A new mode of sustainable transportation is taking over the UK, and it’s changing the way companies transport goods in urban centres.
In 2020, roughly 2,000 cargo bicycles – bikes that feature a box designed for storing cargo of all sorts, from packages out for delivery to hot and cold food to small children – were sold for commercial use in the UK, with experts projecting at the time that sales would only continue to increase.
Of course, cargo bikes aren’t exactly “new” – in fact, they’re already ubiquitous in many European countries, such as in Germany, where roughly 100,000 are sold each year. Their growing popularity in UK cities certainly is new, however, and points to a growing desire to make our cities more sustainable.
Electric cargo bikes in particular have been widely embraced by delivery companies, as they make transporting heavy goods a breeze and allow riders to operate the bikes for much longer distances, regardless of the terrain. While the sale of regular electric bicycles has stalled post-COVID, e-cargo bike sales continue to rise, increasing by 37% between 2021 and 2022.
In the UK, companies of all sizes have been adopting the use of e-cargo bikes, from up-and-coming enterprises like XeroE – the company Meetini has partnered with to offer next-day delivery of our products across London and Bristol – to giant corporations like Amazon.
Not only do e-cargo bikes offer an efficient way to deliver goods quickly and sustainably, they also help to reduce congestion – a major factor in cities like Edinburgh, London and Bristol, and a threat to both the environment and the health of urban dwellers.
Here at Meetini, cargo bikes were identified early on in the creation of the brand as a way to easily serve cocktails anywhere, at any time, without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Our signature teal cargo bikes have now become a symbol of the company, and we’re proud to be early adopters of this innovative mode of delivery.
Are e-cargo bikes the answer to congestion and vehicle exhaust emissions in cities?
