CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

New Cargo Cycle Business

(17 posts)
  • Started 14 years ago by ProntoPedalPower
  • Latest reply from chdot

  1. ProntoPedalPower
    Member

    Hello all, I've seen a few people on here chew the fat about cargo bicycles in the dim and distant past.

    Well, I've taken the plunge and set up a cargo cycle delivery business as a social enterprise aimed at ridding our roads of some of the commercial traffic.

    It's also aimed at cycle promotion more generally as well.

    Hoping to launch at the start of July. Hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting the website - http://www.prontopedalpower.co.uk but I'd be grateful for your feedback.

    Cheers.

    Neil

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    RULES No personal insults. No swearing.

    This about Cycling and Edinburgh, so...

    Interesting fleet.

    As you will be well aware there has been the odd attempt to set up bike only couriers in Edinburgh. One early one survives but most of its business is by gas powered vans.

    'Traditional' couriering was overtaken by the Internet some years ago, but there 'must' be a place for non-motorised local deliveries.

    It might be some time before more roads are closed off like the High Street!

    Good luck.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. ProntoPedalPower
    Member

    Thanks very much for the prompt feeback. There are various push bike couriers still dotting about and doing city centre deliveries and probably just about earning a crust.

    I think there's a substantial amount of larger jobs which could fall within the domain of cargo bikes and can be effected cheaper, as quick and with no emission side effects. These factors tick the cost savings, efficency and CSR goals boxes many corporate organisations are seeking to achieve.

    The future is pedal power.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. rapidcyclecouriers
    Member

    hey, ive been earning a fare crust for some time now, let me know when/where your launch is, be good to have a chat about work etc. also drop by charlotte sq usually between 12pm-2pm for some networking. a few of us ride for ourselves and we share work amongst us so its good to know there are extra bodys around when its too busy.
    beware though, the now defunct and very unsuccessful village trike business went down quicker than it started.

    kind regards L.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "a few of us ride for ourselves and we share work amongst us so its good to know there are extra bodys around when its too busy"

    That's an encouraging and 'citycyclingedinburgh' attitude!

    As mentioned above couriers are often spotted lunching around C. Sq.

    Photo blackpuddinonnabike

    Must admit I'd assumed that the 'surviving' couriers worked for 'normal' courier companies.

    BUT

    "Rapid Cycle Couriers are Edinburgh based same-day delivery specialists operating on bicycles"

    Edinburgh Bicycle Messengers - "fast, affordable and eco friendly delivery service"

    edinburgh courier network - "desk-to-desk cycle deliveries in Edinburgh, van services and eco-friendly bicycle trailers"

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "very unsuccessful villiage trike business"

    Its web site has gone but there is a photo (and info) surviving here.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. ProntoPedalPower
    Member

    Rapid, that is a really kind offer and I would certainly appreciate the chance to do some networking.

    Village Trike, seems a curious one. Do we know why it failed so quickly and do we have any thoughts? I tried to contact the chap without success last summer. I am confident the business concept is sound in principle and have researched the target market for nearly a year.

    I figured VT failed due to insufficient forward planning and also, is that an electric hub on the front wheel?? Maybe also a lack of research.

    Whilst I have imported 2 electric assist trikes, these are in storage pending resolution of the challenge to the electric assist regs.

    The Bullitt's the big one for the time being!

    Hoping to get on the streets at the start of July, will swing by your usual haunts.

    Any hints and tips for a relative novice totally welcome

    All the best.

    Neil

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Sounds an interesting idea (the link chdot put up there is mine, I'd met Murray, the man behind Village Trike, to do an article for citycycling.co.uk) and it would actually be interesting to meet up and see the difference in this particular start up.

    I have to admit to a certain amount of personal interest because I'm in your 'old' line of work (chdot sent me an email with your LinkedIn profile) - I've been running citycycling for years, though I gave up on that being a wage-earner a looooong time ago.

    Give me a shout if you're anywhere near Morrison Street of a lunchtime and fancy a coffee...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Oh, and that's also my photo that chdot posted above... ;)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. Dave
    Member

    As a funky aside, I did a bit of googling on this electric assist regs stuff - the jist being (I assume) the maximum weight limit of 60kg for an electric trike?

    This is supposed to be for safety as trikes "might be used to carry people or things" but, of course, it actually means people or things will end up being carried on a trike which is built as lightly as possible to slip under the limit. Can anyone say foot, shoot?

    (Notwithstanding that it's a bit odd to say that a disadvantage of something is the use for which it's designed - cycles being all about moving people and things!)

    Also, there doesn't seem to be anything at all about including a trailer in the kerb weight for the purposes of electric assist law, so you could easily have an electric puller of a rediculous trailer..?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    "
    An e-bike can’t weigh more than 40kgs (for a normal two-wheeled bike) or 60kgs for a tricycle or tandem bike, when weighed on its own – without any load or rider. (EAPCR r. 4(a))  
    "

    http://ukcyclerules.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/buying-selling-electric-bikes

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. ProntoPedalPower
    Member

    These rules however are contrary to EU law and harmonisation would result in a complete removal of the weight restriction for trikes. Whilst I am not in favour of this as it potentially opens a can of worms, the weight restriction for electric assist trikes should be lifted to a more sensible level e.g. 150KG if indeed the authorities are genuinely interested in the switch towards more environmentally sound forms of transport.

    The consultation on these regulations closed last March and lets hope this stays high on the agenda.

    At the end of the day, an electric assist trike would be quite a success in cities with topography like Edinburgh.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. Dave
    Member

    I'd really like an electric-assist velomobile - I read about one from five years ago which would do 100km at 25kph off a standard Bionx (because it hardly needs assisting - only on the hills). With half a decade of battery advances, it would probably be even more awesome now.

    When I win the lottery...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. kaputnik
    Moderator

    If anyone does want an electric assist cargo trike, there's one on gumtree in "Southside" for a paltry £1,650!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. ruggtomcat
    Member

    I was looking with interest at the recumbent bike taxis in Amsterdam, eletric assist for most of them and more funky than the trikes we have in the 'burgh, but i dont know how they would fare with our hills

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. eastsidebikes
    Member

    The main problem, as with any electric vehicle, is the battery. 6 years ago there were a few electric pedicabs in Edinburgh running off deep-charge marine batteries. The batteries weighed about 10 kg and lost capacity over time - after 3 months of use they'd have to be replaced. Not very environmentally friendly or cheap.

    Maybe lithium batteries would be better? Lithium powered electric bikes certainly have more pep.

    The recumbent ad-boards I've ridden have been a much harder work than the uprights. Never ridden a recumbent pedicab, I hope I never have to :D

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.spokes.org.uk/2015/04/cargobikes-in-scotland

    Posted 10 years ago #

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