Square Mile businesses offered ‘zero-emission’ deliveries

Businesses in one of London’s busiest trading districts, the City of London, are being offered the use of a ‘zero-emission’ delivery service which sees goods transported using cargo bikes, replacing vans on busy streets.

The service launched this month (January 2018), has been set up with the support of the City of London Corporation.

Sam Keam, director of Recharge Cargo, with some of the cargo bikes that will be transporting goods in the City of London

It is available to all businesses in the Smithfield and Farringdon areas with deliveries anywhere within the Congestion Charge zone.

The cargo bike scheme is being run in partnership with Zedify, a new zero emissions delivery operator – formed from established cargo bike delivery companies Recharge Cargo and Outspoken Delivery, which serve six UK cities.

Under the scheme, courier riders will use an electric-assist cargo bike or an electric-assist trike, with load capacities of 100kg and 250kg respectively to make deliveries. The delivery hub will be based in a car park, at West Smithfield.

Low Emission Neighbourhood

The scheme is part of the City of London Corporation’s plans for a Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN), jointly funded by the Mayor of London and the City Corporation.

Plans for the LEN also include new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, green taxi ranks and planting and growing projects designed to improve air quality around Barbican and Golden Lane Estate areas.

Jeremy Simons, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Environment Committee, said: “This new service marks a significant milestone in the introduction of the City’s Low Emission neighbourhood.

“It is part of our wider plan to help reduce emissions and improve air quality in the Square Mile.

“The service will provide local business with an eco-friendly way to move their goods around and reduce air pollution for local residents and workers.”

Sam Keam, director of Recharge Cargo said: “Zedify is an exciting new urban delivery network. We are thrilled to be setting up a new operation at Smithfield that enables us to offer local businesses fast, efficient and cost-effective delivery and distribution services within central London.

“We are looking forward to expanding the operation in the coming months to provide zero-emission services that help to address the critical issues of congestion, air pollution and quality of life for Londoners.”

Related Links
City of London Corporation
Recharge Cargo
Outspoken Delivery