Bikes for Business Project Resources

Bicycles and cargo bikes can offer a fast, clean alternative to motorised deliveries in London.

Working with businesses along Central London’s Low Line corridor, the Bikes for Business project is making zero-emission cargo bike deliveries the mainstream solution for business freight.

By replacing diesel/petrol vehicles with more environmentally sustainable cargo bikes, we are working to create a more attractive and appealing destination for visitors, customers, and businesses.

For making the switch to cargo bikes, the project offers businesses:

·       Up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike

·       Up to 50% towards using a cargo bike delivery service

If you are looking for a more environmentally conscious supplier, a more efficient courier or to operate your own cargo bikes, then please get in touch at bikesforbusiness@mpsmartertravel.co.uk.

MP Smarter Travel delivers award-winning projects to improve urban environments by enabling walking, cycling and other zero-emissions transport.

Working with local councils, businesses, schools and the public, MP Smarter Travel delivers projects that support cleaner air, stronger local economies and better places to live and work. Since starting in 2012, MP Smarter Travel's services include cargo bike initiatives, school travel plans, public consultations, and air quality monitoring.

Based in London, MP Smarter Travel was founded on the principle of creating sustainable neighbourhoods and business districts that are inviting and accessible to everyone.

For more information, please visit www.mpsmartertravel.co.uk

MP Smarter Travel offer cargo bike-specific expertise to the project, guiding businesses, operators, and project partners as they transition to using zero-emission cargo bikes for deliveries.

MP Smarter Travel consultants will operate an impartial cargo bike brokerage service, pairing businesses with their ideal cargo bike operators. Alternatively, they will help businesses through the purchase of their own cargo bikes.

The cargo bike market is growing and diversifying rapidly, meaning MP Smarter Travel’s guidance saves businesses time and helps establish an effective pairing between business and cargo bike operator.

The Low Line is a new walking destination for London along the length of the mighty Victorian rail viaducts spanning Bankside, London Bridge and Bermondsey. It connects diverse neighbourhoods and communities in south London, linking existing and new hubs of creativity, entertainment, and industry along its course. The Low Line celebrates the heritage of the railway arches which have been a part of the area for over 150 years, shaping places of interest along the way and unlocking their potential.

If your business is affiliated to one of the partners or is based in, or services customers in the area highlighted on this map, you could be eligible for subsidies. Reach us at bikesforbusiness@mpsmartertravel.co.uk.

Draft e-mails

[This is a draft email for cargo bike operators to send to new customers thinking of/having just started cargo bike deliveries.]

[Subject line: Get 50% off cargo bike services]

[Preview header: Claim subsidies through Bikes for Business]

Dear [New customer],

[Operator name] is part of the Bikes for Business project, offering businesses subsidies for making the switch to using cargo bikes for deliveries/collections.

As your business is based in the Bikes for Business project area, you can claim 50% off your deliveries with us (Maximum subsidy of £345)* for making the switch to our zero-emission cargo bike service.

How does it work?

1.      Sign up and switch your existing [deliveries/collections] from diesel/petrol vehicles to [operator name’s] cargo bikes.

2.      We will inform the Bikes for Business project team of your switch and confirm your subsidy amount.

3.      After two months of using our service, the Bikes for Business team will pay you 50% of your total deliveries with us up to a maximum of £345*.

For more information about the Bikes for Business project, click here.

To claim this offer and begin [deliveries/collections] with [operator name], contact our team at [operator e-mail/phone number].

Kind regards,

[Contact name]

*Terms and conditions apply, please contact Bikes for Business to find out more.

[Operators will then refer interested businesses to the Bikes for Business project by completing our contact form]

For Businesses: Draft project introduction email

[This is a draft email for project partners to send to their business members.]

[Subject line: Bikes for Business]

[Preview header: Subsidies available for zero emission deliveries]

Dear [Business owner/operations manager/business name],

Searching for more sustainable deliveries? How about a more environmentally friendly supplier?

Funded by Impact on Urban Health, the Bikes for Business project offers businesses up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike, or 50% off cargo bike delivery services for deliveries and pick-ups*.

Subsidies are awarded for the following actions:

Persuade your supplier to use cargo
bikes to service your business:
50% off deliveries in a two-month period (Maximum subsidy of £345)*

Switch to a supplier that already uses cargo bikes:
50% off deliveries in a two-month period (Maximum subsidy of £345)*

Run a bike for your own business operations:
Up to £1,500

To benefit

1.      Complete the Bikes for Business contact form as a ‘Local business’.

2.      The team will advise you on how best you can use cargo bikes.

3.      Begin using your own cargo bike or a 3rd party cargo bike service.

4.      After a trial period, claim your subsidy for having made a switch to zero-emission deliveries. 

Project aims

The Bikes for Business project is available to all businesses based along the Low Line.

The project aims to:

Increase the use of cargo Bikes for Business deliveries.

·       Reduce air pollution, noise pollution and carbon emissions in your area from a switch to zero emission vehicles.

·       Grow the market for cargo bikes including supporting the promotion of new services and identifying gaps in the market.

·       Make the Low Line area a leading location for cargo bike use.

Cargo bike switches

The Bikes for Business project is not just about helping businesses buy a cargo bike, the team will examine a range of your inbound and outbound deliveries, looking for ways to integrate last mile, first mile or only mile cargo bike deliveries/collections.

There are over 100 cargo bike operators across London, offering a range of services, including:

·       Catering

·       Couriers

·       Drink suppliers

·       Florists

·       Independent retailers

·       Laundry services

·       Petcare

·       Printing and design

·       Restaurant wholesalers

·       Taxi Service

·       Tradespeople

·       Waste collection

More information

To find out more about the project, register an expression of interest or read their FAQs here [insert link].

Kind regards,

[Contact name]

*Terms and conditions apply, please contact Bikes for Business to find out more.

Second draft project introduction email for businesses – Follow up

[This email is to be sent to those businesses that did not open the first – send 5 days after the first]

[Subject line: Local zero emission deliveries]

[preview header: Receive subsidies for making the switch to sustainable deliveries]

Dear [Business owner/operations manager/business name],

[Project partner] have recently partnered with the Bikes for Business project.

Funded by Impact on Urban Health, the Bikes for Business project offers businesses up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike, or 50% off cargo bike delivery services for deliveries and pick-ups*.

Subsidies are awarded for the following actions:

Persuade your supplier to use their cargo bike operator to service your business:
50% off deliveries in a two-month period (Maximum subsidy of £345)*

Switch to a supplier that already uses cargo bikes:
50% off deliveries in a two-month period (Maximum subsidy of £345)*

Run a bike for your own business operations:
Up to £1,500

To benefit

1.      Complete the Bikes for Business contact form as a ‘local business’.

2.      The team will advise you on how best you can use cargo bikes.

3.      Begin using your own cargo bike or a third party cargo bike service.

4.      After a trial period, claim your subsidy for having made a switch to zero-emission deliveries.

Project aims

The Bikes for Business project is available to all businesses based along the Low Line.

The project aims to:

·       Increase the use of cargo Bikes for Business deliveries.

·       Reduce air pollution, noise pollution and carbon emissions in your area from a switch to zero emission vehicles.

·       Grow the market for cargo bikes including supporting the promotion of new services and identifying gaps in the market.

·       Make the Low Line area a leading location for cargo bike use.

More information

To find out more about the project, register an expression of interest or read their FAQs here [insert link].

Kind regards,

[Contact name]

*Terms and conditions apply, please contact Bikes for Business to find out more.

Draft newsletter article

[Project partner] have recently joined the Bikes for Business project. The project offers businesses along the Low Line in SE1, SE16 and SE17, up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike, or up to 50% off using cargo bike delivery services for deliveries and pick-ups*.

The project helps businesses purchase their own cargo bikes, as well as pairing businesses with new 3rd party cargo bike services.

There are over 100 cargo bike service providers in London, including, but not limited to: caterers, couriers, food & drink suppliers, florists, printing & graphics, and tradespeople who arrive by bike.

If you want to see reductions in local air pollution, complete the Bikes for Business contact form.

[Project partner] have recently joined the Bikes for Business project. The project offers businesses up to £700 for making a switch to zero-emission cargo bikes.

The project helps businesses purchase their own cargo bikes, as well as pairing businesses with new 3rd party cargo bike services.

There are over 100 cargo bike service providers in London, including, but not limited to: caterers, couriers, food & drink suppliers, florists, printing & graphics, and tradespeople who arrive by bike. 

If you want to see reductions in local air pollution, complete the Bikes for Business contact form.

Draft Social Media Posts  

This section provides draft social media content for project partners.

Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram

[Project partner] have recently joined the Bikes for Business project. The project is offering businesses in SE1, SE16 and SE17 up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike, or up to 50% off using cargo bike delivery services for deliveries and pick-ups*.

If you want to begin using cargo bikes and see reductions in local air pollution, complete the Bikes for Business contact form.

*Terms and Conditions apply, please contact bikesforbusiness@mpsmartertravel.co.uk for more information.

#BikesforBusiness #cargobikes #cleanair @MP Smarter Travel @Team London Bridge

Twitter

We’ve joined #BikesforBusiness! Get up to £1.5k towards your own cargo bike or 50% off a #cargobike delivery service. See how cargo bikes can help your business & the environment at: https://www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk/bikesforbusiness.  #cleanair @MPSmarterTravel @Team London Bridge

Second draft project introduction email for businesses – Follow up

[This email is to be sent to those businesses that did not open the first – send 5 days after the first]

[Subject line: Local zero emission deliveries]

[preview header: Receive subsidies for making the switch to sustainable deliveries]

Dear [Business owner/operations manager/business name],

[Project partner] have recently partnered with the Bikes for Business project.

Funded by Impact on Urban Health, the Bikes for Business project offers businesses up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike, or 50% off cargo bike delivery services for deliveries and pick-ups*.

Subsidies are awarded for the following actions:

Persuade your supplier to use their cargo bike operator to service your business:
50% off deliveries in a two-month period (Maximum subsidy of £345)*

Switch to a supplier that already uses cargo bikes:
50% off deliveries in a two-month period (Maximum subsidy of £345)*

Run a bike for your own business operations:
Up to £1,500

To benefit

1.      Complete the Bikes for Business contact form as a ‘local business’.

2.      The team will advise you on how best you can use cargo bikes.

3.      Begin using your own cargo bike or a third party cargo bike service.

4.      After a trial period, claim your subsidy for having made a switch to zero-emission deliveries.

Project aims

The Bikes for Business project is available to all businesses based along the Low Line.

The project aims to:

·       Increase the use of cargo Bikes for Business deliveries.

·       Reduce air pollution, noise pollution and carbon emissions in your area from a switch to zero emission vehicles.

·       Grow the market for cargo bikes including supporting the promotion of new services and identifying gaps in the market.

·       Make the Low Line area a leading location for cargo bike use.

More information

To find out more about the project, register an expression of interest or read the FAQs here.

Kind regards,

[Contact name]

*Terms and conditions apply, please contact Bikes for Business to find out more.

Here are our Cargo Bike facts that can be used in social media posts and news articles.

Key facts:

·       The average fuel saving of a cargo bike compared to a diesel van is £800 per year (ref: link)

·       Cargo bikes can carry up to 400kg

·       Cargo bikes can travel up to 50 miles on one charge

·       Carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by up to 75% by using cargo bikes rather than diesel/petrol vehicles (ref: Cycling Industry) 

·       Replacing one HGV with cycle freight in central London could save 9.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year (ref: bicycle association pg 24 using data from TFL)

·       33% of all urban deliveries could be completed by cargo bikes (ref: link)

·       Transport is the UK’s largest greenhouse gas emitter at 27% (ref: link)

·       The ULEZ is expanding on the 25th October 2021. Cargo bikes are all ULEZ compliant and offer a cheaper and cleaner alternative to diesel/petrol vehicles.

·       Air pollution from cars and vans is responsible for £5.9 billion worth of UK health damage costs (ref: link). Cargo bikes create no air pollution while in transit and through light exercise, help improve the health of their rider.

·       British drivers lost £7.9 billion in 2018 due to traffic congestion (ref: link). Smaller vehicles such as cargo bikes help alleviate this congestion.

Subsidies available

The Bikes for Business project offers subsidies for the following actions:

Type Subsidy

Persuade your supplier to use their 50% off deliveries in a two-month period*
cargo bikes to service your business

Switch to a supplier that already 50% off deliveries in a two-month period*
uses cargo bikes

Run a bike for your own business Up to £1,500
operations

*Terms and conditions apply, please contact MP Smarter Travel for further details. Maximum subsidy of £345.

Subsidy amounts vary with delivery regularity and subsidy values are subject to change based on business uptake.  

To join the programme and claim a subsidy, please complete the following form - link.  

What is a cargo bike?

Cargo bikes are bicycles with a large front or rear container, and come in many shapes and sizes with two, three and four-wheeled models available. Cargo bikes often have an electric motor that can assist pedalling up to 15.5mph and allow riders to carry up to 400kg. As cargo bikes are classed as bicycles and can therefore use cycle lanes and can be operated without a driving licence.

How much subsidy is available for my business?  

Businesses can receive up to £345 in subsidies for using a delivery service, or £1,500 towards buying your own bike. To see how much subsidy you’d receive for switching to cargo bikes, fill in our contact form.

What’s the catch?  

In return for subsidies, we require some feedback on your cargo bike operator’s performance. We may also ask you to provide details for the creation of a case study of your business’ use of cargo bikes.

What is the aim of this programme? 

• To increase the use of cargo bikes for business deliveries.

• Reduce air pollution, noise pollution and carbon emissions by helping businesses switch to zero emission vehicles.

• Grow the market for cargo bikes by supporting the promotion of new services and identifying gaps in the market.

• Make the Low Line area a leading location for cargo bike use.

When will the programme finish?  

The programme will finish in 2023.

What services can be delivered by cargo bike?  

Cargo bikes can be used for a range of business services and product deliveries including:

• Catering​

• Couriers​

• Drink suppliers​

• Florists​

• Laundry services​

• Petcare​

• Printing and design​

• Restaurant wholesalers​

• Taxi Service ​

• Tradespeople ​

• Waste collection​

Who is funding this programme?  

The programme is primarily funded by Impact on Urban Health who work to tackle complex health issues that disproportionately impact people living in urban areas. Additional funding comes from business improvement districts; Team London Bridge and Better Bankside.

My business is just outside the project area, can we still take part in the programme?  

Yes, if your business services/delivers to customers in the project area then you may be eligible for subsidies.   

Why cargo bikes and other cycles?  

Cycles create zero emissions while in use, they help reduce congestion, are easy to park, are quiet, have lower running costs than diesel/petrol vehicles, are ULEZ compliant and often have faster delivery times.  

What is the load capacity of a cargo bike?  

Most cargo-bikes are electric assisted, allowing them to carry heavy loads. The largest bikes in London have a maximum load capacity of 400kg.  

Cargo bikes are expensive

Not true. However, it is correct that cargo bikes tend to be more expensive than traditional bicycles. Non-electric cargo bike models start at around £2,000, and their electric alternatives range from £3,200 to £11,000. However, due to the way that businesses use cargo bikes, and their maximum load capacity of 400kg, it is important we compare cargo bike prices not with bicycles, but with vans. One of the cheapest electric vans, the NISSAN E-NV200 starts at £26,305. At this price, a business could get two of the most expensive cargo bikes available.

Cargo bikes are a tax-exempt purchase and can be purchased from most retailers through a 0% finance or leasing scheme. This allows the initial cost of the cargo bike to be spread over several months or even years.

The Bikes for Business project is offering businesses up to £1,500 towards purchasing their own cargo bike, or up to 50% off towards using a cargo bike delivery service for deliveries and pick-ups*. To claim this offer, please fill in our contact form.

Running a diesel van will be cheaper than operating a cargo bike

Not true. In comparison to electric and especially diesel/petrol vehicles, cargo bikes are very cheap to operate. The Energy Saving Trust have calculated the annual running costs of different last mile delivery vehicles. An electrically-assisted cargo bike costs £5,580 less to run each year than a small diesel van.

Vehicle Annual running cost

Cargo bike £295

eCargo bike £319

eCargo trike £342

Small electric van £1,467

Small diesel van £6,169

Cargo bikes have a short battery range

Not true. Cargo bike battery range varies with load weight, rider weight, terrain, speed and battery capacity. A rider in London with a total rider, load and bike weight of 120kg will be able to cover 40-50 miles with a single charge. A comprehensive range calculator can be found here.

Cargo bike batteries take ages to charge

Not true. Cargo bike batteries are charged through a standard mains electricity socket and take between 2 and 5 hours to fully charge from empty.

A cargo bike can’t carry that!

Don’t listen! Cargo bike load capacity varies with each model. A front-loading cargo bike will typically hold between 100-180kg. Larger three and four-wheeled models can carry up to 400kg.

It is true that cargo bikes have their limits, they can’t carry a car for example. But we’re not advocating that cargo bikes are used for every journey!

What do I do with my existing vans and drivers?

We appreciate that businesses looking to transition to cheaper, sustainable and zero-emission fleets may have existing vans and directly employed drivers. In this scenario, we would suggest the following approaches:

·       Use your existing car/van fleet to complete longer distance deliveries that extend beyond London’s city centre. Then use cargo bikes for your inner-city deliveries, dense urban areas are where cargo bikes are most time efficient over cars/vans.

·       Re-train drivers to become riders.

·       If your existing vehicles are on lease, wait for the lease to end, then transition your fleet to cargo bikes.

Cargo bike riders are all un-insured

Not true. The cargo bike itself can be insured against theft and damage, while riders can receive public liability cover and employee insurance. All of the cargo bike couriers we recommend have insurance for their bikes and riders. Please contact bikesforbusiness@mpsmartertravel.co.uk with enquiries around cargo bike insurance.

Cargo bike riders are untrained

Not with Bikes for Business. Through the Bikes for Business project, we require all operators that sign our Operator Code of Conduct (now adopted by TfL) to have trained their riders to Bikeability Level 3. This is free training provided by all London boroughs. In addition, we ask that riders receive cargo bike-specific training with a recognised provider. Some business highlight rider behaviour as a key factor in supplier procurement, we will therefore only recommend operators with additional rider training to these businesses. Please contact bikesforbusiness@mpsmartertravel.co.uk with enquiries around cargo bike rider training.