A citywide e-cargo bike scheme is to launch in Manchester, providing cheaper and greener alternatives to car and van travel.
A total of 26 e-cargo bikes and six trailers will be available for both business and public hire in the coming weeks.
The bikes can travel at speeds of up to 15mph and carry a weight of 250kg, while the trailers will enable larger loads to be carried. Prices will start from £12 per day, with the bikes available for up to 14 days of usage. Businesses will be able to loan the bikes for longer periods of time allowing them to find out if they would work for their business model.
Initially, the bikes will be available for collection at a central depot in Chapel Street, close to the city centre, but the service will be rolled out to communities and local hubs.
The project goes live in the first weeks of February with the help of a £173,000 grant, supplied under the Energy Savings Trust’s work to promote e-cargo bikes and supported by the Department for Transport.
It’s being run by seven partners, including Manchester City Council, which will use the e-cargo bikes itself as part of day-to-day operations for its Parks, Cemeteries and Neighbourhood Services teams.
The hope is that the scheme will provide the first wave in the modal shift towards greener ways of transport.
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “In Manchester we really want to show that there are alternatives to using cars and other polluting means of transport. We know that a complete societal shift is required in terms of how we view transport, and as a Council we want to play our part in bringing about that change.
“By demonstrating that affordable and effective alternatives are available to the public we are breaking down barriers that may otherwise prevent someone making a positive change.”
