Bicycles

UPS trials delivery-by-e-bike in US

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The Cargo Cruiser makes a delivery in Portland
UPS
UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney on the Portland-based Cargo Cruiser
UPS
The UPS Cargo Cruiser can be operated purely by human power, purely by its motors, or a combination of both
UPS
The Cargo Cruiser makes a delivery in Portland
UPS
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In 1907, the United Parcel Service (UPS) started out making deliveries by bicycle. Flash forward to 2012, and the company began a pilot project in Hamburg, Germany, using electric-assist "Cargo Cruiser" tricycles for deliveries – that project is still ongoing. Now, UPS has started a similar program using a single trike in the city of Portland, Oregon.

UPS states that advantages of using the Cruisers include reduced carbon emissions and less traffic congestion – they're presumably also cheaper to operate than gas-powered vehicles.

The Portland trike can be operated purely by human power, purely by its motors, or a combination of both. A windshield helps protect the rider from inclement weather. As is the case in Hamburg, it picks up parcels at a centrally-located drop-off point, so it doesn't have to travel to and from a warehouse on the edge of town.

UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney on the Portland-based Cargo Cruiser
UPS

It has been making deliveries since Nov. 21st, and will continue to do so throughout the current testing phase. During that period, UPS will be assessing factors such as reliability, integration to the city's infrastructure and acceptance of the vehicle. If all goes well, the company could roll out more of the trikes both in Portland and other US cities, sometime next year.

Portland was chosen, incidentally, because UPS has already been using conventional bicycles for deliveries there.

Source: UPS via Inhabitat

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2 comments
Bob Flint
Certainly not in the same vein as drone delivery, much more down to earth, simple effective. Just hope it comes with a security system while the drivers delivering to the door, since anyone could jump on and pedal away....
unklmurray
Bob you are the only person who would want to be busted stealing a UPS Delivery Trike, I'd like to own one of the Front wheel drive trikes, Butt I'll buy mine Thank You!!