Solihull Council - E-cargo bike trial for businesses and community groups

• Location: Solihull, West Midlands

• Purpose: Solihull Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WCMA) have a number of ambitious climate and air quality targets. To reach these targets, the council looked at how it could reduce the number of vehicles making short or ‘last mile’ journeys, which add to pollution and congestion. Following a meeting of the Solihull Sustainability Visioning Group — made up of 40 Solihull-based businesses — the council decided to launch the e-cargo bike trial to encourage businesses to make the swap as they could try before they bought.

• Description: Businesses and community organisations based in Solihull are able to apply to the sustainable travel team at the council to loan the bike on a trial basis before to help them decide if an e-cargo bike suits their needs. The bike can carry up to 200kg in cargo and is well suited to ‘last mile’ deliveries or short or medium journeys as you spend less time sitting in traffic and the maintenance and upfront costs are significantly lower than a car. 

• Conservative councillor/ council lead: Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Portfolio Holder of Climate Change, Planning and Housing, and Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council

• Further links: Solihull Council promotional leaflet, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce write-up, and Solihull Council webpage on cycle training opportunities.