There’s a new way for residents and businesses in Brighton & Hove to travel.
The city has been chosen by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel England’s Innovation Fund to pilot the rollout of new shared electric cargo bikes.
The pilot is being delivered by OurBike in partnership with the council and the University of Brighton with the aim of making e-cargo bikes accessible and affordable for residents and businesses that may not have the budget, storage, or confidence to own one.
The scheme has launched with shared electric cargo bikes being hosted at trusted local venues, including Rotunda Café in Preston Park, Detroit Club in Kemptown and Platf9rm in Hove, with additional bikes and host locations planned across Brighton & Hove over the coming weeks and months.
Image: One of the new OurBike e-cargo bikes
The bikes can carry up to two children, one adult or anything from small furniture to food deliveries.
Users book bikes through the OurBike mobile app, reserve in advance, and unlock directly from their phone using integrated smart lock technology. Rides cost £5 per hour or £1.25 per 15 minutes.
New users receive free minutes to help them get started:
Emma Hughes, General Manager at OurBike, said: “This pilot is about making cargo bikes a realistic option for everyday life in Brighton & Hove, not just for people who can afford to own one or store one at home.
“We want these bikes to feel practical, visible, and easy to use for local residents and businesses. Whether it is carrying children, shopping, work equipment or deliveries, shared e-cargo bikes can replace many short car journeys while making active travel more accessible.”
Image: The e-cargo bikes can carry an adult, two children or small furniture, groceries and other items
OurBike is the UK’s largest community-led e-cargo bike share scheme, providing shared access to electric cargo bikes for residents and local businesses.
The Brighton & Hove pilot has been supported through Active Travel England’s Innovation Fund and is being delivered in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council and the University of Brighton.
The scheme helps replace short car journeys with practical, low-cost transport for everyday use, including shopping, school runs, recycling trips, local deliveries, and transporting equipment.
More information: OurBike
The number of journeys on the city’s Beryl Bikes passed the one million mark in March.
Work on a new active travel scheme between Hove and Portslade is scheduled to begin later this year following the latest consultation stage.
An e-scooter hire scheme could be launched Brighton & Hove as early as this summer.