Town and city centres are subject to severe congestion, to which freight is a key contributor. One of the causes of this is the growth in van traffic. Van mileage has increased by a fifth since 2008, and vans now make up about 15% of traffic and cause over 30% of NOx and particulate emissions in the UK. Cargo bikes offer a unique opportunity to reduce vehicle use and CO2 emissions in city centres.
This study aims to understand the potential of e-cargo bikes. Focus groups and interviews will be carried out to identify the potential uptake of bikes across different business sectors in Greater Manchester. The results will provide new knowledge that is valuable to academic study, urban planners and decision makers with a remit to reduce carbon-intensive travel and boost healthy active transport.
This study is the first investigation into e-cargo usage in the UK. The findings will to build on the momentum around active travel, highlighting important considerations for planners and developers and inform some of the decisions being made around urban sustainable transport.
Funder: DecarboN8 EPSRC Network Plus Seedcorn Funding
Team: Luke Blazejewski, Graeme Sherriff, Nick Davies
