Businesses across Oxford are taking part in an electric-cargo bike initiative, providing participating businesses with free, zero emission deliveries within the city.
A partnership between Oxford City Council and Velocity Cycle Couriers will allow businesses to test out free electric cargo bike deliveries over an initial 12-week period until 31 May 2024.
Velocity’s couriers will offer same-day and next-day zero emission deliveries within the ring road. Participating businesses include:
- Oxford Cheese Company
- iScream
- The Garden
- Jemini
- Gulp Fiction
- Blue Blood
- Wicked Chocolate
- Shepherd & Woodward
- Walters
- Hoyles
- OxUnboxed
- The Vaults
- Hamblin
- Y.O.U. Underwear
- Truck Oxford
The new partnership will see a wide range of businesses taking part with deliveries carried out by a Velocity rider using one of the dedicated Covered Market e-cargo bikes supported by Velocity’s fleet of e-cargo bikes.
The transport sector is the largest contributor of NOX emissions in the city accounting for 68% of emissions. The partnership will enable businesses to explore how they can move towards zero-emission deliveries. The initiative will also aid the Council in its ambitions to create an inclusive and zero carbon economy, and to support small businesses across the city.
The electric cargo bike partnership builds on the 2021 trial, which saw Covered Market businesses trialing two electric cargo bikes.
Throughout the 12 week partnership, the Council will be subsidising the cost of deliveries made using the electric cargo bikes. The initiative will then be reviewed at the end of May.
Businesses who want to take part in the 12 week partnership can contact Velocity at hello@velocitycc.co.uk or by calling Velocity on 01865 249 854.
“We know that businesses are keen to explore alternative ways to make deliveries to their customers. This exciting partnership not only encourages businesses to transition from car-based deliveries, but it also gives some businesses the chance to make deliveries for the first time. I am looking forward to seeing how this trial works out for our fantastic independent businesses.”
Councillor Anna Railton, Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford and Climate Justice, Oxford City Council
"Working with the fabulous independent businesses in Oxford and finding sustainable solutions to their urban delivery challenges lies at the very heart of Velocity's courier services. Partnering with Oxford City Council is a great opportunity to allow business owners to find out how e-cargo bike deliveries can work for them."
Jake Swinhoe, Director, Velocity Cycle Couriers
"It is great that we are now able to offer an environmentally friendly local courier delivery service for customers within the ring road. If a customer hears a song on the radio, if we have the album in stock they can order it through our online shop for next day or even same day delivery using this service."
Carl Smithson, Store Manager at Truck Oxford
"This partnership is an excellent opportunity for our business. It will really help us to reduce our carbon footprint and give us a much easier way to make deliveries to customers within the ring road."
Sarah Jordan, CEO & Founder of Y.O.U Underwear
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