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Councils in the United Kingdom have been urged to switch from polluting diesel vans to electric cargo bikes to maintain public services.
According to figures released today by the campaign group Cargo Revolution, local authorities could save £660 million by switching to electric cargo bikes.
The group are calling on local authorities to switch to cargo bikes for services such as litter cleaning, keeping parks tidy, and doing maintenance to council estates.
The call comes just days after London mayor Sadiq Khan issued a ‘high air’ pollution alert in the capital.
Imperial College London forecasters advised the Mayor to issue the alert due on 13 June to a strong likelihood of high ozone levels, caused by the hot, sunny weather.
This is the second high air pollution alert this year in London.
The last alert was in January, with one day of high pollution followed by three days of moderate air pollution.
The Cargo Revolution group estimates the switch would mean there would be 8,500 fewer diesel vans on the road and the move would help the U.K. meet its obligations to reduce air pollution.
They argue the move would also mean lower fuel and maintenance costs for councils.
Five councils in London have signed up to the “cargo bike charter’, which pledges to switch council vans to cargo bikes, where possible, while enabling residents and businesses to use pedal power to make deliveries and provide key services.
The charter includes a five-point plan to improve the infrastructure for cargo bikes and support individuals and businesses to switch away from polluting vehicles.
The London councils are Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth and Westminster.
An event organized by the Federation of Small Businesses also takes place today in London for Better Transport Week today to demonstrate the potential for small and medium sized enterprises to make the switch to using cargo bikes.
And on 29 June, a group of cargo bikes will travel through central London to highlight the campaign and to celebrate the charter.
Westminster City Council’s deputy cabinet member for air quality, Cllr Max Sullivan said in a statement it was delighted to be an early signatory of the charter.
Cllr Sullivan added that enabling businesses and residents to move cargo by bike wherever possible, rather than by van, is an essential part of cleaning up the air.
“The charter highlights five important areas where we must continue to make progress as a local authority to unlock the power of cargo bikes,” he said.
Cargo Revolution spokesperson Edie Gill Holder emphasized the hidden social and environmental costs associated with diesel vans in London, which currently amount to a staggering £2.46 billion annually.
"By switching to electric cargo bikes, councils can reduce the financial burden on taxpayers while positively impacting the health and well-being of our communities. It's a win-win for local people”, Gill Holder said.
Oliver Lord from Clean Cities Campaign, added cargo bikes are a “zippy, clean, quiet and efficient solution for cities grappling with toxic air, traffic congestion and the climate crisis”.
“I hope the charter and the commitments laid out today will inspire other authorities across Europe to join the cargo revolution,” said Lord.
Jason Torrance, interim chief executive of the UK100 local authority network said empowering and enabling businesses to switch from diesel vans to cargo bikes for short journeys is a “cost-effective way to reduce emissions and help residents breathe more easily”.
"As highlighted in our Clean Air Net Zero report, changing the way we move people and goods around towns and cities is one of the key win-wins of integrated climate and clean air measures,” Torrance told Forbes in an email.
“And, as we see time and again, it is local authorities at the vanguard of ambitious and innovative action."
