What many consumers and companies still don't know is that around 50% of all urban goods transportation could be carried out by bike. The potential for shopping trips to the nearest supermarket is even greater: 90% of these trips could easily be made by bike.

These two figures illustrate the key messages that were presented to the European institutions and business representatives from the logistics and cycling industries at the round table last Wednesday in the EU Parliament building in Brussels.Cargo bike as a business model
The event, organized at the invitation of Green MEP Michael Kramer and the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), looked for practical ways to develop cargo bikes into an economically successful business model. In addition to political heavyweights such as Mark Major, Commissioner for Sustainable Urban Mobility at the European Commission, managing directors from the bicycle industry and representatives from the logistics sector were also present.

Mark Major highlighted the need to define national framework conditions and emphasized that urban logistics is a central element of sustainable urban mobility. "Although urban logistics has an immense impact on economic life, the topic is often neglected. Cities need to understand that creating better access conditions is the breeding ground for new business models." The Commission is currently working on recommendations for urban access regulations. These are due to be published next year.

DHL with pilot project
DHL Express was able to present successful case studies with its pilot projects in various European cities. Arne Melse, OPS Field Support Specialist, comments: "Cycling in inner-city areas saves time and money, which is why DHL is planning to expand the pilot programs to other cities and countries. In the Netherlands alone, we currently have 33 cargo bike tours in 19 different cities. New pilot programs have been launched in Athens, Luxembourg, Vienna and Milan." And how does it work? "Cost reduction, less stress for employees, time and distance savings - these are all economically viable arguments that are leading us to expand our commitment." Melse made it clear that deliveries by bike mean better business: DHL saves around 20,000 km per bike due to easier access in cities compared to trucks. Public perception has also changed completely: "Our big yellow delivery vans were not very popular, but now our couriers are even stopped to take photos with the cargo bikes," concluded the DHL representative.

Bike industry follows suit
The bicycle industry was also prominently represented in Brussels. Both Raymond Gense, Head of Future Technologies and Public Relations at the Pon Bicycle Group, and Moreno Fioravanti, President of Colibi and representative for the Accel Group and Ebma (European Bicycle Manufacturers) took part in the round table discussions.

In his role, Fioravanti said: "Colibi represents 600 companies with over 60,000 jobs in bicycle and accessory manufacturing in over 20 EU countries. If we develop the right business models based on DHL's previous experience and launch pilot programs in selected markets, we can start mass production in a timely manner."

Gense agreed: "Whether pilot programs, coordination of national and local access regulations and / or technical requirement for bicycle production - all parties involved and the legal requirements must be reconciled."

Dr. Randy Rzwenicki, Project Manager of CycleLogistics, explains: "Over the past three years, we have created a platform with CycleLogistics that has initiated many projects to raise awareness of sustainable goods transport. This round table discussion in the EU Parliament shows that we have managed to change the way we think about the transportation of goods by bicycle in inner-city areas."

The project will conclude at the end of April as part of the International Cargo Bike Festival on April 12-13 in Nijmegen. The "European Cycle Logistics Federation" (ECLF) will also be formally founded there at the same time. Further information including the complete program can be found via

www.cargobikefestival.com

About the Cycle Logistics project

The EU-funded Cycle Logistics project has been running in 12 countries from May 2011 to April 2014. Motorized transport vehicles are to be replaced by environmentally friendly cargo bikes for the transport of goods in inner-city areas in Europe. The Cycle Logistics Federation was founded to support the project. The first meeting of the federation took place on July 14 in Cambridge, Great Britain. The project receives funding from the European Commission's "Intelligent Energy" program.

Further information at
www.cyclelogistics.eu