Completed

North East

E-cargo bike delivery scheme

Trialling a greener logistics solution in Hexham

Steven Morrison Cairns

Innovation Associate

Steven Morrison Cairns

Innovation Associate

Overview

Food and Drink North East (FADNE) has partnered with NICRE to trial a new e-cargo bike delivery scheme in Hexham, with a view to rolling out to other areas in Northumberland.

Launched at Hexham Farmers' Market in the autumn of 2024, the trial involves trained e-cargo bike riders delivering goods around the town. 

In response to feedback from active travel stakeholders in Northumberland that businesses are looking for reliable, greener delivery solutions, FADNE and NICRE have partnered to develop this scheme alongside Northumberland County Council's new community e-cargo bike offer in Hexham. 

If you have a business in Hexham and would like to deliver your goods locally by cargo bike, please contact steven@fadne.org.

In November 2024, our e-cargo bike delivery scheme started in Berwick, supporting The Green Shop and Berwick Community Trust (food bank deliveries) on a Friday.

This door-to-door service is helping to reduce car use and benefitting customers who do not have to worry about carrying heavy items.

Berwick Trial

Background

The project is motivated by a desire to provide a low carbon, modern, innovative solution to van and car deliveries, direct to local people's doors.

The project also aims to:

  • Identify a feasible subscription model that would allow for employment opportunities with riders or pilots able to be paid above the living wage;
  • Contribute towards supporting local businesses and a circular economy benefitting the region;
  • Develop a logistics solution that provides value for money to businesses and customers, as well as appealing to customers for whom an eco-friendly service is a priority.

We also are driven by giving greater operational bandwidth to small businesses by aligning with a flexible, virtual marketplace with local drivers, with an aim for a seven-day per week service in future. This builds on prior FADNE and NICRE projects, such as the Local Heroes scheme.

Find out more about Local Heroes
NO LOGO Cargo Bike Sticker

Next steps

NICRE and FADNE have been exploring the innovation potential of low carbon delivery services. Ongoing consumer research is taking place to understand market needs in service development, which will inform the development of the trial, including the recruitment of paid riders.

The trial also forms part of a strand of NICRE work around rural active travel and greener transportation. NICRE will be holding a climathon on this topic in early 2025.

Partners

Food and Drink North East

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