Description:
Mobility Opportunities Valuable to Everybody. Focuses on co-creation to deliver unusual transport combinations. NHS Highland are also project partners. (Semi)-rural areas are often excluded from new or green mobility initiatives like car and bike sharing, Uber and large scale 0-emissions transport. Long distances and too few users make these too costly or simply not feasible, so many people use cars. Those who cannot afford/use cars are less likely to get a job or will leave to go to cities. This results in a vicious circle making these areas less attractive for business, or partnerships with big companies from the transport sector. Local authorities in turn often struggle in finding the capacity in staff and financing for green and flexible solutions, which remain heavily subsidised and are not always efficient: an empty electric bus does not reduce overall emissions, and the users’ needs are still not answered.
To solve these issues MOVE will take on a new approach in developing innovative and sustainable mobility initiatives through co-creation, bringing together local authorities, knowledge centres, local economic players and (temporary) inhabitants. MOVE will use local specificities to create practical solutions in 4 pilots based on unlikely combinations, with tangible business plans, to be implemented, tested and evaluated. This aims at increasing accessibility, reducing individual cars use, emissions and costs. MOVE will share its best practices in sustainable mobility and governance to increase take-up in other regions and support the greening of the transport sector and stimulate rural areas in the NSR as a whole.
Website: northsearegion.eu/move/
Programme: Interreg North Sea Region (NSR)
Status: Ongoing
Timeline: Sept 2018 – Aug 2021 (now extended to Feb 22)
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HITRANS activities:
- HITRANS are working with partner councils to deliver pilots addressing social exclusion by improving accessibility and low carbon travel opportunities into main population centres from rural and peri-urban areas
- The installation of charge points for the project is being conducted between HITRANS and THC
- A potential eCargo bike trial is in progress to support the increasing number of businesses making deliveries due to Covid-19
- Ferintosh Community Bus - A partnership of HITRANS, Stagecoach, The Highland Council, CSI Rossshire and Ferintosh Community Council (supported by Culbokie Community Trust) has assembled this pilot
E-Cargo Bike Trial
At a time when customer demand for same-day service and delivery is increasing, alongside expectations of sustainability, light electric freight vehicles such as electric cargo bikes (otherwise known as e-cargo bikes) are an appealing option to many businesses.
E-cargo bikes fill the gap between traditional bicycles and delivery vans, and are a perfect option for transporting work equipment, light freight or completing 'last-mile' deliveries. With electric pedal assistance, they have the capability and power for transporting significant loads with the benefit of being able to move freely through congested areas, avoid parking tickets and truly achieve a door-to-door service.
E-cargo bikes are easy to charge, with removable batteries that can be plugged into any ordinary wall socket. Charging generally takes around 4 - 8 hours, depending on the size of the charger, and most bikes will be able to provide at least 20 miles from a single charge, although many can achieve much more than this. Exact mileage depends on a number of factors, including weight of load and the terrain, but even if the battery does run flat the bikes are still able to be used normally without the electric assistance.
E-cargo bikes are suitable for a wide range of users, whether you are a regular cyclist or have not ridden a bike in a while. They can be used both on and off road, and on rough or cobbled surfaces, and can make tackling that steep hill a breeze.
If you are interested in trialli9ng an e-cargo bike or have any further questions please contact:
info@hitrans.org.uk
01463 719002
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