A group of five London boroughs has been awarded £180,000 by the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund to help more businesses switch to cargo bikes.
From today, businesses can apply for grants towards the cost of cargo bikes for deliveries and work travel, helping to cut bills and improve air quality.
The project is being operated by the Zero Emissions Network, following a successful bid to the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund.
It will also see its cargo bike share scheme, where bikes are available to rent by the minute from local docking stations, improved and expanded to new areas in the five boroughs. With over 3,000 resident and business members, Zero Emissions Network is an award winning initiative that helps people save money, reduce emissions and improve local air quality.
It has recently expanded to the City of London, Westminster and Newham after already helping nearly 100 businesses – including electricians, florists and hairdressers – switch to cargo or e-bikes in Hackney and Tower Hamlets.
The network also offers free advice and services to help people switch to low emission transport.
In addition, Zero Emissions Network has been offered a further £704,000 by the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund to develop a number of new projects in the five boroughs, including a pilot to use sustainable transport for last-mile deliveries, business engagement to get more businesses using sustainable transport and running events to encourage people to reduce emissions from transport.
Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, said:
“The City Corporation is thrilled to be partnering with Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Westminster on the Zero Emissions Network.
“The expansion of the network to include the City and our neighbouring boroughs will allow businesses and residents in the City to take advantage of the many benefits that come with being a ZEN member, including advice on switching to low emission transport, cargo bike hire, trials and grants, and discounts and offers for members.
“The ZEN will build on the fantastic work being done in the Square Mile to improve local air quality, by enabling businesses to shift to lower emission transport.”
Previous grant recipient Lloyd Morgan, of London Locks, said “Hands down the best transport we’ve ever purchased as a business. we can carry more, faster, and greater than ever. It’s been revolutionary! It honestly makes me so happy.”
Residents and businesses can sign up to the Zero Emissions Network online (https://www.zeroemissionsnetwork.com/join) and be the first to hear when the new funding becomes available.
