Deliveries by cargo bike to cut pollution

"CARGO cycles" are set to replace delivery lorries to help cut pollution across north London.

Camden council wants to import a fleet of the hybrid vehicles to take on deliveries usually made by heavy goods vehicles. The cycles would be used on a trial basis in the south-east corner of Camden.

A similar scheme already works successfully in Paris, using electric-powered pedal tricycles with a top speed of 20mph. The council is in consultation with La Petite Reine, the French firm that makes the cycles. Camden council plans a trial in spring in collaboration with office products company Office Depot. The firm would deliver stock to a central depot, and use the bikes to make last-mile deliveries to clients nearby.

The council is also consulting with residents in Holborn on setting up a depot for the bikes.

"La Petite Reine" translates as "the little queen", which is a French nickname for a bicycle. As well as Paris, the £6,020 cycles are used in Bordeaux, Normandy and Dijon, and in Switzerland.

Xavier Mazingue-Desailly, the firm's head of international development, said that the cycles had been used for deliveries in Paris since 2002. In 2007 they delivered more than a million packages.

Mr Mazingue-Desailly said: "The main benefit is no pollution. There are absolutely no emissions and it does not take up much space on the roads.

"Pedestrians are often very intrigued by the cargo bikes and riders and it creates communication between people."

The bikes are typically used to deliver parcels, flowers and takeaway meals.

Mr Mazingue-Desailly said the "huge hurdle" was government regulations banning the use of tricycle vehicles heavier than 60 kilograms - La Petite Reine cargo bikes weigh 80 kilograms. This week he sent a dossier to Mayor Boris Johnson asking him to make an exemption to the rules.

A Camden council spokeswoman added: "We are in talks with La Petite Reine and Office Depot to set up an innovative scheme for delivering freight that will reduce congestion and improve air quality in the borough.

"The initiative is still at a very early stage and is part of Camden council's wider commitment to sustainability."