be great to use this eco-friendly way of travelling from house to house for our assessments. We can’t wait to make the community aware of this mode of transport.”
The bike was delivered to the Green Meadows Office at the Queens Walk Community Centre by Ed Clancy OBE, Triple Olympic Gold Medallist and South Yorkshire Active Travel Commissioner, whilst on his visit to oversee the active cycling infrastructure that the city offers.
“It’s been great to see the eCargo bikes in Nottingham and visit a top-rated city for active travel. For me, a big part of the future belongs to electric-assist active travel. It’s great that businesses are starting to become aware of the positive benefits of the eCargo bikes such as them being easy to park and being very cheap to run.”
Additionally, the Green Meadows team received free training from the team at RideWise, who have partnered with Nottingham City Council to show businesses how to safely use the bikes. This includes demos in riding, parking and locking the bikes, as well as explaining weight load and maintenance. The scheme aims to make the company’s transition to greener transport easier as well contributing to Nottingham’s transition to net-zero.
Visit the Council’s website here to find out more information and how to get involved.