Does your department need an electric cargo bike?

The University has successfully bid for three electric cargo bikes. One of the bikes will be going to the Sidgwick Site and another to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. There is one bike remaining, so if you think your department could make use of this, and you have somewhere secure to store it, then please get in touch with travel@admin.cam.ac.uk.

The bikes have been secured from a Department for Transport and Energy Saving Trust initiative, and the bid was a partnership between Greater Cambridge Partnership, the City Council and the University. In total 30 more e-cargo bikes will be brought onto the streets of Cambridge through this initiative, adding to the growing numbers of these bikes that can be seen in and around the city.

Cycle Parking Improvements to Downing Site

An extensive programme of cycle parking improvements for Downing Site was approved by the Space Management and Minor Works Sub-Committee at the December meeting, meaning the project can progress to the next stage in the process. A notice of the works will be placed in the Reporter early next year following which we’ll submit a planning application. Information about the project will be available on our website in the new year so keep your eyes peeled!

Voi scooters – shared micro mobility trial

This scheme was launched in October as a one-year trial; due to the success of the initial phase the area of operation is being expanded across the city, and the number of scooters available is being increased. Electric bikes will also be available from 12 January. Users can download the Voi app to unlock and pay for electric scooters, the fee to unlock is £1, and users are then charged 20p per minute of use. The scooters are restricted to 5mph in busy areas, but elsewhere they are able to travel at 12mph. Scooters and bikes can be collected and then parked in designated areas as shown on the Voi app. A small fleet of electric vans maintain, charge and re-deploy the scooters and bikes throughout the day.

Autonomous Vehicle update

The West Cambridge Autonomous Vehicle trial has been paused due to Covid-19 restrictions after just a couple of days of initial trials. It is hoped the team will be back on site later this month to continue the trial.

Written by Jo Beale