UPS delivers by bike this holiday season

What's gonna happen when they have a bunch of packages to deliver and they have to leave their load unattended, who's gonna make sure there isn't any theft, this is stupid, and don't say locks because they will just take the whole bike.

I think this is a good idea. I enjoy bike riding. I think the workers who do this will be in better shape than those who drive trucks all day. Of course inclement weather will mean some loads are transferred to trucks, but in many areas, a bike is as useful as a car. I know I peddle to work four days per week. As long as there is no rush, I figure I have gotten my exercise before I even get home from work.

Up to 150 packages a day? I delivered 265 packages today, and it's only the second day of our peak (Christmas) season. lol

I think it is a great idea, time saving and gas saving, however, a truck can be locked when a driver goes into a building to deliver a package. Do you trust your shipment to sit on an unmaned bike trailer in the center of a big city? Nothing against my fellow man, but thats like leaving your purse in your shopping cart outside the restroom while you just slip in for a few minutes. Not going to happen!

To whoever said:

I am also like Bruce. I ship well over 100 packages a month and NEVER HAD UPS PAY ONE CLAIM. Starting shipping via DHL I am now a very happy customer. Filed a claim against DHL and was paid in a very timely manner

PLEASE NOTE: This may be why DHL is basically bankrupt in the US and will be pulling out. LOL

bikes do not pay for the roads so they have no right on them. they need to be to carry insurance and be licensed just like cars. they seldom sto for stop signs, and it is just a matter of time that some are killed because ignore traffic signs

I worked for UPS for 23 years, my first stop had more than 150 pkgs much less the whole truck, which they don't call a truck, it's a package car. I delivered packages a long time, trust me UPS is not using bicycles by accident. They have figured out how to do it and absolutely maximize profit as well as any positive public relations benefit. UPS cares about two things and two things only,gaining more volume(read boxes), and the revenue produced by getting them. I pitty the poor kids they strap to one of those bikes

I agree with Elfmajic. You all really need to get a life.

By the way, any savings that UPS gets from this program will go right into the pockets of the top brass!

DHL is basically bankrupt because their management is a bunch of arrogant arseholes. Never met one yet that knew his back from his front. If I were Deutsche Post I'd sell them to the first bidder.

I hope all the drivers/riders are in good enough shape to pull 200 lbs. however many miles their route is.

This is a great idea, but only if the drivers are willing and able to switch to bikes. Not everyone is in shape to pedal a bike with a big load attached. I am assuming that the loads are covered in inclement weather, but what about the cyclists? They should have the option to use the brown trucks in rain or snow.

For bike deliveries in Hotlanta they're going to need an armed guard on a Harley to follow along.

As a 23 yr employee at UPS, we stared using bikes for peak season over 15 yrs ago, and we used a 80.00 bike and home made trailer, we now use golf carts in high residentual areas with custom trailers. A average driver delivers 150 stops and over 300 pieces, the golf carts are delivering 50 to 150 pieces a day. I am located in the florida panahandle and the weather is a little better I would'nt like to freezing my but off in the the northwest. The facts in the story are off a little bit, and this is not really new news.

I JUST GOT DONE WITH A 13 HOUR DAY...MY TRUCK SAW 469 PIECES WITH ONLY 299 DELIVERIES! I DRIVE THE BIG LONG P12 VERSION THO. BUT HELL YA ID RIDE A BIKE!

This is by far the dumbest plan UPS has ever had. Please read the article fully. A person using a truck delivers 150 parcels per day. A person on a bike delivers 25 to 50 packages per day. UPS would have to hire up to 6 times as many people to deliver 150 parcels by bike Vs 1 delivery truck driver delivering 150 parcels per day.
Also....What about security of the packages and protecting the packages for rain damage???? There will also be increased worker compensation costs because more of the delivery people will be injured at using bicycles at work. Dumb corporate executives with dumb ideas like this one is why America is going down the tubes.

I think its a novel idea and might work in some regions, but I can't see it working really well in extremely traffic congested areas, rural areas, or srawling suburbs. Our UPS headquarters for our region is some 20 miles from my home. I can't see them pedling that distance to deliver my Avon orders, which is sometimes as many as 6 boxes.

Screw UPS the service sucks............

As a driver for UPS (twenty years) I'm glad to see someone thinking of environmental alternatives but since the Corporation only thinks of the bottom line, I wonder what "rediculous" standards/work-load this corporation will impose on their bicycle drivers.

This isn't news. They use bike deliveries every year in December. There are times when it is much more efficient. For example, think of a neighborhood where there are deliveries at nearly every house. Instead of stopping and starting a truck at each home, a bike can deliver up and down the street more quickly.
Also, there are some heavily congested traffic areas where parking a truck is just impossible. (You should see how much UPS pays in Manhattan parking tickets each year. It's cheaper to just double park and take the tickets than to have the driver try to find parking)
Also, the trailers are locked, enclosed trailers (think like a mini-Uhaul) so the packages are not exposed to the elements.

I don't know why UPS doesn't just use the 3-wheel bakfiets, like they have been doing in many parts of Europe for a long time. Clever cycles in Portland already stocks them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rllayman/1530961437/

Much better than a trailer.