Shrewsbury Moves Ecargo Bikes Providing Data to Help Shape the Future of Movement in the Town Centre, in Partnership With See.Sense
In an exciting new partnership aimed at improving cycling infrastructure and supporting sustainable transport, Shrewsbury Moves has teamed up with See.Sense, the award-winning cycling technology company, to gather real-world data on local e-cargo bike journeys across the town.
Backed by Government funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership (BTPP)’s newest initiative provides Shrewsbury Moves eCargo bikes for use by local businesses on a heavily subsidised monthly rental basis. It follows the success of the eBike loan scheme, which saw 250 ebikes made available to Shrewsbury residents and encouraged local people to try a different mode of transport around the town.
The initiative will provide valuable insights into how and where the bikes are being used around Shrewsbury, including journey frequency, duration, distance and routes taken. The cycle data is provided to Shrewsbury Moves via the See.Sense dashboard which, with the help of AI, offers actionable insights to help identify popular cycling corridors, areas of high demand and opportunities for improvements to local cycleways and supporting infrastructure.
Bikes have now been assigned to local companies including Tanners Wines, Domino’s and Get Your Wiggle On, a children’s dance studio, with two more bikes being made available for businesses in the new year.
Stephanie Mansell-Jones, Project Lead at Shrewsbury BID, said:
“We’re really pleased to see local businesses having the opportunity to try out e-cargo bikes as a practical alternative to traditional transport. For many businesses, congestion, parking and reliability are daily challenges, and schemes like this give them a chance to test solutions that can save time, reduce costs and lower their environmental impact.
By enabling businesses to trial e-cargo bikes in real-world conditions, we’re helping them explore more resilient and sustainable ways of moving around the town, while also generating valuable data that can shape future movement in Shrewsbury’s town centre.”
See.Sense’s innovative sensor technology captures a rich picture of each ride. In addition to GPS journey data, the sensors can detect road surface conditions, braking and swerving patterns, giving planners a unique window into the real experiences of cyclists on the road. This anonymised and aggregated data helps local authorities design safer, more enjoyable and more accessible routes for everyone who cycles.
The first of the project’s participants is Simon, Chair of Shrewsbury Men’s Shed, a community workshop that offers a friendly space for people to connect, share skills and work on practical projects. Simon uses his Trek Fetch+ e-cargo bike to collect supplies for the Men’s Shed, such as meat from local butchers for the group’s weekly drop-in lunch, or paint and materials for refurbishment projects.
“I use the e-cargo bike almost every day around Shrewsbury,” says Simon. “It’s great for getting things done efficiently while avoiding the hassle of parking and traffic. Knowing that my everyday trips can also contribute to improving cycling routes for others is a real bonus.”
Rob Wilson, Leader of Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport and Economic Growth, commented on the scheme:
“The chance to avoid congestion, park closer to a destination and save money are all key benefits. In other towns and cities, eCargo bikes have been adopted by electricians, pharmacies and gardeners. I’m excited to see which Shrewsbury businesses will apply to take up this offer.”
By equipping the Trek Fetch+ bikes with See.Sense trackers, Shrewsbury Moves will be able to quantify how e-cargo bikes are being used within the community, from short urban errands to longer delivery or transport runs, and identify how such use can be supported as part of a greener transport future.
“Data from See.Sense trackers helps towns and cities truly understand how cycling is happening in the real world,” said Irene McAleese, Co-founder and CCO at See.Sense. “We’re delighted to see Shrewsbury Moves adopting this technology to inform its plans for better-connected, safer and more inclusive cycle routes.”
For See.Sense, the project highlights how its technology can empower local authorities, transport planners and cycling advocates to turn insight into action, creating infrastructure that reflects the actual needs of the people using it.