UPS Bike Delivery

If the Freight Nazis paid halfway decently, doing this kind of delivery wouldn’t be a bad gig!

Back to their roots. I read this article on the UPS site about the company’s history, UPS was started in Seattle and mainly delivered on foot and bicycle in the beginning.

Anon,

I worked for UPS during a holiday season, when I was an out of work dotcommer and if I remember right, they paid 17 an hour. And treated me and all the other temps very well. Check the photo here.

Maus,

That’s right … they started right here in Seattle delivering packages by bike. I also heard that they tested the bike delivery service in Minn, but don’t have that confirmed.

What bikes will they be using? This is huge; hopefully they will realize the value of this strategy and continue past the holidays. Will they have in house mechanics? Have they consulted with any of the cargo biking experts in the bicycle industry? How can I expect you to know any of this? Hard to say, but the questions were burning a hole in my brain, and they leaked out here. Wow.

Val,

I did just hear from UPS and the bikes will hit the streets next week and it’s a test, one of many different things they’ll try from golf carts, to Rickshaws, to sleds.

After the test, if it’s a success, they’ll report on it. If you see a bike out there, def encourage them on, and try to get a photo.

It’s a great story, considering UPS got their start here with bikes.

Right on. What a great idea. I’d love to have that job. I too had a good experience working at UPS - in college during the holidays. The driver I was helping picked me up in the morning and dropped me off in the evening at home. I got a lot of exercise - walking with a big load of packages on a cart - and I got paid. Although delivering packages on a cargo bike would have been way better!

I just saw my neighbors get a delivery via UPS bikes. There were two guys, one guy was just riding a bike the other had a bike with a trailer behind it carrying probably 6-8 good size packages and 10-20 smaller ones. I didn’t notice what type of bikes they were because I was too excited that it was happening haha. I can say both bikes were the same, silver with a red stripe, both were MTBs.

Great! What neighborhood?

Apparently UPS has no idea we have the best CargoBikes made sitting here under their nose. The Bakfiets is perfect for these guys. We even have a brown one!

I don’t think it came down that way, more someone had an idea to try something out so they did and they try lots of things out. If it’s a succes, then expect them to expand and do it with longtails or Bakfiets, or a Kona Ute, or whatever.

A mtb with a trailer is easy.

right on! i heard about UPS trying this in new england, but i didn’t realize seattle was joining in the fun. both vermont and maine apparently have/had UPS delivery by bike.

Hi,

We’re actually doing deliveries with cargo bikes. We got them two weeks ago in St-Etienne, France where we have a bike messenger company. it’s pretty hilly but allright though. Does anyone know about good cargobikes builders? cause ours are kind of “home-made” and a lot of improvements are needed!!