Bike-Powered Delivery Service on a Roll

Spend enough time in Somerville traffic and you might find yourself gawking at an adult on a giant, load-hauling tricycle. Since 2007, Union Square-based Metro Pedal Power pedal-trucks have delivered goods throughout Greater Boston entirely by human power. Its riders rely on pure muscle to pull loads of up to 500 pounds—often while surprised onlookers shout, "What is that?" But this local company is more than a curiosity. Hauling by bike-trucks is serious business, and it's growing.

"It's been slow and steady growth," said CEO Wenzday Jane. "We've certainly been building our client network of small businesses and community-minded businesses around the Boston area."

Since 2007, the Metro Pedal Power fleet has expanded from five to 13 vehicles. The bulk of the company's business comes from local farmers, who use the service to deliver fresh vegetables to individuals, restaurants and small markets. Somerville tea wholesaler Mem Tea (of Highland Ave.), switched from UPS to Pedal Power for their Greater Boston deliveries.

"We use them because most of our customers are local and it's just a more energy efficient way to make deliveries," said manager Sue Scalise. "It's also a little more convenient because they are more flexible with pickup times."

Life on three wheels

Each morning, riders set out from a warehouse just outside Union Square, routes in hand, and full trailers in tow. Stuffed to the hinges with parcels, food-stuffs or urban farming equipment, the trailers and riders are on the street rain or shine, year around.  "Freezing rain is the worst," admits Jane. 

To Jane, Somerville was a "natural location" for the company. "It is well situated and close to Cambridge and downtown," she said, adding that Somerville's "robust local business community" seemed like fertile ground for an innovative, environmentally friendly new business.

Area organizations have proven helpful as well. Ties to the Sustainable Business Network of Boston as well as Somerville Local First, which advocates for buying locally in Somerville, helped win new clients. "They are both great networks of people who just get it," said Jane.

Reducing carbon emissions—and smog

Somerville businesses who receive produce via Metro Pedal Power include Bloc 11 Cafe, and the newly opened all in Union Square, as well as Diesel Cafe in Davis Square. But Pedal Power routes run throughout Greater Boston, and every trip made serves the goal of reducing fossil fuel consumption.

But beyond decreasing carbon emissions, pedal-trucks also reduce what Jane calls "local environmental factors" like noise pollution, traffic and smog. "We are not anti-car or anti-motor or anti-oil. Everything has its place, but the culture needs to strike a balance," she said.

Moving into pedal-truck production

Recently, the company branched out into repairing, building and supplying pedal-trucks for other businesses. "Our mission is to help replace fossil fuel vehicles, so we are positioning ourselves as a sales and service company," said Jane. "We just sold our first two pedal-trucks. We want to be able to help businesses make a permanent switch in their fleet to pedal power."   

For now, riders will continue to serve as moving billboards. Jane, who sometimes straps on a helmet and rides the pedal-trucks herself, said that she encounters bemused pedestrians all the time.

"They most commonly say, 'What is that?' or 'Oh my god that is such a great idea!' It is so outside people's daily stuff, they don't have a point to relate," she said. "Most of the time people don't even understand what that large thing could possibly be."