New cargo bike arrives in Bow

IT’S SMALL, but perfectly formed – if, that is, you want a cheap and eco-friendly way of transporting goods (and, it seems, people) around the borough. It may be the answer to your problems.

A cargo bike is a bike with a fitted wheeled container on the front. For residents, they bridge the gap between hiring a van and balancing bags on a standard bicycle. Fans say you can use it to get your shopping home or move items. Businesses can also use cargo bikes to move or deliver goods.

Cargo bikes have been available in Oxford House, Bethnal Green, and at the Poplar Union in Harcaland. The new cargo bike will be living at St Stephen’s Church, a community hub at 84 St Stephen’s Road, Bow.

The Council is excited to have a new bike, but the administrative detail and cost are rather unclear. The cargo bike scheme is run by Tower Hamlets Council and OurBike [sic] working in partnership – a partnership which is part of the Council’s work to encourage sustainable transport. OurBike is part of PedalUK, a “London-based active travel company with a long history of supporting sustainable transport”.

What we don’t know is who funds the scheme or how much it is used. Do hire charges cover the costs? Does the Council subsidise the cargo bikes? Does OurBike subsidise them? Do the venues host the cargo bikes for free? How much car or van travel is the local useage saving – and what is the effect on air quality achieved by the subsidy? It would be nice to know.

●To book a cargo bike, you need to have the OurBike app, which you can download from the OurBike website. Charges are £5 per hour or £1.25 for 15 minutes, with no charge for new residents and businesses for the first 60/180 minutes respectively.

●To find out more, go to:
OurBike

●Read more about it:
Solving climate emergency – one bike at a time
Sadiq “Fish Island Vandal” Khan funds air quality projects