Cargo bike loans
What is a cargo bike?
Cargo bikes are bikes with:
- a large storage space
- an electric motor to make cycling with a heavy load easier
They are zero emissions and cheaper to run than petrol and diesel vehicles.
Free trial of a cargo bike for your family
Cargo bikes can be used to carry your kids. East Lothian Council is working with several partner organisations across the county to make cargo bikes specially designed for little passengers available to families free of charge.
If your family would like to try out a cargo bike for everyday journeys like the school run, or trips to the shops, you can access a free 4 week loan via our partners at:
- Sustaining Dunbar
- Sustaining North Berwick
- Cycling UK
Just get in touch and let us know what your requirements are and where you are based. We will then refer you to the appropriate partner organisation for a free training/taster session, wherever you are in East Lothian. They will then arrange a loan of an appropriate cargo bike.
Advice on purchasing a cargo bike - save money and reduce your carbon footprint
Once you have had a chance to try out a cargo bike that suits your needs, we can advise you on purchasing your own. Whatever your budget, the active travel team at the council can talk you through options for spreading the cost and purchasing at a discounted rate.
A cargo bike can save you thousands of pounds every year if you use it to reduce the number of cars in your household. Alternatively, a cargo bike could open up a whole range of opportunities for a household that is already car-free, at a fraction of the price of owning a car.
Contact
If you have any questions and/or would like to request a bike, please contact us at: activetravel@eastlothian.gov.uk
Free trial of cargo bikes for your organisation
If you work or volunteer for an organisation in East Lothian, your organisation could trial an e-cargo bike trial for free from East Lothian Council
Types of e-cargo bikes your organisation can trial
We have 2 types of e-cargo bike available to trial:
- XYZ trike (150 kg cargo load capacity)
- Urban Arrow (125kg cargo load capacity)
Who can take part in the trial
- businesses
- public sector organisations
- voluntary sector organisations
- charities
- community interest companies (CICs)
Your organisation must be based in the East Lothian Council area.
How the trial scheme works
Depending on availability, you can trial:
- a bike for 1 to 4 months
- more than 1 bike
You must fill in the loan agreement provided and email it to us before we can loan you with a bike. We will then ask you to sign a final agreement in person when you pick a bike up.
You'll collect your bike from John Muir House in Haddington. You are responsible for the bike as soon as you collect it. We will also loan you a lock and chain which you must use. Other equipment is also available for loan if desired.
Training
Any organisation using one of the bikes must complete a training session with our partners at the Cycling UK. The training covers everything you need to know to cycle your allocated bike safely on roads. We'll provide the training for free and are flexible with dates and times so you can do the training at a time that suits you.
Contact
If you have any questions and/or would like to request a bike, please contact us at: activetravel@eastlothian.gov.uk