UK Cycle Logistics Federation merges with Bicycle Association

The UK Cycle Logistics Federation has come under the wing of the Bicycle Association, giving the UK trade body a greater depth of experience and knowledge on the cargo bike market.

The consolidation of expertise brings into the Bicycle Association structure 13 new members formerly of the resource stretched cycle logistics organisation.

Bolstering the strength of the Bicycle Association, the link up will feed up the chain expertise that can be presented to Government at a time when issues such as congestion and the functionality of the economy are in sharp focus. Cargo bikes are now widely seen as having the ability to part revolutionise the logistics trade in urban spaces, with retail giants like Amazon and DHL just a few to make investments in vehicle fleets.

The trade association now hopes to help drive key building blocks for the scale-up of the sector, including accredited training programmes, and Codes of Conduct for cycle logistics riders and operators. The industry will also look at commissioning further research and developing guidance for local authorities.

Steve Garidis, Executive Director of the Bicycle Association, said: “This is a timely move for cycle logistics in the UK, as well as for the wider UK cycle industry. As the UK, and countries across the world, start to decarbonise transport and transform the quality of life in cities through active travel, our industry has a hugely important role to play.

“By merging with the UKCLF, the BA can better represent this key sector. We can’t wait to combine the specialist expertise of our new and existing members to champion this high-tech, eco-friendly sector of our industry and help it grow to its full potential.”

Richard Armitage of Manchester Bikes and founding Director of the UKCLF, said: “This is great news for a rapidly growing section of the cycling industry. We need to rapidly scale up the decarbonisation of last mile logistics. Cargo bikes and cycle logistics operations can make an essential contribution to meeting UK and global carbon emission reduction targets.”

Beyond feeding into the UK, some of the expertise funnels further up the chain into the European trade body umbrella – Cycling Industries Europe – where a Cycle Logistics Group exists and informs the European Commission in a similar way the BA hopes to deliver in the UK.

One segment of the market showing promising year-on-year growth, the cargo segment moved forward by more that a third in sales volume in the year to May 2022.