The first National Cargo Bike Summit

Taking cargo bikes mainstream was the theme for the first National Cargo Bike Summit organised by Landor Links and held at the Guildhall in London on 31 March. Andrew Brown from the Bicycle Association was in attendance and shares what occurred

There was a tremendous energy at the first National Cargo Bike Summit, which took place in London on 31 March. Captured brilliantly by Hina Bokhari, London Assembly member and Chair of the London Assembly’s Economy Committee, when she said: “The cargo bike revolution is here.”
    
Hina Bokhari shared the story of her first experience of a cargo bike care of the Pedal Me team, one of London’s cargo bike operators. Albeit a little nervous she found herself “screaming with joy, I loved it.”
    
That passion was evident right through the event. From the measured sessions debating safety, security and standards to rallying cries and inspirational first-hand accounts of innovation illustrating the potential of the cargo bike ecosystem (copyrighted to Richard Armitage of Manchester Bikes). But there was a healthy dose of commercial and political pragmatism too.

The need for standards

Standards, particularly rider training standards, were like a thread running through the Summit. Right from the start, chaired by the Bicycle Association’s Phillip Darnton, the need for a recognised benchmark for the cargo bike industry to demonstrate to its stakeholders was very apparent. Will Norman from the Cycling Commissioner for London, launched the new Transport for London (TfL) Cargo Bike Action Plan at the Summit – further proof of the priority now being given to the role of cargo bikes in reducing van deliveries in the capital – and one of its principles is a safety standard for London.
    
The Bicycle Association (BA), in close consultation with TfL, the City of London and numerous other stakeholders, is now working to develop national best practice and a framework for rider qualifications and training to assist in the rapid professionalisation of cycle logistics.
    
Gary Armstrong of Zedify, one of a core group of BA members with direct expertise, explained how the BA is currently undertaking initial drafting work (readers can monitor the BA’s cargo bikes and cycle logistics page here). The BA explained elsewhere that it will be reaching out to a range of key stakeholders across the country and the logistics sector to ensure its work on standards and training is fit for purpose and not a barrier to the market growth happening right now.
    
That’s important because, whilst the sector needs to professionalise to channel growth, that expansion cannot be stifled. Cargo bikes and cycle logistics is a sector estimated to have grown five-fold since 2020, and the 300 delegates, together with the range of cargo bikes on display, amply demonstrated that this is no longer a ‘niche‘ sector for the industry.

Decarbonising logistics

BA-commissioned research shows that cargo bikes could provide an alternative to up to one third of all van deliveries – with a significant reduction of the 24 per cent of all emissions that are generated by transport.
    
Cargo bikes are economical; quick; reduce congestion; improve our environment; flexible; healthy and above all, efficient.
    
The BA sees cargo bikes as a strategic priority and will continue its work to drive further growth in this dynamic new sector – one that’s crucial for decarbonising logistics and transport generally.
    
This was backed by research evidence presented by the Green Alliance, Just Economics and Fare City, all of whom attended the Summit. Hina Bokharis stressed the importance of more story telling – drawing on academic research, but also the evidence and data captured by cargo bike logistics operators and transport authorities like TfL.
    
Samantha Tharme, senior strategic transport planner at City of London Corporation, said: “The square mile has around 400,000 people commuting every day. Our streets have competing demands, therefore reducing traffic by wider use of cargo bikes is incredibly attractive. Over 255 of vehicles in The City are freight. We want to work with building managers, occupiers and FMs to encourage them to shift this freight and movement of services onto cargo bikes.”
    
Normalising bike freight

One of the themes emerging during the day was the need, as Will Norman put it, to normalize cargo bikes.
    
“We must make cargo bikes normal, mainstream. It is not just about the green agenda and decarbonisation. It is also about the business case. That means the cargo bike logistics sector must make that case by presenting the data and storytelling. That is how we will see cargo bikes become an everyday part of the national picture of our streets,” said Will Norman.