E-cargo bikes deliver faster than vans in London, new study shows

New research shows that cargo bikes ship goods far quicker than vans in London. By analysing Pedal Me cargo bike deliveries in central London and modelling van deliveries between the same points, researchers found that an e-cargo bike delivery is on average 1.61 times faster than a van making the same journey.

Read more: What are e-bikes and should you buy one?

Additionally, the report found that if 10% of current van mileage was taken up by cargo bikes, it would free up 2,557,200 square metres of road space and prevent 133,300 tonnes of CO2 and 190.4kg of NOx entering the atmosphere each year.

The new study is from climate charity Possible and the University of Westminster's Active Travel Academy.

Ersilia Verlinghieri, a senior research fellow at the Active Travel Academy, emphasised how just a 10% shift in how goods are delivered can create a dramatic impact:

“With recent estimates from Europe suggesting that up to 51% of all freight journeys in cities could be replaced by cargo bike, it’s remarkable to see that, if even just a portion of this shift were to happen in London, it would be accompanied by not only dramatic reduction of CO2 emissions but also contribute to a considerable mitigation of risks from air pollution and road traffic collisions whilst ensuring an efficient, fast and reliable urban freight system.”

The study concludes with a long set of recommendations to support the wider adoption of cargo bikes. These include the implementation of a national government strategy for sustainable freight; the use of taxes to discourage traditional logistics and encourage sustainable transport; and the creation of a set of regulations for using cargo bikes for taxi services.

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