Deliveries by electric cargo bikes trialled in Inverness in pioneering project run by regional transport partnership HiTrans
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Four electric cargo bikes are being put into service in Inverness in a pioneering scheme aiming to shift deliveries away from vans and cars.
A confectionery company and High Life Highland (HLH) are among the organisations turning to pedal power as part of the £80,000 pilot project also involving Oban and Orkney.
It is being run by HiTrans, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, which will extend the use of bikes to other locations depending on its success.
The bikes are being offered to businesses and community groups for up to three months until the trial ends in February.
HLH will use its bike to transport supplies between four catering units in Inverness including the Botanic Gardens, Canal Park Pavilion and Bellfield Park.
Commercial manager Graham Cross said: "The cargo trike is a really useful piece of kit – carrying capacity is surprisingly large and it actually takes less time to travel between the Bught Park, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Bellfield Park than it does to drive, helping protect the environment and giving our staff some enjoyable exercise!"
He said the organisation would strongly consider buying its own e-cargo bike when the loan period was over.
Prissy Queen of Desserts will deliver parcels to customers, including post office deliveries, replacing daily car journeys.
Laughing Tree Couriers wants to replace its current manual bike and trailer to enable higher load capacity and further distances, thereby increasing the viability of the cycle courier concept for potential customers.
Social enterprise Velocity will use its bike to collect supplies for its café in Crown Avenue and for transporting equipment for community cycle skills training and bike checking events.
Training will be offered to ensure users are confident in using the bikes.
Jayne Golding, HiTrans projects and policy manager, said with electric pedal assistance, e-cargo bikes had the capability and power for transporting significant loads with the benefit of being able to move freely through congested areas, avoid parking tickets and truly achieve a door-to-door service.
She also said in the current climate of Covid-19, an increasing number of businesses were offering delivery services.
"Our aim is to offer e-cargo bikes to businesses as a sustainable, physically distanced and economically productive alternative, and in so doing support members of the community by improving accessibility and availability of goods," she said.
Neil Young, Highland Council transport planning officer said: "I am confident that the four organisations who have signed up to the pilot will find success with this sustainable and enterprising alternative and I hope that in the future many more organisations across the Highlands will have the opportunity to participate in similar ventures."
The project is part-funded by the Euro Interreg North Sea Region project MOVE and Transport Scotland, administered by Energy Saving Trust.
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