Local Businesses Get Pedal Powered with eCargo Bikes
Three businesses in the Fingal area are pedalling into the busy festive season with brand new eCargo bikes from Fingal County Council. These state of the art eCargo bikes are intended to replace the use of motor vehicles for local area deliveries. As part of its commitment to climate action and providing sustainable travel alternatives, Fingal County Council is providing the bikes free of charge to the businesses for 12 months.
The initiative launches this week with delivery of the first two eCargo bikes to businesses in Malahide and Donabate with further launches happening next week in Rush. The bikes have been branded for each business and have been purchased by Fingal County Council. Maintenance of the bikes will be handled by Bleeper Bike for the duration of the pilot.
eCargo Delivery Bikes are just one of several sustainable travel projects run by the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel. Fingal County Council has in recent months worked with sports clubs on the ‘Gear up for Training’ cycling education initiative and is in the process of upgrading school cycling infrastructure across the county, through the ‘Safe Routes to School’ programme as well as undertaking a county wide programme of upgrade works on cycle lanes to ease walking and cycling commutes for Fingal residents. This project further extends the reach of Active Travel to the business community for the first time.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh celebrated the simplicity of the project. ‘Bike delivery is not a new concept. There was once a time when all local businesses delivered their goods in the basket of a bike. Today we can get back to basics by using pedal power and reap the benefits of this timeless solution. Delivery riders don’t need a driving licence, bikes are cheaper and easier to maintain and insure than a car or van and are much easier to park too! All of these factors make eCargo bikes an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes.’
David Storey, Director of Services for Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel, says the team is delighted to extend their sustainability offerings to the Fingal business community. ‘Today we are delivering the first BleeperBox eCargo bikes to participating businesses, and I’m delighted to see this project getting underway. We are giving businesses access to an affordable, sustainable and climate friendly option for delivering to local customers.
Throughout the next 12 months we will monitor how the bikes are used, what impact this switch to bike delivery has on how they do business and the impact on the environment compared to their usual delivery methods. We will also be getting regular feedback from the businesses themselves on how customers are responding.’
The three businesses selected for the initial phase of the eCargo bike project are:
- The Village Garden Centre, Malahide
- Altitude Coffee, Donabate
- Jack the Bachelors Restaurant, Rush
Each business was chosen from a list of eager applicants and has been vetted for suitability. Criteria included location, catchment area, practicality of bike delivery and estimated frequency of use.
Hugh Cooney, CEO of Bleeper Bike, says he looks forward to building a picture of success as the bikes go into use. ‘Our eCargo bikes take advantage of the latest technology, they are lightweight and easy to manoeuvre so they are ideal for convenient local delivery. We will also gather data as they are used which will help us understand how the bike impacts the business and where and when they are best used. That data will help us plan for really successful adoption of eCargo delivery bikes.’
With a renewed focus on shopping local this Christmas, Fingal County Council say this is an ideal time to launch the project and they are encouraging everyone to look to their local shops and restaurants when eating out and gift shopping this December. With the new eCargo bikes hitting the road from today, be sure to look out for them in your local area!
