Four new e-cargo bikes are now available to hire in Westminster as part of a new pilot designed to help residents and businesses travel across the city in a cleaner, greener way.

The e-cargo bikes can be rented using the Beryl app from the following locations:

• Outside Sainsbury's Local at Maida Hill, Harrow Road
• Opposite Westminster Academy, Harrow Road
• Outside Kennet House residential tower block, Church Street
• Outside Holland & Barrett, Warwick Way (at the end of Tachbrook Market)

Fitted with an electric-assist motor for extra power, the bikes are ideal for transporting small to medium loads, such as work tools, shopping or sports equipment. They can be used on cycle lanes, making them a sustainable alternative to vans and cars, and help reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion while improving air quality and public health. 

Beryl CEO and co-founder Phil Ellis, said: “We know from running an e-cargo bike hire pilot scheme in Hackney that our e-cargo bikes can be incredibly useful to many people, from businesses and tradesmen to families and individuals.

“They’re not only fun and sustainable, they have a wide range of uses and are a great way to avoid being sat in endless traffic queues while boosting your mental and physical health.  

“The vehicles are also extremely convenient and cost-effective when compared to private vehicle ownership, removing the burden of storage as well as the cost of fuel, tax, maintenance, MOT and insurance.

“I’d urge people to give them a try and help make Westminster an even cleaner and safer place to live and work in.”

Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality at Westminster City Council said:

“We are committed to making the city a safer and more pleasant place to walk and cycle, and to tackle key pinch points for London’s vital bus network. Improvements to walking safety, cycling connections and public transport priority schemes are vital if we are to improve air quality.

“The launch of these new e-cargo bikes in partnership with Beryl is one of the innovative ways the council is providing residents and businesses a good, sustainable alternative to cars and vans so we can create a fairer Westminster for everyone to live in and enjoy.”

You can hire an e-cargo bike through the Beryl app, available for free download on the App Store for iOS, and the Google Play Store for Android users.

Users must pay a standard £1.50 unlock fee, followed by 10p a minute. To maintain a clean and secure fleet and prevent obstruction, users that lock their e-cargo bike out of a bay will be charged a £10 fee and users that lock their e-cargo bike out of the service area will be charged a £25 fee. The out of service fee will increase to £80 if the e-cargo bike is left there for more than 24 hours.

Launched initially as a six-month pilot, the scheme will be monitored and reviewed by Westminster City Council and Beryl. 

In September 2021, Beryl launched the UK’s first e-cargo bike hire pilot in partnership with the Zero Emissions Network - a partnership between the London Boroughs of Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets, supported by the Mayor of London.

For more information, visit beryl.cc/scheme/westminster or www.westminster.gov.uk/beryl-bikes