The National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) explores this 'green logistics' opportunity in its latest module in its innovation portal.

With an introductory blog post from NICRE Innovation Associate Steven Morrison Cairns, from Food and Drink North East, the module showcases cases studies from businesses operating in rural settings and a review of research evidence considering the role of e-cargo bikes to reduce carbon emissions.

One of the businesses featured is Cargodale, an e-cargo bike delivery service in rural West Yorkshire, covering Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Halifax and the surrounding communities. It was set up in 2020 as a pandemic response, to enable local small businesses to offer home delivery and support individuals who were self-isolating, using a hired e-cargo bike. It now has a fleet of seven bikes and employs four riders, delivering everything from bread and groceries to artworks.

NICRE’s innovation portal is a window into rural innovation in the UK where it shares case studies, resources and research evidence on a particular topic.

If you’re involved in a rural e-cargo bikes delivery service or would like to suggest a business/organisation to be featured in existing or future modules, please contact nicre@newcastle.ac.uk