Boston launches e-cargo bike delivery pilot programme

This programme will also help businesses provide a delivery service where they may not already offer one. Additionally, the City is contributing about $345,000 towards the pilot programme. The majority of this is labour costs, along with outreach and translation services and equipment.

“The growth of car-based delivery services has negatively impacted our streets by adding congestion and increasing unsafe and illegal parking”

“The growth of car-based delivery services has negatively impacted our streets by adding congestion and increasing unsafe and illegal parking,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, chief of streets.

“This pilot will help us explore alternatives by offering convenient delivery options that support neighbourhood businesses while keeping our streets safe and moving.”

The pilot programme has several key learning objectives that will help pave the way for the operation of e-cargo bikes for delivery. These key learning objectives are:

• Identify the policies, programmes, and regulations that need to change to allow for e-cargo bike delivery in the city of Boston
• Test infrastructure changes needed to accommodate e-cargo bike delivery, including but not limited to e-cargo bike delivery zones, staging and sorting areas, parcel lockers, and other last-mile logistical needs
• Measure the benefits of e-cargo bike delivery, including its impact on environmental, safety, and economic metrics
• Understand the costs and feasibility of e-cargo bike delivery for different types of businesses
• Communicate to delivery service providers that the city of Boston is ready for delivery services to utilise e-cargo bikes.

“The electric cargo bike pilot presents an important opportunity to both learn best practices regarding sustainable, environmentally friendly local deliveries, which has an exploding demand in both urban and suburban neighbourhoods, while also reducing vehicle miles travelled by single-occupant vehicles – a key recommendation of MetroCommon 2050,” said Marah Holland, senior transportation planner at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

“It’s the epitome of ‘smart growth’, and we’re looking forward to opportunities to expand to other neighbourhoods and municipalities across Greater Boston.”

Boston Delivers will serve as a case study for the Urban Freight Lab at the University of Washington to help inform worldwide efforts to encourage deliveries on e-cargo bikes.

The Boston Transportation Department has partnered with Net Zero, a final mile logistics provider, to carry out the pilot. Net Zero will provide and manage the fleet of e-cargo bikes and related equipment, make the deliveries, and manage the logistics.