Transport for London (TfL) has published the new London Safety Standard for Cargo Bikes, delivering on commitments in its Cargo Bike Action Plan (CBAP), published in March 2023.  

The paper issued on 6 February, has been developed through engagement with industry stakeholders.

It is expected to encourage good conduct and set out safety expectations for the growing cargo bike industry in London.

TfL’s Director of Transport Strategy & Policy, Christina Calderato said: “Increased cargo bike usage can bring significant benefits to London, reducing vehicle congestion and emissions, but more work is needed to ensure the safety of riders and other road users.

“As more and more businesses move to cargo bikes, we are confident this standard will help deliver safer roads and support the Mayor’s Vision Zero goal,” he added.

While product safety standards for cargo bikes are emerging, there is no established industrywide safety standard that has gained widespread recognition. 

To address this issue, TfL said it expects the launch of this new London Safety Standard for Cargo Bikes will drive good industry practice and deliver real safety benefits.

The new safety standard: 

• Identifies 19 principal risks associated with cargo bikes, operators and riders, including dangerous delivery locations, vehicle maintenance and blind spots caused by bike structure
• Provides 21 mandatory requirements for cargo bike riders and operators to mitigate against these risks, including cycling and parking conduct, and rider training
• Identifies further recommendations, such as carrying out dynamic risk assessments and sourcing bikes from trusted manufacturers 

Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman said: “TfL estimates that cargo bikes could replace up to 17 per cent of van kilometres in central London by 2030, and could save up to 30,000 tonnes of CO2 a year across Greater London.”

“This would equate to around 100 million van kilometres saved per year, and latest TfL data shows that cargo bike counts are continuing to increase across central, inner and outer London.”

Organisations and businesses that sign up to the standard will be required to train riders to a minimum of Bikeability level 3.

They will also be committed to parking in a way that does not obstruct pedestrians and meet Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations, among other measures.  

You can access the full safety standards here: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/cargobikesafetystandardreport.pdf