How Do You Deliver by Bike? Feat. Chris Arthur
This August, HUB Cycling and our community of bike-lovers are here to show you that shopping by bike is easier than you think!
Today, Chris Arthur, owner of Sky Harvest, an organic indoor urban farm in Richmond, is here to share his tips on how he delivers his farms’ produce by bike.
How long have you been making deliveries by bike?
“Sky Harvest has been doing deliveries by bike for 12+ years. The company started in East Vancouver but has since moved its operations to Richmond. Twice a week we have a team of three or four riders delivering leafy greens to downtown hotels, restaurants, and specialty grocery stores. I love the cargo bike’s electrical capability and loading volume because it has enabled us to expand deliveries outside of the downtown core, for example to the North Shore and UBC area.”
How do you carry items by bike?
“We carry the majority of our produce in the front box of the cargo bike, which is custom insulated. We pack the produce containers and place them in the cargo bike’s front box together with freeze blocks, and it’s super quick to organize customer packages within the large volume box. On occasion, we also use rear panniers for storing smaller items. Once on route the bike has huge advantages over cars and trucks, by-passing long slow line ups and obviating parking stress at delivery stops.”
What do you enjoy most about delivering by bike?
“The exercise is great but honestly, I love it when people lean out the window of their car and say “Wow, cool bike, man!”
I am all in for anything that gets people talking about getting more trucks off the road and more people on bikes. That’s part of the reason why I had some thought provoking messages wrapped on the box such as “Your Lungs Love this Bike”. I want to spark more discourse about the health benefits of improving air quality in our city, and promoting zero-emissions distribution. I was just in London last week and I saw e-cargo bikes everywhere. We need to catch up, we’re falling behind.”
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who is new to transporting items by bike?
“Always plan your route ahead of time if you can. It will make for a much more enjoyable ride.”
Bike to Shop is a month-long campaign running Aug 1-31 that showcases the joy and convenience of shopping by bike by breaking down the barriers that many people face when using a bike to run errands like grocery shopping. Take the pledge to try shopping by bike this summer and you could win one of three pairs of Cirque du Soleil tickets and $500 in gift cards for local businesses. Take the pledge!
Help Chris Recover His Bike
Sadly, shortly before this article was published, Sky Harvest’s e-cargo bike was stolen during a delivery in downtown Vancouver. If you or someone you know comes across this bike (pictured above), please contact Chris HERE or the police.
For more tips on how to keep your bike safe to deter bike thieves, click here.