Big Blue Bike
28 Jan 2011
(l-r) Alastair Baglee- Technical Director of Acclimatise, Ben Allen- Director of Big Blue Bike
Cycle couriers launch carbon saving tracker
Big Blue Bike, a newly formed cycle courier operation, has launched a new initiative which tracks the carbon emission savings made by companies using their services.
Big Blue Bike was founded in 2010 by Ben Allen, 26 from Roath and focuses on cargo deliveries of post, print and large amounts of documents, carried by specially designed cargo bikes able to carry up to 180kg in one trip.
The scheme, the first of its kind in Cardiff, calculates the monthly saving of CO2 a company makes by switching motorised deliveries in the city to Big Blue Bike’s cargo bicycles. The calculation, made by clime change consultants Acclimatise, using Government official figures, has allowed Big Blue Bike to estimate that its clients could save, on average, 70kg of CO2 emissions per year.
Ben Allen, Director of Big Blue Bike, said “It is important for businesses to track the carbon savings made by using our service, not only because it helps them reduce their carbon footprint, but it also helps them stand out in the marketplace as supporters of low carbon initiatives”.
Alastair Baglee, Technical Director of Acclimatise said of the scheme, “We are very glad to support Big Blue Bike in Cardiff. It is great to see Ben’s company lead the way in highlighting this very important issue. Acclimatise understands the risks that unchecked climate change may represent for business and society, and schemes like this should be applauded for helping to reduce the potential effects of a changing climate. I hope that that many businesses in Cardiff switch to Big Blue Bike's excellent, low carbon, service".
Ben hopes that this scheme can assist in Cardiff Council’s commitment to a 26% reduction in the city’s carbon emissions from business by 2020 (Cardiff Council Carbon Lite Action Plan, June 2010).
Big Blue Bike has been supported by Venture Wales through the Graduate Start up Support scheme. Ben Allen has been mentored by Venture Wales business advisor, Gwyn Thomas.
