It's zoom time for The Baby Room

Community Interest Company The Baby Room has been doing its bit for Exeter’s Net Zero aspirations by using an e-cargo bike to carry out a range of tasks.

The organisation’s founder, Jennifer Harris, can regularly be seen, whizzing around delivering soup, collecting bread and even taking birthing pools and bags of towels to families who need them!

Provided by Raleigh, the much-loved British bicycle brand, the Stride 2 e-cargo bike has been in use since February.

The loan was facilitated by Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw MP, who was able to choose a charity or CIC to provide the bike to after winning a competition at an event organised by the Bicycle Association. 

The Baby Room Exeter, which is based in Paris Street, is passionate about supporting new families. It offers free drop-in breastfeeding support and looks after families by providing them with a warm, safe, non-judgemental space where they can gather.

The space has a cosy sofa area, a large sling library and a substantial maternity and nursing clothes area where parents-to-be can save money on things they need for their pregnancy. 

Jennifer has been helping families in Exeter for more than 16 years and has been running the Baby Room for the past six with her colleague and sling librarian Gillian Travis.

As well as running errands on the bike, Jennifer has also used it to get to conferences, and for her own personal use including shopping, which would otherwise have been done using a borrowed van. 

Her experiences with the bike highlight how efficient e-cargo can be in cities - helping to reduce traffic and pollution, and cut down the time it takes to make short journeys. 

Jennifer said: "The bike has been so useful and has saved volunteers from spending our funds on bus fares, parking costs and on time sitting in traffic. It means we can truly echo our environmental goals too and reduce our carbon footprint. 

"It took me a while to master the hills but now I’m confident and am really enjoying zooming around on The Baby Room business and exploring the cycle network - it’s so useful! We are really grateful to have been selected to use it.’’

Ben Bradshaw, Member of Parliament for Exeter said: “As a long-standing advocate for cycling in Parliament, I was delighted to be able to select The Baby Room in Exeter to receive a loan e-cargo bike from Raleigh. 

“The work that they do for families is truly wonderful. I went to visit them when they first got the e-cargo bike, and it’s great to see how much use they have been able to make of it. It’s saved them money and time, and is also having a positive impact on the local environment.’’ 

A spokesperson for Raleigh said: “We are so delighted to have been able to support this fantastic CIC in Exeter. Over the past few years we have supported  a number of charities and volunteer organisations helping those in need by providing e-cargo bikes on loan. 

‘’The way Jennifer has been using the bike to the benefit of the charity just shows how efficient and useful they can be in cities.’’