Bedford Borough Council announces winners of eCargo bike naming competition
In June 2021, Bedford Borough Council asked students at several schools in the borough to help them rename two of their recently purchased eCargo bikes.
After receiving lots of great suggestions from local students, the Council have chosen to name the eCargo bikes Keygo and Greenwise, thanks to the help of the two competition winners who are pupils at Westfield Primary School.
On Friday 8 October, council officers and Mayor Dave Hodgson visited the school to announce the winners of the competition and present them both with a certificate in their school assembly.
As part of the competition, students were asked to answer three questions: "Can you explain why travelling sustainably is good for humans, the environment and our future?", "When you are older, would you like to use a eCargo bike? Why?" and "How can we make the air in Bedford cleaner?".
Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said: It's fantastic to see young people in Bedford Borough so engaged with sustainable initiatives and excited about our new eCargo bikes. eCargo bikes are great because they allow users to transport more than they can on a traditional bicycle. They make a good alternative to a car for travelling to work, doing the school run or getting the weekly shop. We're looking forward to seeing them become more popular as people's awareness grows."
These bikes will allow the Council to reduce its carbon emissions, and so help improve air quality in the borough. In leading by example, the Council hopes that other local organisations and businesses will be encouraged to explore low carbon transport.
Westfield Primary School has also just been awarded Modeshift STARS Bronze award for its efforts to promote active and sustainable travel to the school community. Modeshift STARS is a national scheme that recognises excellence in the delivery of travel plans. Bedford Borough Council's sustainable travel team have been working closely with the school to support this programme.