Council’s E-Cargo Bike Pilot Faces Potential Impact from Workshop Closure

The cessation of operations by a social enterprise focused on cycling promotion might affect Highland Council’s electric cargo bike pilot initiative, the local authority has indicated. Velocity, located in Inverness, has ceased operations, and a legal procedure is currently in progress to liquidate the business and potentially divest its assets. This establishment, which included a café and a bicycle workshop, participated in the servicing and upkeep of bicycles utilized within the council’s environmentally conscious transportation program. Highland Council issued a statement, saying: “We are currently reviewing the situation and exploring options to mitigate any disruption to the project.” Velocity, situated in the city’s Crown area, commenced operations in 2012. Stronachs LLP, a firm of solicitors, has initiated the procedure for winding up Velocity at Inverness Sheriff Court. Social enterprises are defined as businesses operated with a social or environmental objective. Velocity’s café provided vegetarian and vegan food choices and was recognized as Scotland’s Cyclist Café of the Year in both 2018 and 2020. Individuals had the opportunity to reserve its workshop at an affordable rate for conducting bicycle repairs, with the alternative of having a mechanic supervise the tasks. According to a report released in October, Highland Council stated that the utilization of e-cargo bikes had resulted in shorter journey durations and improved health and wellbeing for employees. Certain employees have been employing these bikes, which feature an integrated storage compartment, as part of the pilot project that commenced in April of last year. Among the groups participating in the trial were Fort William Child Health, Highland Archive Service, and an Inverness-based roads department team. Highland Council reported that feedback indicated a preference for e-cargo bikes over alternative modes of transportation.