Hammersmith & Fulham scheme is putting businesses on their bikes

Since they launched the Parcels Not Pollution scheme in 2019, Hammersmith & Fulham has helped more than 100 local businesses switch to using cargo bikes instead of vans for their deliveries around the borough.

Through the scheme, the council are supporting businesses with free advice and support in the form of one-off subsidies to help them switch to using cargo bikes, including electric ones, in their day-to-day business. 

The scheme offers £1,000 towards purchasing or leasing a cargo bike or 5o% off the cost of using a cargo bike service in a two-month period (up to £300 per month) and runs until April 2025.

Fulham-based ManMaid are recent beneficiaries of the scheme, using electric cargo bikes instead of delivery vans.

Mungo Morgan, founder and CEO of ManMaid. said: ‘The biggest win with cargo bikes is the parking. Being able to park them right outside is a massive time saving. If we forget a screwdriver we can just pop outside and pick it up’

The company previously spent more than £7,000 a year in parking fees. ‘That pays for a new bike in itself,’ he said.

In London traffic, the fact that cargo bikes can use cycle and bus lanes is also a great advantage: ‘With the heavy traffic and the congestion, during rush hour, we’re ten times quicker than a van would be.’

Like most builders, he started off with a van when he founded ManMaid seven years ago, ‘Most of my time was spent in the van. I thought, ‘there’s got to be a better way to get around’,’ he says.

After putting different types to the test, Mungo decided on electric cargo tricycles. “We call them tool trikes,” he said.

With a capacity of 900 litres and the ability to carry up to 100 kilos, their e-tricycles (‘We call them tool trikes’) can hold some materials and all the tools needed for the next job.

ManMaid received free one-on-one sessions through H&F’s cycle training offer. 

Rory Higgins, ManMaid’s longest-serving handyman said: ‘They’re easy to drive because they’re electric. They do the job for us – it’s brilliant.’

Road transport accounts for 16% of H&F’s carbon emissions.