You can usually expect the air to smell pretty sweet on Valentine’s Day, but this year a City florist is doing one better, delivering bouquets using the Square Mile’s new bike delivery scheme to help tackle toxic pollution.
Smithfield-based florist Longmans, which has been keeping the City in bloom for more than 120 years, will make 200 ‘clean air’ flower deliveries on 14 February using the City of London Corporation’s new cargo bike scheme.
The project helps local businesses in Smithfield and Farringdon shift deliveries from diesel and petrol vans to cargo bicycles anywhere within the Congestion Charge zone.
Launched last month in partnership with zero-emissions delivery operator Zedify, the scheme uses couriers on electric-assist cargo bikes with load capacities of 100 kilograms and trikes that can carry up to 250 kilograms.
Longmans manager Jitandra Patel said the scheme has saved the business money and improved delivery times, while cutting down their impact on air pollution in the City.
“We are already seeing the benefit of using the service and we highly encourage other businesses to look for ways that they can use the scheme.”
The pilot is part of the City of London Corporation’s activity for a Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN), jointly funded by the Mayor of London and the City Corporation. Plans for the LEN also include new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, green taxi ranks and planting and growing projects designed to improve air quality around Barbican and Golden Lane Estate areas.
Jeremy Simons, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Environment Committee, said: “Flowers have always been a wonderful Valentine’s Day gesture and it’s great that we’re able to help local businesses to go green and improve air quality in the Square Mile.
“The increasing number of firms using the scheme is a healthy indicator of the demand for environmentally friendly alternatives for deliveries.”
