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Council
pilots pedal power in 'green' delivery service
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Liverpool Echo, May 30, 2006
By Liam Murphy
A BICYCLE courier service is being used by Wirral council for internal
deliveries in a "green" pilot which is the first of its kind in the
North West.
Emission-free delivery and distribution specialists Green-Link are
conducting a nine week trial in the borough, using a specially adapted
bike that can carry a load of up to 100kg.
Green-Link's service has been specifically designed for local
authorities, and uses electric vehicles, and load-carrying tricycles
and bicycles.
The service is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the runs
made by the council's fleet of vans, or on an ad hoc basis by staff.
Chris Hamm, Green-Link head of development, said: "There is great
potential for the successful establishment of a Green-Link in Wirral.
"The council has shown a lot of initiative by commissioning a pilot and
I am confident there are further opportunities in the private sector.
"Green-Link vehicles, both bikes and electric vans, should soon become
a regular sight on the roads of Birkenhead and Wallasey."
He added: "Every job we undertake is one less motorised journey."
During the nine-week pilot, Green-Link will move internal mail,
packages, parcels, papers and other items between key council sites in
central Birkenhead.
Green-Link already operates successful emission-free delivery services
in Luton, York and Darlington.
One full-time Green-Link rider is carrying out the work during the
pilot, and it is expected he will cover up to 40 miles per day on his
bike.
The council said the pilot project in Wirral is aimed at improving
efficiency while also raising awareness about sustainable transport
options, and is linked to Local Agenda 21 which is the local community
element of a national and international initiative of the United
Nations to protect and preserve the environment. It arose out of 1992's
Rio Earth Summit.
David Green, director of technical services at Wirral council, said the
new courier service was "a fantastic opportunity" to show the council's
commitment to sustainable transport, traffic reduction and air quality
improvement.
He said: "We hope to lead by example and generate interest from the
business community in Birkenhead and Wallasey who could also benefit
from using this environmentally friendly delivery system."
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