Cambridge cycle courier company, Outspoken Delivery, will be a leading partner in an EU-sponsored initiative to develop and promote the movement of light goods by bike.

The three-year EU project, CYCLE Logistics, aims to slash energy use for urban freight transport through final delivery of light goods by bicycle rather than motorised delivery vans.

Partners in the Cycle Logistics project include local authorities, private sector companies, cycling organisations, communication experts and energy agencies from over eight European countries.

The kick-off meeting involving all the project partners was held in Copenhagen last month and attended by Rob King, managing director of Outspoken Delivery.

He said: "We are thrilled to be part of this exciting project and look forward to building a cargo bike culture in Cambridge and beyond.”

Outspoken Delivery will be leading the 'Goods Delivery' application area of the project; developing new and innovative delivery solutions using the breadth of experience across Europe to determine best practice.

It is anticipated that Outspoken will rent three additional cargo bikes with electric assistance enabling them to support the expected increased level of business.

Outspoken Delivery will host a meeting in Spring 2012 which will bring all the partners to Cambridge to discuss progress, share findings and to plan the next stages of the project.

King added: “European cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam have well developed bike cultures and cargo delivery solutions and I am looking forward to introducing similar approaches to Cambridge.”

Other aspects of the project include encouraging tradesmen to adopt bicycles as a means of transporting themselves and their equipment to their customers and prompting private individuals to use their bikes for shopping trips by providing appropriate baskets, bags and trailers.

• Photograph shows: Rob King, managing director of Outspoken Delivery