Alix has devoted her working life to cycling; she’s worked on school travel, the Cycling for Women project with the Women’s Design Service, the London Borough of Hackney on their award-winning transport programme and in the private sector on a range of project contracts. Alix is a thoughtful contributor to the Cycling UK website. She has also run CarryMe Bikes since 2011, establishing it as a social enterprise in 2016.
Alix says, “I’ve been doing all sorts in cycling for quite a long time, but mainly now I am running CarryMe Bikes CIC in east London, helping families and businesses carry kids and freight by bike. We’re basically showing the practical solutions for how people can get stuff around by bike easily and cost-effectively without having to rely on a car or van.
“We sell and hire out cargobikes, and run a variety of community projects with grant funding. We also offer a maintenance service and sell cycling accessories. We provide decorated cargobikes for our Weddings Service and offer a bespoke Events Service for Councils and others. People can hire cargobikes by the day and they can hire before they buy, so that they can find the right solution for them.
I can provide them with something that works for them, helps them grow their business, and doesn’t cause any more air pollution.
Alix Stredwick
“I love helping people solve their logistics problems in a clean, green way! It’s great when a family can suddenly get mobile all together and all those journeys which have been an awkward bus journey or a long walk become super easy by bike. I love it when a family comes to us because they’re about to sell their car and they want to take the family by cargobike, and I can help them find the best solution for them. When small businesses come to CarryMe Bikes CIC for help with their logistics it’s a great feeling when I can provide them with something that works for them, helps them grow their business, and doesn’t cause any more air pollution.
“Cargobikes can be such fun, especially the really massive ones that turn heads (even in Hackney) when, as quite a small slight woman, I’m seen cruising along, barely breaking a sweat – the huge improvements in electric assist really help with that!”
