A new vehicle will soon be seen on the streets of Sunderland as part of the cityโs ongoing push towards sustainability and greener travel.
Sunderland City Council, working alongside the cityโs BIDs, has introduced an e-cargo bike that will support a range of initiatives across key areas including the city centre, Sheepfolds and the seafront.
And this scheme marks a first not just for the city but for the region as a whole.
The electric bike has a large โcupboardโ style attachment which means it can transport equipment, be used for litter picking and street cleaning and also be deployed for a range of community-based activities.
The purchase has also led to plans to launch a cardboard recycling collection service in the future, where the BIDsโ street rangers will collect the carboard from local businesses.
The initiative is funded through the Department for Transport (DfT) and the North East Combined Authority (NECA) via the 2024/25 Active Travel Capability Fund, administered by Active Travel England, which is working to strengthen local authoritiesโ ability to deliver high quality active travel initiatives.
Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of Sunderland BIDs, believes the transporter bike will be a huge asset to the city.
โThe E-cargo bike is extremely versatile which means our street rangers can use it for a whole host of activities that are beneficial to both businesses and residents,โ she said.
โIt is a great step in our move to more sustainable transport and reducing carbon emissions as well as us supporting the ambitions of Active Travel England, which aims to increase the number of local journeys that are walked, wheeled or cycled.โ
Cllr Lindsey Leonard, Sunderland City Councilโs portfolio holder for Environment, Transport and Net Zero echoed Sharonโs comments.
โBringing an e cargo bike service to Sunderland is an exciting step forward in how we support cleaner, greener and smarter ways of doing business in our city,โ she said.
โThis partnership between the City Council and Sunderland BIDs shows whatโs possible when we work together to innovate, reduce emissions and improve the experience of people who live, work and shop here.
โBeing the first project of its kind in the North East is something weโre incredibly proud of, and we hope it inspires even more sustainable initiatives across the region.โ
To find out more email info@sunderlandbid.co.uk
