Council workers to use eCargo bikes around Bedford in bid to be greener

Bedford Borough Council has bought six eCargo bikes as part of its drive to work in a greener way.

They are electric bikes that have two or three wheels and a container for carrying items. They can be used to transport bulky items in a cleaner and greener way compared to traditional transport.

Four of these bikes will become part of the council’s vehicle fleet, within the Sustainable Transport Team and its work with schools and at events, within the Street Cleansing Team, and at Harrold-Odell Country Park for park maintenance. One each have also been loaned to the University of Bedfordshire and Flamme Rouge Cycles.

The bikes were bought following a successful funding bid to the Department for Transport.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “These bikes will help our teams to operate in an eco-friendly way, and hopefully encourage others to do the same.”

Tim Anderson, head of transport at Energy Saving Trust, said: “The Department for Transport eCargo Bike Grant Fund attracted a significant number of applications.

"eCargo bikes are an attractive low carbon transport solution which offer important benefits, most impressively fuel cost savings and contributing to improved local air quality. Last mile delivery is an important area for consideration in our journey to reduce transport emissions to net zero by 2050.”

The eCargo Bike Grant Fund scheme is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Energy Saving Trust. The bikes were bought following the award of £27,838 from Department of Transport to Bedford Borough Council.