Half van, half bicycle: The cut and shut vehicle that wants to take down diesel

No wonder the government is so reluctant to publish Britain’s clean air plan ahead of the election – it needs to be radical.

An investigation by The Guardian and Greenpeace earlier this this month revealed  hundreds of thousands of children are being educated within 150 metres of a road where levels of nitrogen dioxide from diesel traffic breach legal limits. Almost 60 per cent of British people live in areas where levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution exceed legal limits.

An explosion in internet shopping and yo-yo policies have flooded our streets with diesel vehicles. Over 6,000 diesel buses and 20,000 diesel cabs drive in circles around London every day.

Urban Arrow is a Dutch cargo bike specialist that has already sold its vehicles to eleven countries wanting to make their cities greener and quieter. Their latest project takes a cut and shut approach to reducing diesel emissions in urban areas.

The Tender marries bicycle technology in its rear frame and automotive technology up front. Essentially, it’s half bike and half van.

With a capacity of 1500 litre and a maximum payload of 350 kg, the Tender is ideally placed to replace many diesel delivery vans. Our next government should take note.

Environmentally friendly cycle insurance

On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it. Read our insider guide to cycle insurance.

ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model. Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy from us helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.

For over 26 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalue bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and handle claims in-house.

The Good Shopping Guide has voted us Britain’s most ethical insurance company.