We had a visit from Douglas Leroy from OurBike, a community e-bike company. To discuss whether we would want to be a host for a cargo bike. A cargo bike is one of those bikes with a big bucket in front that can carry cargo, this one up to 100 kg of goods or people. We sometimes see them around the borough with parents ferrying children. Their website says the bike can carry as passengers one adult or two children.
Douglas was very helpful, explaining how the scheme works and our part in it, were we to become a host. If we took it on, the bike would be chained outside the garden. Our main responsibility would be to recharge the batteries, which can be charged at home in about four hours or from our solar panels. There would be two batteries, so we could replace an empty one with a full. We would be notified when a battery needs replacing.
OurBike is funded by local councils including Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney. They have currently 80 bikes and hosts are mostly in London.
As a host, we would get 20 hours free use per month. But the bike would be available to anyone who signs up for the app. That’s why it has to be in the street, so they can get the bike when the garden is closed. Individuals would get a free hour and would then be charged £5 for each additional hour. Businesses would get three free hours before being charged. This is because OurBike is keen to have less car use, a green commitment, and businesses are big users of fossil fuels. Can we get them onto cargo bikes, at least partially? That would need a big mental shift, but one needed if we are to get a true green economy. OurBike’s website says 64% of trips replace a car trip, and 49% had never ridden a cargo bike before.
In my opinion, it would be good for the garden to host a cargo bike. The bike would have our logo on it. We would be seen as greener, and offering a service to individuals, community groups and local businesses. I can imagine the bike being used all day at say Forest Gate Festival with the garden giving away some of its free hours to ferry cargo up and down the festival road. Or Pride using it for their days. Above and beyond trips to pick up items for the garden.
The decision whether to become a host will be taken by the Trustees on 24 March.
We are cutting back the buddleia. This is the first year we have pruned it in winter. A good idea in my opinion as it remained a feature, and was a haven for birds. The bits are being cut up small, so they will compost more easily. Woody items especially must be cut up as small as possible or they sit in the compost heap for years. They have little nitrogen which makes them slow to break down, taking nitrogen from other parts of the heap. The bush is getting quite a hair cut.
We had a big delivery of wood chip on Wednesday. It was dumped on the pavement outside the gate for us. It took around six of us to barrow it into the garden over more than four hours. And to begin raking it in. Being half term, children helped out raking it in, thoroughly enjoying themselvs, Some we bagged and have given away, and often git a donation for this. Whether or not, we have more than we can use and giving it away is goodwill for the garden.