Community‑led cargo bike project takes off in the borough

This Bike Week (8 to 14 June), hear from our team at Richmond Cargo Collective. Discover how local parents are transforming their school run and our streets by swapping cars for cargo bikes and inspiring other families to do the same.

We're part of Solve The School Run, a grassroots network of parents working to create safer, cleaner and healthier ways for children to get to school.

You may have spotted these distinctive bikes around town - big bikes with a box at the front or an extra seat or two behind - and wondered what they are. The answer? Cargo bikes. Usually electric-powered, they make it easy to carry everything from the family shop to the actual family.

Richmond has become a cargo bike hotspot and our collective is a growing community of parents who love the freedom they offer. “I love my cargo bike,” says Laura, who transports her seven-year-old twins in a Riese & Müller. “It means I can get from school to swimming in record time without getting caught in traffic.” Or as Jamie, a busy cargo-riding dad says; “I don’t have time to travel by car - they’re so slow!”

So how does the collective work? It's simple. Throughout the summer, members host informal meet-ups in local parks for families who are curious about cargo bikes but not quite ready to commit. You can chat, have a look around, maybe even take a test ride, and find out what all the fuss is about.

There's also a friendly WhatsApp group for current and future cargo bike families. Discussions range from the highly practical ("How does this baby seat fit?") to the highly important ("What's the best route to the playground that avoids all hills?").

With bike lanes, school streets and routes through parks and commons, many journeys can be quicker by bike than by car. And they're certainly more fun, says Tim: “Riding along chatting to your children, and being able to stop the minute you see something interesting, is just the best thing!”

The benefits don't stop there. By swapping car journeys for bike rides, our members are helping to reduce air pollution, congestion and carbon emissions. That's good news for everyone who uses our streets.

Want to find out more? Check out our website, and take a look at our events page to see what’s happening near you.

Make a positive difference through the Civic Pride Fund

The Council's Civic Pride Fund recently supported our initiative to promote greener, more active travel across the borough

Discover how the Civic Pride Fund supports community-led projects. 

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