Brent Council are supporting businesses and organisations across the borough to use cargo bikes for deliveries of goods and services through our Bikes for Business programme.
We are offering free advice and one-off subsidies to help you switch to either using a third party cargo bike delivery service or to put towards the purchase of your own bike. The subsidies available are up to £1,000 and are available until March 2024.
Cllr Sheth meets with the owners of Crazy Baker and Zap Waste, who took part in the Harlesden cargo bike trial in 2021, along with project partners MP Smarter Travel.
Changing the way goods and services are delivered across the borough by using cargo bikes where there is opportunity to do so helps to improve local air quality, reduce congestion, and contribute to our aim of carbon neutrality by 2030
Brent’s Bikes for Business subsidies are available to any business, charity, market stallholder or organisation based in Brent.
The scheme is running until March 2024. You can apply now for either:
You can request full terms and conditions, using any of the contact details provided.
Brent Council are working with MP Smarter Travel to help Brent organisations make the switch to cargo bikes.
The MP Smarter Travel team and Brent Council are offering:
This service is completely free of charge to organisations in Brent.
A cargo bike is any bike designed to carry goods and equipment.
Many of these are electrically assisted (an eCargo bike) with a rechargeable battery which increases the distance they can travel and how much weight can be carried. Many bikes are able to carry around 150-200kg (including rider) and some models even able to carry up to 400kg.
Unlike petrol and diesel vehicles, they don’t produce any fumes while they’re being ridden making them a cleaner option for transporting goods around the borough.
Cargo bikes come in various shapes and sizes with two-, three- and even four-wheel versions. Some models come with large containers and trailers which can carry up to 400kg or have chiller containers for food and drinks.
Put simply, anything that will fit in the container or can be tied to a trailer or rack safely and securely can be transported by cargo bike.
Cargo bikes can carry most things up to 400kg depending on the model, and will have either a lockable container, rack at the front, or trailer at the rear which can be used to tie items to
As cargo bikes are so versatile, they can be used to transport large and small items including:
Cargo bikes have lower running costs compared to vans and there are no congestion or emission charges, or parking fees. They can also be faster than a van as the bike can avoid traffic by using cycle lanes and back streets.
With zero exhaust emissions, cargo bikes can help cut local air pollution levels and help you do your bit to reduce your business's emissions as we work to reach net zero carbon emissions in Brent by 2030. Using a cargo bike also reduces noise from traffic and road danger, creating a more pleasant urban environment.
Demonstrate your commitment to sustainability to your customers. Cargo bikes are easy to brand with your company logo if you go down the route of purchasing one.
We will ensure that all the couriers we recommend have insurance and have training of riders as part of their operations.
If you choose to use a cargo bike courier, it is important that all goods are appropriately packaged with suitable materials.
Cargo bike couriers will take every measure to ensure that parcels are delivered undamaged, but businesses will need to take their own precautions to properly package their parcels.
Brent Council, MP Smarter Travel and cargo bike couriers can’t accept any liability for items that are poorly packaged.
Brent’s Bikes for Business builds on two successful trials held in Harlesden and Willesden Green Town Centres.
Find out how some of our businesses are already putting their bikes to good use: