Cargo bikes: delivering for businesses and communities in Scotland

Patrick Harvie MSP, the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights

Patrick Harvie spent his childhood in Dumbarton, and attended Dumbarton Academy followed by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Before becoming an MSP he worked for a sexual health charity as an LGBT youth worker in Glasgow, and was involved in the campaign to repeal Section 28 during the Scottish Parliament’s first session.

Patrick was elected as an MSP for the Glasgow region in 2003, has served as Convenor of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee during session 3, and as Co-Leader or Co-Convenor of the Scottish Green Party since 2008. He was appointed Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights in August 2021.

Beth Woodall, Cargo Bike Scotland, and Megan Hammond, Research and Monitoring Unit

Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a happier, healthier commute.

Beth and Megan will provide an overview of cargo bikes, learnings from the Edinburgh Cargo Bike Library and an introduction to the Cargo Bike Scotland project and cargo bike network.

Heather Quin, Programme Manager, and Lauren McAdam, Assistant Programme Manager

Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use to address the climate emergency. Our expert advice supports sustainable transport across a range of low carbon transport options. Our work seeks to address inequalities and enable access to walking, wheeling and cycling for all to deliver a just transition.

Heather Quin and Lauren McAdam will give an overview of the funding and support available for cargo bikes, as well as findings and learnings from:

• The eCargo Bike Research Project
• The eBike Grant Fund
• The eBike Loans for individuals and businesses
• The Low Emission Zone Support Fund and Travel Better Fund for households and businesses
• Advice and support for individuals and businesses

Kay Inckle, Campaigns & Policy Manager

Wheels for Wellbeing is a Disabled people’s cycling organisation that campaigns for and provides access to cycling for Disabled people through an ethos of mobility justice.

Kay will introduce disability and cycling and the Beyond the Bicycle coalition, explore the barriers and opportunities for cargo cycles to address the accessibility gap, present experiences of Disabled cargo cyclists and an inclusive vision for the future for cargo bikes, non-standard cycles and Disabled cyclists.

If you are a disabled cargo cyclist, please do contribute your experiences through the survey on cargo cycle use by disabled people.

Emily Farquhar and Josh Wood

Cycling UK has a mission to enable millions more to cycle. Imagine a country where cycling is a safe and popular mode of transport for people of all backgrounds and abilities, where air pollution is no longer poisoning our children, obesity has been eliminated, and traffic congestion is gone. This is Cycling UK’s vision. 

Emily and Josh represent the behaviour change programmes Rural Connections and the Bothy and will present on how to deliver successful cargo bike try outs and loans for families and individuals mainly in rural settings.

Ross, who is representing their wife Alison and three children.

Pete and Helen

Ben, who cycles with his daughter and dog

You will hear from projects across Scotland, including:

• KJ’s Bothy Bakery
• Cargo Bike Movement
• Farr Out Deliveries
• Soul Riders
• Porty Community Energy
• Forth Environment Link, with appearances from Falkirk Delivers, Riverside Bakery, University of Stirling and Forth Bike
• Dandelion’s Cubes Bike Tour
• Camphill School Aberdeen
• Climate Action Strathaven and Avondale Cargo Club

Do you want to know more about cargo bikes and whether they could work for your project, organisation or community? Do you care about transport for all and want to find out how cargo bikes fit into inclusive cycling? Maybe you want to explore whether a cargo bike could fit into your life or replace a car.

Whether you represent a small or large business, third or public sector organisation or simply yourself, this event is for anyone who wants to learn about cargo bikes in Scotland!

This event is funded by Transport Scotland and co-delivered by Energy Saving Trust and Sustrans.

Transport Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Government, delivering the vision for transport in Scotland.

Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use. We aim to address the climate emergency and deliver the wider benefits of clean energy as we transition to net zero. Our expert, impartial advice, funding and support can help you travel more sustainably across a range of different low carbon transport options.

Sustrans is the charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. We connect people and places, create liveable neighbourhoods, transform the school run and deliver a healthier, happier commute.     

Your data will be stored securely on the event registration platform’s servers. Further details on how we use your data can be found within the form. For further information about how we use your data please see Energy Saving Trust’s privacy policy available at energysavingtrust.org.uk/privacy or from our Data Protection Officer at DataProtectionOfficer@est.org.uk .