Background
2020 doesn’t bring back too many fond memories for everyone, but one silver lining has been the change in attitude towards active commuting.
Based on reports from Sustrans, cycling clearly offers benefits for the environment, the economy and for people’s health.
However the UK lacked the infrastructure to accommodate safe cycling, it was by far and away the largest deterrent for the public.
The infrastructure had not been built in the past as there weren’t enough cyclists, people wouldn’t cycle because the cycling infrastructure wasn’t good enough or built.
Prior to 2020, the environment was looking bleak, and with not enough action from world leaders, it looked like things wouldn’t change anytime soon.
But the lockdown forced our hands, and showed us that there are different ways of living and working.
Breakthrough
After the world went into lockdown, “Our World” saw global reductions in emissions as travel and industry was halted. Never before have people had to adapt so quickly to a new way of living.
Organisations began to invest in remote working, and people began to see the benefits.
The roads were quieter, the air was cleaner. More and more people started cycling and walking.
As lockdown started to relax in the summer of 2020, locally and nationally people started to realise the benefits of quieter roads.
One Local Authority announced local road closures and restrictions along with key areas in the area to make more space for cycling, as well as to help aid businesses to get back up on their feet whilst still observing social distancing, such as allowing cafes more space for customers in the excess road.
We are seeing similar trends again in 2021, as we head out of the second lockdown businesses are continuing to invest in remote working.
Changing lanes
With this new pedestrianized way of living, there needs to be adjustments to accommodate these changes. Deliveries will prove more difficult with reduced space and increased restrictions with clean air zones.
e-Cargo bikes allow companies to penetrate these areas without bending the rules. Larger vehicles can park outside of these zones, hand over deliveries to e-Cargo bikes which then make the final delivery.
e-Cargo bikes will prove a necessity in the coming years for consumers and businesses, which we are already seeing in the UK and in European countries, such as last-mile delivery company – Dija – which was launched in 2020.
e-Cargo bikes offer the closest possible replacement for a car and/or van. Some may argue why not use electric cars?
Electric cars still don’t solve the problem of congestion, car parking and charging issues. Their batteries are damaging to produce and when the UK is still reliant on fossil fuels, considerably more damaging to charge than an electric bike.
Experience
e-Cargo bikes have multiple uses for people and for businesses (see video below). They can be used by local high-street businesses in small towns or last-mile delivery companies in cities, and can run for hours before requiring charging.
e-Mobilise (Ride Electric) are working exclusively with Riese and Muller, who have a global reputation for pioneering the electric bike and e-Cargo bikes.
They are all made and engineered in Germany and 80% of the energy used to produce their bikes use on-site solar.
The Riese and Muller Load offers the greatest ride experience of any e-Cargo bike on the market. With the latest Bosch cargo line motor, full suspension and belt-driven, it offers the closest possible replacement for a car.
If you’re looking to get an e-Cargo bike for your business, then join our e-Cargo Bike Adoption Programme.
If an e-Cargo bike can work in Norway, it can work in the UK.