Image Source: Light Bicycle Infantry

A Brief History of Military Bicycles

Like many of the topics we cover here, you could probably write multiple books dedicated to the use of bicycles for military purposes.  However, in the interest of brevity, I’ll just provide a quick summary, but it should be noted that the history of bicycles for military use is quite extensive and varies significantly from country to country and military to military.

The BSA & Military Bicycle Museum is a great online museum for military bicycles, and I suggest you check out the pages there for a ton of great information on military bicycles with a mostly European focus.  According to “The Illustrated War News” (wow, what a concept for a newspaper…) from Beginnings of War Machines, military bicycles first appeared in Italy in 1875 and were used mostly for carrying messages.  However, within less than ten years, bicycles were being employed to carrying armed soldiers on scouting maneuvers in England.  Shortly thereafter, in 1896 in Austria and 1898 in France, folding bicycles that could easily be carried on a soldier’s back were introduced to improve mobility and maneuverability of bicycle infantry and other types of soldiers.  Generally, there were two types of military bicycles, which included roasters for delivering messages and folding bikes that could be carried by a soldier on foot over poor terrain and easily converted to a bicycle when possible.

Image Source: Beginnings of War Machines

In the United States, bicycles were used as early as 1896 by the 25th Infantry of Buffalo Soldiers as an alternative to horses for covering long distances.  In the early 1900′s, bicycles also became useful in warfare for delivering messages or carrying arms to battle.  Unlike soldier on horseback, a bicycle soldier could more easily hide from the enemy, and there was no need to refuel the bicycle.  On the other hand, it is much more difficult for a bicycle soldier to fire or wield a weapon like a gun or sword on a bicycle, so they were primarily used for getting from one place to the other quickly and quietly.  The first war to really test the ability of a bicycle was the Boer War in South Africa.

Image Source: The Cycle in Warfare

Bicycles were also quite common in World War I and World War II.  In World War I, they were used primarily by light infantry units, scouts, and messengers by almost every country involved in the war.  Folding bikes were the most common in WWI, and the BSA (British Small Arms) produced huge quantities of them.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Bicycles were still quite common in WWII, which also saw the introduction of airborne paratrooper bicycle units.  Paratroopers were outfitted with folding bicycles so that they could be mobile once they landed.  In other cases, airborne soldiers were able to quickly get to containers full of bicycles near their landing sites and take their opponents by surprise.  Many countries, such as the United States, standardized military bicycle production during WWII.  In fact, the bicycle was a key element in many successful wartime feats during WWII.   Perhaps the most famous military cycling regiment is the Swiss Army Bicycle Regiment, which is famous for the great distances and amount of gear they can carry in a day.  In countries like the U.S., many civilians were also encouraged to commute by bike to conserve precious resources during the WWII, as well.

Image Source: Oldbike

In general, it appears that bicycles have long been used for military purposes and during wartime for a wide range of different activities, which is certainly no surprise, as we’ve definitely covered how mobile, utilitarian, and efficient a bicycle can be.  I certainly haven’t done the history of military bicycles any justice here, but if you follow some of the links provided above, you’ll find a plethora of great information and photos about military uses of bicycles from around the world.  Feel free to add others in the comments section, as well.

Modern Uses

Bicycles are still relatively common within the U.S. military and others around the world for a wide range of purposes.  They are not quite as prolific now as they were in the early 1900′s, but they certainly haven’t been done away with either.  Bicycles are also used by other military-type groups, such as guerrillas, militias, and others.  These days, mountain bikes are much more common than skinny tire roadster-type bikes, but folding bikes are still the bicycle of choice, especially for paratroopers.

Image Source: Montague

However, as with many of the Emergency and Patrol Services by Bike we have covered here, the ways in which the bicycle is being used for military purposes is constantly changing and evolving.  For the most part, bicycles are not very common in combat anymore, and many bicycle regiments, such as the Swiss Army Cyclists, have recently been disbanded.  Meanwhile, the U.S. military is encouraging the use of bicycles for transportation to and within bases given the high costs of driving.  Nonetheless, it remains to be seen what the future will bring for the military use of bicycles…hopefully just to promote peace and love…yea right…but given the utility of bicycles for accomplishing a wide range of goals, I’d imagine they will remain a useful feature of militaries around the world in times of war and peace.

To that end, I’d like to introduce you to Jed Proujansky. Jed started his working career as a bicycle mechanic while in middle school. He rode a large delivery bike filled with parts and repaired the rental fleet of delivery bikes. Later, he went on to be an avid hostler and rode centuries for fun. Now, over 60 years old he bikes less but still can’t see life without a bike or two.

Jed’s use of a bicycle is the ultimate in utility cycling, as it really comes down to a matter of life or death for a specific fish population.  But before things sound too sensational here, let me explain further.  Jed is an avid fisherman whose wife volunteered him to help stock the fish tank at the Great Falls Discovery Center, which is an educational visitor center in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, that is part of the Connecticut River Watershed.  The Great Falls Discovery Center is part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge and has a particular focus on environmental education to teach visitors about the importance of the natural resources within the watershed.  As part of the educational component, the Discovery Center has a variety of exhibits that show the wildlife of the watershed in their natural habitats.  Given the Discovery Center’s focus on the local watershed, there are a number of exhibits with fish that live in the nearby Connecticut River.  As Jed explains,

“I go out to different parts of the watershed and try to catch appropriate display sized fish for our tanks. The largest tank is about 6’x6’x6’ and will hold a half dozen trout about 6-8 inches in length. I have caught small bass and panfish and even some dace (about 2” long) for our tanks.  We rotate the stock periodically so that we get new fish there.”

Given Jed’s proclivity for fishing, the opportunity to go out and catch fish for use in the exhibits was a perfect excuse to get in more time to fish.  However, one of the reservoirs from which the fish are collected happens to be at the top of a mile long, hilly, dirt road that is not open to motorized vehicles.  Jed puts the fish he catches (using safe, humane methods, of course) in a bucket with two gallons of water and an aerator for their journey from the reservoir to a larger tank at the Discovery Center.  But time is of the essence, because once the fish are caught, it is critical that they be transported from the reservoir to a tank with plenty of oxygen and cold water as quickly as possible so that they will not be harmed.  Obviously a lack of oxygen will lead to fish mortality, as will warm water, so Jed needs to move fast.

For a number of years, Jed hiked to the top of the road, placed the fish he caught in the bucket, and raced back down the road to his car on foot with 15 pounds of equipment and a bucket full of fish.  The walk up the hill was hard enough, but racing back down with the fish, which took about 30 minutes, was very difficult.  Once in his car, Jed cranked the AC to keep the water as cool as possible and drove the 10 miles to the Discovery Center where the fish were moved to a larger tank.

Finally, one day, after hitting his head – once again – on his bicycle, which is stored near his fishing equipment, a better way to transport the fish became painfully obvious.  Why not use a bike to get to the reservoir and cut the transportation time down significantly?  So Jed went about setting up a bike to do just that.  He now uses his daughter’s mountain bike that is equipped with a rear rack, to which he bungee cords his fish bucket with the lid and aerator, to get up and down the hill to the reservoir.  With a fishing rod and other gear tied to the bike forks and frame, the bike can carry all of the necessary gear, which can also be easily removed for quick access.

Using the bicycle, Jed is able to walk/ride up the hill to the reservoir and cruise back down the hill with the caught fish.  He was able to cut the transportation time down the hill from 30 minutes to just about 5 minutes, which is a huge improvement for the fish.

I asked Jed how the fish react to being transported by bicycle.  Since they are used to being in rough water, he suggests that they probably don’t mind much.  Not to mention, the water cushions them during the ride.  I also asked Jed how he reacts to transporting the fish this way, and he says that so far, there have been no issues.  As one might imagine, it’s somewhat difficult to secure a bucket to a bike rack and ride down a bumpy, dirt road without any leaks, etc., but he keeps his hand on the lid during bumpy sections of the road to keep the cargo secure.  I also couldn’t help but ask Jed how the Discovery Center reacts to his method of fish transportation.  Since the fish he catches arrive at the Discovery Center in great condition, he says they are quite pleased with it, and that they are happy as long as they have healthy fish.

Jed’s method of fish transportation is an interesting and creative type of utility cycling.  His use of a bicycle is an interesting type of cycling service, and one which I hadn’t previously given much thought to: Educational Services by Bicycle.  Jed also mentioned that one of the best things about the Discovery Center are the educational programs and events they offer for youth and adults alike.  The educational programs help to bring people into contact with their environment in order to help them develop an environmental conscience.  Jed mentioned that many fish and other wildlife are saved due to the success of the Discovery Center’s programs.  I asked if he had taken the opportunity to tell any of the youth how exactly he goes about catching the fish, and he hasn’t done that yet, although it sounds like it may be a good opportunity for the future.  I would argue that in addition to teaching people about their local environment, telling the story of how he catches the fish by bicycle could also open their eyes to the plethora of ways in which bicycles can be used.  And that’s always a good thing!

Editor’s Note: No fish were harmed in the telling of this story.  Once the fish have been in an exhibit at the Discovery Center for about 6 months, they are released back into the watershed.

Also, many thanks to Jed for taking the time to answer my questions, tell this great story, and provide the photos in this piece.  All of the information provided here was obtained from emails and a telephone interview with Jed.

Image Credit: MTB Adventure Series

What is Bike Patrol?

Bike patrol generally refers to a group of volunteers who work together with local, national, and even international bike advocacy organizations, land management organizations, land owners, law enforcement and emergency personnel, as well as mountain bikers and other recreational cyclists to provide a safe, responsible, and fun environment for using public lands, trails, and roads.  The term “bike patrol” often refers to the International Mountain Bike Association’s (IMBA) National Mountain Bike Patrol Program (NMBP), which “consists of dedicated volunteers partnering with land mangers, landowners and emergency personnel to assist, educate and inform all trail users in order to enhance their recreational experience” and encourages trail users to obey the IMBA Rules of the Trail.  However, bike patrol can also refer to volunteers who assist riders during charity bike rides and other events, such as the bike patrol group of the Perimeter Bicycling Association of America.  But whether it be NMBP or PBAA, bike patrols refer to organized and recognized groups, with some degree of formal training, that aid in creating positive and responsible environments for using bicycles on public, and sometimes private, lands.  You can always spot a bike patroller with their brightly colored jerseys and identifying gear.

Bike patrollers, whether they be working on local mountain bike trails or in a charity cycling event, often have similar characteristics, such as the desire to help other riders, educate riders on proper etiquette, update land managers and owners on local conditions, work with local groups to maintain access to trails and roads, volunteer time and collaborate with other groups on local cycling events, assist in medical emergencies, and assist in minor bike repairs.  Bike patrollers are usually certified in CPR and have passed local or national level certification courses and tests, although this varies to some degree depending on the context.  IMBA, for example, has four requirements, including CPR certification, completing a training course, passing the national level patrol exam, and submitting a membership application and fee.  And last, but certainly not least, bike patrollers like to ride their bikes!

Check out this short informational video about IMBA’s NMBP narrated by the great Dave Towle, to get a better sense of what bike patrol is all about.

A Brief History of Bike Patrol

Dirt Rag did a fabulous history of the IMBA’s National Bike Patrol called 15 Years of Service: A Look Back at IMBA’s National Mountain Bike Patrol, so I will just briefly summarize their piece, which I highly recommend you check out.  The Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA), which participated in the creation of the Mountain Bike Unit (MBU) in 1988, generally considered to be one of the first bike patrol units, played a huge role in the development of bike patrol in the U.S.  CORBA was started in 1987 in response to new issues of land access and rights in the 1980′s in California, as mountain biking gained popularity.  CORBA played a pivotal role in providing better access to trails in California for a variety of trail users.  Meanwhile, the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) provided a similar role on the opposite side of the county in the early to mid 1990′s.

Image Credit: The Mountain Murmur

In 1994, the NMBP was formed by the National Off-Road Bicycling Association (NORBA).  NORBA, along with being the primary governing body for mountain bike racing in the U.S., was also heavily involved in trail use advocacy, and worked in partnership with IMBA, the Bureau of Land Management, and other groups to develop a strong bike patrol unit through NMBP.  The control of NMBP was later transferred to IMBA, but NORBA continued to fund trail advocacy for some time.  Throughout the years, the extensive volunteer network of NMBP was developed through training and enabled by volunteer contributions.  Today, the bike patrol network is upheld through a long list of local bike patrol groups, which work with local land managers and trail users to protect trail access and quality for all users.

Bike Patrol Groups

There are a wide number of bike patrol groups at the international, national, and local level.  The most notable perhaps, is IMBA’s NMBP, but there are also bike patrol groups that are associated with charity bike events, parks, and more.  To find a NMBP bike patrol group in your state or region, check out IMBA’s list of registered NMBP Groups.  Another program that was recently introduced by IMBA is called the Trail Ambassador Program.  Unlike official bike patrollers, who must pass medical training, trail ambassadors can provide many of the same educational and information roles to trail users, and land managers, but are not required to assist in medical emergencies like a registered bike patroller.  There are also many trail care crews, that work directly with bike patrol groups to maintain the quality of local trails.

If you are interested in getting involved in a local mountain bike patrol, check out the NMBP homepage or look for a local bicycle charity event that may incorporate bike patrol.

Bike Services

To that end, I wanted to go back and review a series of posts that I wrote a little over a year ago in the category of bike services.  Bike services cover a wide range of utility cycling activities from advertising to garbage collection to land service and much more.  A service is the act of providing somebody with something.  This is conceptualized somewhat differently from bike delivery, the intention of which is specifically to take something from one place or person to another.  A service is somewhat more broad, in the sense that it means providing people with something they need or want.  In the case of bike services, these services are, naturally, administered by bicycle.

Emergency and Patrol Services by Bike

One of the categories of utility cycling services that I find especially fascinating is that of emergency and patrol services by bike.  Emergency and patrol services cover police bikes, fire service bicycles, EMS (emergency medial service) bikes, search and rescue bike services, bike patrol, and military bicycles.  Emergency and patrol services by bike cover any activity that involves responding to some kind of emergency, accident, or incident by trained professionals, who also happen to be riding bicycles.  One of the main advantages of using a bicycle in an emergency situation is that the bicycle is extremely mobile and can navigate dense crowds or areas where a vehicle cannot go.  Bicycles are also much more efficient than a human on foot, as they are both faster and capable of carrying greater loads.

Image Source: Bike Hugger

While emergency and patrol services by bike are not as common these days as they were when bicycles first appeared, they are making a comeback in many places, as agencies begin to realize the benefits of using bicycles to respond to incidents of many types.  However, it is important to note that using bicycles for emergency response or patrol activities does require a fair bit of training and investment on the part of the agency undertaking the service.  Nonetheless, in many cases a bicycle can be the most effective tool for the job, and it is important to have a number of different options for responding to emergencies and other incidents.

Review of Police, Fire, EMS, and SAR Services by Bike

• Police Bikes: Law enforcement is one of the emergency and patrol service areas where bicycles are most commonly used.  Police officers cite their increased sensory capabilities when on a bicycle, which allows them to be better patrol a given area.  Officers also cite the “approachability” of a officer on a bike over an officer in a car, which can improve community relationships with law enforcement officers.

Image Source: Urbandale Police

• EMS Bikes: EMS (emergency medical service) bikes are often used for special events, where large crowds make navigation of a vehicle to respond to a health emergency difficult.  EMS bikes are also very common in the developing world for transporting patients longer distances without vehicles or over rough terrain.
• Fire Service Bicycles: Fire service bicycles are more a thing of the past, due in part to the large amount of equipment that it takes to fight a fire, which makes using a bicycle impractical.  However, the use of bicycles for fire service has recently made a comeback in some places due to their ability to help control arson and talk to the community about fire safety.
• Search & Rescue Bike Services: Using bicycles for search and rescue is a somewhat new idea, but it is being commonly deployed in mountainous areas, where mountain bikes are effective for covering rough terrain in a short amount of time.  SAR cyclists need to be very strong and fit and willing to navigate rough, treacherous terrain via bicycle in order to complete their missions.
• Bike Patrol: Bike patrol is usually a volunteer activity, whereby the volunteers ride around a patrol area and communicate with other trail users.  Bike patrol can also help respond to emergency situations.
• Military Bicycles: Bicycles have long been used for military purposes in both times of war and peace.  They are still used by many militaries around the world, as they can be an efficient means of carrying a lot of gear over long distances, among other things.

Image Credit: Pedal People

In Northampton, Massachusetts, Pedal People have taken utility cycling a step beyond the more common grocery delivery and pedicab services (although they offer those services, too). It is definitely not sunny and 70 degrees in Northampton all year long, and this worker-owned human-powered delivery and hauling service works year round performing tasks often left to gasoline-powered machines. Using bikes equipped with large sturdy trailers, they will haul away your trash, recycling and compost (and any combination thereof) for a fee that is dependent upon the frequency and volume of the pickup, with a maximum of three 18-gallon containers per pick pickup. Pedal People’s number of pickups per year has been growing steadily since they begin riding routes in 2002, and they now average well over 10,000 collections each year.

Image Credit: Cowichan Recyclists

While not every city, town or neighborhood has its own local recycling service by bicycle, these organizations have appeared in a number of places in a variety of settings. In Ames, Iowa, Bikes At Work began collecting recyclables from homes in 1993, and by 1998, the operation had residential customers, Iowa State University residence hall contracts and 26 employees. Eureka Recycling in St. Paul, Minnesota launched a compostable waste pickup by bike pilot program in August 2010. In the program that is currently being tested by the non-profit Eureka Recycling, all of the participating homes received educational material, bins and compostable bags; program leaders need to gauge the community„s willingness to be active participants in waste management but understand that education is a key component of a successful launch.

Image Credit: Pedal People

Why is garbage and recycling collection by bike an increasingly important venture? Trash pickup, particularly in residential neighborhoods, involves the constant idling of large, pollution-emitting trucks, which burn fuel and produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and a variety of other lovely substances while their engines run between homes. Garbage trucks also create more strain on our roadways and contribute to noise pollution in our neighborhoods. From an economic standpoint, making the decision as an individual to finance trash collection by bike, particularly in communities where trash services are included in local taxes, requires a personal commitment to improving the environment through utility cycling. However, in the long run, using bicycles for neighborhood collection to move trash and recycling to a central pickup for automobiles will reduce stress on our roads (which we fund through taxes), will save us money on expenditures such as fuel, trucks, and labor (which we fund through taxes), and will decrease toxins entering the air that cause health issues in our population. All of these savings can make room in local budgets for human-powered solutions that ultimately reward everyone involved through a sustainable, healthy community service.

What is a Pedicab?

Pedicabs come in many different shapes and sizes, and their design and appearance often differ significantly around the world. However, the general design of most pedicabs is tricycle-like. There are two versions of the tricycle-style pedicab. The first version – often called the rickshaw-style – consists of a pedicab with one wheel on the front where the driver pedals and two wheels on the back where the passengers sit. The second version of the tricycle pedicab – often called the cyclo – allows the passengers to ride in front over the two wheels, while the driver sits in the back and pedals over the single wheel.

Standard Tricycle Style Pedicab – Image Source: pdxpedicab

Reverse Tricycle Style Pedicab – Image Source: pedalpeople

Other less common types of pedicabs include the quadracycle or bicycles with bike trailers that can accommodate passengers. In general, most pedicab designs place the passengers over the longest axle of the pedicab (usually between two parallel wheels), while the driver maintains control of the pedicab with the drive-train and handlebars over the short axle. There are many different pedicab manufacturers throughout the world, although there are no construction standards for building pedicabs, so choose your ride wisely. At the same time, many cities or other areas have taken it upon themselves to impose some pedicab standards and regulations.

Quadracycle Style Pedicab – Image Source: quadracycleinc

Bike Trailer Style Pedicab – Image Source: Da Kine Pedicabs

Pedicabs are also outfitted and decorated in many different ways. For example, some pedicabs provide a covered awning over the passengers, while others leave you to the elements. Lately, pedicabs are getting a more modern, aerodynamic-looking design and some have even started to look like small vehicles.

Image Source: Streetsblog

Pedicab History

Rickshaws, which are carts pulled by a person on foot, have been around since the 1800′s and were especially common throughout Asia. The cycle rickshaw began to appear sometime later in the 1920′s and also in Asia. Slowly, the cycle rickshaw replaced the cart-style rickshaw, as they were somewhat safer, more efficient, and easier on the driver. For more on pedicab history, check out Pop’s Pedicabs, where a great review can be found.

Pedicab Uses

First and foremost, pedicabs are used for transportation. Although, due to the versatile nature and sturdy design of many pedicabs, they can certainly be used for bike delivery purposes, as well. Pedicabs also provide a unique and highly visible forum for bike advertising, as the wide area of the passenger seat compartment is perfect for advertising banners.

Advertising Via Pedicab – Image Source: YellowBikeCab

Pedicab Riders

It’s important to spend a few minutes talking about who actually uses pedicabs. More often than not, pedicabs are associated with tourism or special events. And in many places, this is certainly the case. As my experience in San Deigo – surrounded by literally hundreds of pedicabs – might suggest, riding in a pedicab is certainly seen as a recreational activity. The main bulk of the pedicabs there stayed close to the tourist areas of Seaport Village, Harbor Drive, and downtown San Diego. I did not see a single pedicab outside of these areas. However, in other places in the U.S., such as New York City, pedicabs are used more frequently for commuting and transportation around the city. And in many places outside of the U.S., pedicabs are one of the most efficient forms of transportation in heavily congested cities, where sitting in traffic in a car can be unbearable.

At the same time, there have been lots of recent murmurs about the dangers of pedicabs, what with some bad crashes and accidents lately in NYC and other places. Even so, it seems pointless to argue that a few pedicab accidents should discredit the whole industry, when there are plenty of other kinds of transportation accidents all the time.

Overall, pedicabs are an eco-friendly, utilitarian form of transportation for getting around urban environments. They certainly have limitations, but for short trips, they are the perfect solution for getting off your own feet or legs for a bit and still going by bike.

Advertising

Advertising is essentially the art of persuasion. Persuasion to purchase a particular product, use a specific kind of service, act a certain kind of way, and so forth. Advertising in its purest form is intended to get people to buy something (as consumers) or buy into something (such as a political party). At the same time, advertising is much more than the simple act of persuasion. Wrapped up in advertising are all kinds of social and cultural norms, which convey commonly accepted ideas about the kinds of things being advertised. Therefore, advertising can be to clearly advertise particular products or ideas, but it can also convey all kinds more subtle messages beneath the surface.

For example, the advertisement in a videos below, which I saw at Cyclelicio.us, depicts a race between a cyclist and a driver in a Mercedes. Oddly enough, the cyclist wins the race, but MercedesBenzTV does not miss the opportunity to talk a little trash about cyclist behaviors (in this case, breaking traffic laws). The ad is a great example of the power of advertising and the social norms wrapped up in the ads we are exposed to.

Bike Advertising

If one accepts that advertising can be used to do more than just advertise the product for which a particular advertisement has been generated, than bike advertising (or bikevertising) can be used in a positive manner to encourage the idea of cycling, in general. Conversely, advertising can also be used negatively…or neutrally, as well. But I would argue that when people see an advertisement moving around via bicycle, this will have some kind of an impact on their perception of cycling, though what that impact is exactly could be hard to pin down. Although the products being advertised by bike might not have anything to do with cycling, the simple act of advertising by bicycle, will, in a sense, advertise cycling in a positive light (hopefully), as well.When I refer to bike advertising, I mean a form of advertisement, which explicitly uses the bicycle to transport the advertisement itself. In Wikipedia verbage, this would fall under the category of a non-motorized mobile billboard, which is a moving advertisement that is not motor-powered. Bicycle advertising is commonly undertaken by the vendors themselves, who use their employees to power the bike. Conversely, some bike advertisers get paid by businesses for the advertising space and time spent riding around with the advertisement.

Naturally, some of the benefits of bike advertising are related to the maneuverability of bicycles in crowded or congested environments. Bike advertising is great for festivals, large events, and other situations where a lot of people are crammed into small spaces. Advertisements by bicycle really stick out and draw attention to the products being advertised, and if the products or services are also readily accessible within the area, the advertising is often pretty successful.

Image Credit: Pedicab.com

If you run a bike advertising business or use bicycles to advertise your business, we would love to hear from you in the comments section. Does bike advertising work for you?

]]> http://www.utilitycycling.org/2010/03/bike-advertising/feed/ 12 http://www.utilitycycling.org/2010/03/retail-commercial-services-by-bike/ http://www.utilitycycling.org/2010/03/retail-commercial-services-by-bike/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:55:28 +0000 Melanie Colavito http://www.utilitycycling.org/?p=2193 Bicycles are an excellent way to do business. Whether you are advertising your business by bike (aka bikevertising), transporting customers around town in a pedicab, moving your business or vending station around town by bike, picking up trash by bike, or any other range of services, bicycles provide a unique, cost-effective, and eye-catching way to do business. Retail and commercial services by bike are only one subcategory of cycling services, which encompasses everything from land services to emergency and patrol services to bicycle mapping and more, but they are definitely one of biggest growing categories of cycling services today.

What Constitutes Retail & Commercial Services by Bike?

When we talk about retail and commercial services by bike, we are mainly referring of any kind of business or operation that uses the bicycle as a keystone element or piece of equipment for doing business. This separates out bike shops, which are certainly focused on the bike, but they do not use the bicycle itself to do business. There are definitely some cases where a stationary business with a storefront might use the bicycle to provide some service or do part of the business, so those are considered retail and commercial services by bike, according to our conceptualization of it. But again, the main requirement is that the bicycle is actually used in the process of doing business. Obviously, retail and commercial services by bike are also focused on selling a product or service, advertising, or the like, as well.

Image Credit: Tucson Velo

In many cases, it is somewhat difficult to distinguish between retail and commercial services by bicycle and bike delivery. We aren’t too concerned about having a super-strict definition of either, and the overlap between the two is a good thing, but for the most part, delivery often refers to mail, packages, documents, and the like, while retail and commercial bike services might be focused around delivering food, flowers, plants, etc.

Types of Retail & Commercial Services by Bike

So far, we have identified four categories of retail and commercial services by bike, but I have a feeling we are probably missing a few. If you operate a retail or commercial service by bike that we missed in our list, we would love to hear from you.

• Bike Advertising: The bicycle is often used as a convenient source of advertising. Banners flown from bike trailers, signs attached to racks, and flyer pockets in bike bags are just some of the ways the bicycle can be used to advertise.
• Pedicabs: What better way to see a city than in a carriage pulled by bicycle? Bicycle taxis or pedicabs are not only popular for tourists in many places, there are also practical means of transportation in many crowded cities throughout the world.
• Mobile Bike Businesses: The bicycle is also a popular mode of transportation for retail vendors, who might ride their merchandise to a certain location to set up shop for the day, and then ride home when the day is done.
• Garbage & Recycling Collection by Bike: Really, the extent of utility cycling is extremely vast. You can even use your bicycle to help pick up trash and recycling, something that seems so entirely dependent on motorized travel, but which really doesn’t have to be.

Image Credit (and header): Bike Trailer Blog

Examples of Retail & Commercial Services by Bike

It doesn’t come as too much of surprise that the majority of great examples of retail and commercial bike services that I was able to find information about are from Portland, OR, as Portland is fortunate to have the great site Bike Portland, which has great articles about everything related to bikes in and around that city. Nonetheless, cities around the United States and the rest of the world have plenty of great examples, as well. Below, I have listed a number of links to stories and websites about retail and commercial services by bike that I was able to find. But as always, let us know if you have heard of others!

• Mobile bike shop: The North Portland Mobile Bike shop will make house calls by bike to help you with repairs.
• SoupCycle: This mobile business is on the cusp of bike delivery and retail and commercial services by bike, but it deserves mention here because SoupCycle is focused around making delicious, organic soups, which are always delivered by bicycle.
• Bicycle hearse: Yes, you can even be taken to internment by bicycle!
• Trash hauling by bike: Pedal People, a company in Massachusetts, collects and delivers trash for their municipality.
• Tree planting by bike: This might be more of a land service by bike, but since I just discovered it, this tree planting by bicycle effort deserves mention.
• Bikevertising in Tucson: Businesses in Tucson, AZ, are embracing advertising by bike.
• Cargo bike businesses: Treehugger has a great, long list of tons of retail and commercial services by bike. Check it out!

Cycling Service

I recently wrote a post about cycling as statement, where I explored the definition of utility, and hence, utility cycling. Basically, what it boils down to is accomplishing a goal or service by bicycle that has some sort of meaningful impact or purpose (and is not sport or recreational in nature). This definition provides for a lot of wiggle room and possibilities, so part of the challenge has been to list all of the different possible activities that could be considered utility cycling. Providing services by bicycle are certainly one major category, but since the idea of service is so vast, the challenge was to figure out all of the different types. When we refer to cycling services, we are thinking of activities that are done by bicycle, which provide people with some thing from food to policing to rescue to trash pick-up to mapping and much more. The main types of service that we have identified thus far are:

• Retail and Commercial Service
• Emergency and Patrol Service
• Land Service

As always, if we have missed something, please do let us know!

Bicycle Land Service

As far as land service is concerned, it is a somewhat vague category, to be perfectly honest. If you do a Google search for the term land service, you get everything from real estate agencies, to engineering firms, to development companies, to insurance agencies. Ok, so what is land? The good old Wikipedia tells us that land is the terrestrial part of the Earth that is not covered by water. It also refers to property, countries, regions, places, landforms, etc. Land service appears to be a catchall term for anything to do with land and a variety of services. So if we take our idea of cycling service and tack it on to the big-bad word “land”, you get something that is a service accomplished by bicycle that has something to do – pretty directly – with land (and all its definitions).

Image Credit: Google

Types of Bicycle Land Service

Thus far, we have identified the following types of bicycle land services, which all have something to do with land in some capacity or another and are definitely accomplished via bicycle.

• Trailwork: Trail users such as mountain bikers are often proponents of trail work (which includes both building and maintenance), and the bicycle is often used to transport tools and equipment to different sections of trail where work is being done.
• Bike Patrol: Bike patrol groups assist in a variety of activities from emergency response to teaching trail users about etiquette to trail work.
• Mapping: There are numerous mapping opportunities that can be done via bicycle. Perhaps the most notable is the current Google Maps effort to add a Bike There feature, and much of the mapping and route finding is being done via bicycle.
• Land Survey: The bicycle is a useful vehicle in urban environments for land survey in addition to the mapping mentioned above. One major example as of late, which is tied pretty directly to bicycle mapping, is Google’s new Street View mapping trike.
• Research/ Testing Equipment: The bicycle can also be used to transport research equipment for various purposes (such asacademic research beingconducted byfinancially limited graduate students)to remote places, or it could be used in urban environments for other sorts of testing. One example of this might be a bike count study in which the counter rides to his or her location by bicycle carrying his or her research equipment (in this case, a spreadsheet, perhaps).

Image Credit: IMBA

Some of the bicycle land services that we have identified are very closely related to recreational cycling. Specifically, I am thinking of trailwork and bike patrol, which are activities done to improve or support the recreational riding experience, in many cases. Nonetheless, someone who volunteers to do trailwork or bike patrol is indeed a sort of utility cyclist, as they are accomplishing specific goals while riding their bikes, even if it is in support of recreational riding. And truth be told, many people may be hybrids – not just utility cyclists or sport or recreational cyclists, but a mixture of types.

As always, please let us know what we have missed in these categories. We look forward to hearing from you.

The purpose of the series was to explore the ways in which bicycles can be utilized by emergency, fire, and police professionals in a wide range of settings. One of the main conclusions drawn from the series was that bicycles can be more effective than walking or driving in certain types of emergency situations, as a bicycle can navigate spaces which a motorized vehicle cannot and often at greater speeds than a person on foot. Oftentimes, officers or medical professionals on bikes are viewed as being more approachable than those in vehicles. Additionally, another theme throughout the posts was the notion of the heightened awareness and sensory perception that a police officer, EMS professional, search and rescue professional, or firefighter is awarded when using a bicycle. In short, the series highlighted both the importance and potential for using bicycles in this area of service.

Unfortunately, I was not able to find very much information about the use of bicycles for fire service. But I was pretty excited to discover a link this morning a link on Copenhagenize to an article on the BBC Scotland’s new website titled Saddling up to promote fire safety. It appears that the use of bicycles for fire service is growing and expanding!

Image Credit: BBC Scotland

According to the article, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, there is a new project being piloted in which firefighters use bicycles to connect and communicate with the local community about fire safety, as well as patrol for suspicious activity or fire hazards. The project has thus far been heralded as a success, in part due to the fact that the firefighters on bicycle duty are “off-rota”, which means there is no possibility for them to have to respond to an emergency, so they can focus on the task at hand.

On-duty bicycle fire officers focus on spotting fire hazards, such as trash dumped in parking lots that might be set on fire by local kids, and anything else that might cause a fire or injury. The officers also stop to chat with people at industrial complexes, on the streets, and around town, as many people are curious to find out what they are up to. According to one of the officers, David Buich:

When they see us out on the bikes they are usually curious and come up to ask what we are doing. That gives us an opportunity to talk to them about fire safety. (from BBC article).

The officers have also started make specific visit with the local community to talk about fire hazards and generally to make the idea of “fire service more accessible.” The bicycle officers speak at local community centers, as well as make specific home visits to help people clear up any fire hazards in their homes. There is also an effort being made to work towards a more friendly relationship with local youth in order to prevent arson and attacks on fire crews. And not surprisingly, as our series on the different kinds of patrol and emergency bike services demonstrated, the bicycle fire officers are much more accessible and approachable than they might be in a fire truck, which encourages people to view them in a more positive light, as well as connect with them on a more personal level.

Image Credit: BBC Scotland

Given the current success of this story, I am optimistic that using bicycles for fire service, as well as the other emergency and patrol service applications, could continue to expand. Much like the idea of using a bicycle to deliver packages is cost efficient, environmentally friendly, and good for business, so too is the bicycle for many other kinds of cycling services. I hope to see many more in the future!