Cycle Business

Businesses operating in Croydon

Croydon Rickshaw Co-operative

Tricycle rickshaws operate in Croydon run by Croydon Rickshaw Co-operative, with two rickshaws. Service to date has been patchy, but recently additional rickshaws have been purchased. For details about getting involved contact Tariq Shabbeer (tariq.shabbeer@croydon.gov.uk) at the Council.

Pedicabs & Rickshaws

BugBugs

See www.bugbugs.com. A co-operative rickshaw business in central London.

Chariot Bikes

See www.chariotbikes.org. London-based business providing pedicabs to private and corporate events.

London Pedicabs

See www.londonpedicabs.com. Since the Soho area of London was partially pedestrianised in 1999, it has become a perfect environment for pedicab services, particularly when the Covent Garden tube station is only open for passengers to leave trains on a Saturday afternoon.

Sainsbury-funded pedicabs in Islington

See www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/pedicabs.htm.

Cycle Hire

London Bicycle Tour Company

usin See http://www.londonbicycle.com.

Delivery

Sydenham Cycle Delivery Service

Sydenham traders in partnership with London Borough of Lewisham and the South East London Transport scheme are offering a delivery service to local residents for a fee of only £1 per trip plus any waiting time. The scheme is managed by Downham Cycle Taxis.

Call 07984 710097 or email sydenhamdeliveryservice@yahoo.co.uk with enquiries.

E-Mission Logistics, Battersea

E-Mission Logistics are the company that instigated and established the first ever HPV delivery unit in the UK, for the National Courier Company "Red Star". Working originally out of Paddington station and now additionally from King's Cross, Battersea and Canary Wharf, E-Mission's fleet of HPV's include Brox Couriers, Trice Explorer and AnthroTech recumbent trikes. These vehicles are mainly used for West End and City deliveries and collections which because of the congestion and traffic problems, are very difficult for the normal van fleet to complete (on some routes the HPV's were some 25 minutes faster than the vans). After successfully running the unit for two years, they have recently expanded and taken premises of their own south of the river in Battersea. They are now concentrating on more sub-contract distribution work and increasing their HPV fleet to suit.

See www.e-missionlogistics.com.

Forest Recycling, Walthamstow

Based at Walthamstow in London, Forest Recycling use a Brox for their door-to-door collections of waste paper and clothing. The vehicle's very low running costs and ability to be used by people without a driving licence mean that Forest's team of volunteers can efficiently serve this densely populated area and move amounts of materials which would prove difficult without resorting to motorised transport.

Groundwork Trust, Hackney

A newly started pilot scheme, the Hackney Groundwork Trust Brox is fitted with a cooler box to enable it to deliver groceries including frozen food to a sheltered housing scheme in Hackney. The one full-time driver and part-time manager service a sheltered housing scheme with 22 clients.

Wheel Alternatives, York

Wheel Alternatives works to reduce gridlock, pollution and congestion in York city centre by replacing engine power with pedal power. They offer 2 services - Cyclone Couriers and Cyclone Distribution - which deliver parcels and documents around central York. Cyclone Distribution uses customised bikes to move larger deliveries such as newspapers and book orders. In their first 10 months of operation they have removed 13500 van journeys from York, and moved 220000 kgs of goods around the city without damaging the environment.

See www.wheelalternatives.co.uk/.

Advertising

Promogroup Mediabikes

See entry above.

Adbike

London based advertising agency, specialising in outdoor events where maximum visibility is required. They run a fleet of Broxes fitted with illuminated display boards and music which can be booked to pedal around your local area. Their high visibility makes them an effective tool for many types of promotion.

See www.adbikes.co.uk.

Entertainment

The Agitpod, London

Run by London theatre group "Platform", who fit their own "Agitpod" - a fully self contained projection screen cinema which can be erected in minutes. One screen is integrated into the pod, or this can be swung out of the way to project onto a distant screen or side of a building. Plans are underway to develop a portable tent for use as a cinema. The Agitpod is entirely run by sustainable energy sources and can provide shows in venues such as playgrounds etc. which would prove impossible and undesirable for motorised vehicles to reach.

Boom Brox

There is also the privately owned Brox in London that has been fitted with a huge self contained sound system pod - complete with CD mixing desk and own power supply - known as the "Boom Brox". This party on wheels is hired out at a daily rate to various events and carnivals in the Capital and is often seen (and of course heard) on the London Critical Mass.

Page updated: 01/12/2007