Rickshaw set to run throughout the winter

The Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw will be running throughout the winter, offering free rides to passengers who don’t mind braving the cold (blankets provided) and free cargo bike deliveries for local charities.

Last year the service stopped running between November and April, but trustee Libby Ranzetta said: “We are keen to provide the opportunity for people to go on the rickshaw this winter, especially on those gorgeous bright, frosty days when it’s so good to be outside. We are also trialling using the rickshaw in ‘cargo mode’ for local deliveries, which means the bike isn’t standing idle when we have fewer passengers because of the weather.”

Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District have provided sponsorship for the winter season, with Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants continuing their summer season’s support by sponsoring the cargo trial. The Foodbank, at Gatehouse, the Women’s Refuge, Best Before Project and Bury Drop-In have already started using the rickshaw for deliveries.

Mike Kirkham, of Our Bury St Edmunds said: “The Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw is a fabulous initiative helping people experience all the town centre has to offer. As the local business improvement district we are pleased to work with and support the rickshaw team and the excellent service they provide.”

When the Rickshaw project was first proposed, it was Sheila Burke, director of Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants, who offered corporate sponsorship.

Sheila said: “The Rickshaw is such a great idea and we are so pleased to be able to help. Having sponsored the summer season we were more than happy to step up to sponsoring the cargo trial too. The work that the volunteers do is so worthwhile and of such great benefit to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get out and about to visit our beautiful town.”

Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw trustees would be pleased to hear from cyclists interested in volunteering to ride the rickshaw as a cargo bike, and from local charitable organisations who need a hand with deliveries.

Call 01284 339449 or visit bserickshaw.org.uk for all enquiries.

Pictured above is Libby Ranzetta with a cargo of goodies ready to be delivered.