Bristol businesses offered 50% cargo bike funding as city builds on landmark industry event

Businesses encouraged to take advantage of grant as Bristol BID and Bristol City Council build on the success of the city's first Cargo Bikes for Business event.

Bristol businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of grant funding covering 50% of the cost of a new cargo bike or supporting facilities, as Bristol Business Improvement District (BID) and Bristol City Council build on the success of the city’s first Cargo Bikes for Business event.

The funding forms part of ongoing work to help more organisations across Bristol explore cleaner and more cost-effective ways of moving goods and services around the city. Businesses interested in introducing cargo bikes to their operations can apply for Bristol City Council grant funding covering 50% of the cost of purchasing a new cargo bike or facilities that enable cargo bike use.

The support is designed to help remove one of the key barriers businesses can face when considering the switch, while giving organisations the opportunity to explore how cargo bikes could reduce running costs, navigate congested areas more efficiently and support their sustainability goals.

Businesses are also being invited to learn more about Bristol’s new freight consolidation hub, the first of three planned for the city. The hubs will support a more efficient approach to deliveries by providing opportunities for goods to be consolidated and transferred to lower-emission vehicles for the final stage of their journey.

The latest push follows Bristol’s first Cargo Bikes for Business event on Thursday 2 July, which saw cargo bikes take to the city’s streets as part of a group ride before businesses, manufacturers and delivery operators came together to share practical experience and explore opportunities for wider adoption.

The event attracted local businesses alongside major national operators including Amazon, Evri and Royal Mail and cargo bike manufacturers including Minimal and Slant. Businesses also heard from existing cargo bike users, including Bristol café group Spicer & Cole, about the role bikes can play in day-to-day operations.

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Tom Swithinbank, Senior Project Manager at Bristol BID, said:

“The response to our first Cargo Bikes for Business event showed there is a real appetite among Bristol businesses to understand how cargo bikes could work for them. The next step is making sure organisations know that practical and financial support is available to help them make that change. “For many businesses, the upfront cost can understandably be an important consideration, so the opportunity to receive 50% grant funding could make a significant difference. Combined with the city’s developing consolidation infrastructure and the experience of businesses already successfully using cargo bikes, we want to make it as straightforward as possible for more organisations to explore whether they could work for their operations.”

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Cllr Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, Bristol City Council said

“We want to make it as easy as possible for Bristol businesses to switch to cargo bikes and take advantage of the benefits they can offer. The 50% grant funding is a really practical way to help businesses with the upfront cost, while our new freight consolidation hubs will create more opportunities to move goods around the city efficiently. “More cargo bikes on Bristol’s streets can mean fewer van journeys, less congestion and cleaner air, as well as helping businesses save time and money. There’s already real enthusiasm for what cargo bikes can offer and we want to help turn that interest into lasting change.”

Bristol BID’s Cargo Bikes for Business programme is designed to help organisations adopt more sustainable ways of moving goods and services around the city. It has already supported businesses in exploring how cargo bikes could be integrated into their operations, with practical advice and support alongside opportunities to connect with suppliers and existing users. The initiative aims to help businesses save time and money while reducing vehicle journeys, carbon emissions and congestion and improving local air quality.

Bristol BID and Bristol City Council are now looking to build on the momentum created by July’s event, continuing to work with local businesses as well as national delivery operators to expand the role cargo bikes can play in Bristol. Plans are also underway for the next Cargo Bikes for Business event in summer 2027.

Businesses interested in finding out more about the Cargo Bikes for Business programme and the support available can visit: https://www.bristolbid.co.uk/projects/bristol-cargo-bikes-for-business/