HardyWeinberg

Oh I was picturing an autonomous mini parking in the middle of my block, honking its horn, and all the neighbors come running for packages as if for the ice cream truck.

I could picture an autonomous mini driving into an external port for an apartment building that is an elevator and discharging packages at each floor as it goes up. Maybe at the top it would get ejected to the roof, unfurl rotors, and helicopter back home for more.

skidder

Plenty of examples from continental Europe above, but bicycle/e-bike deliveries also happens in the United Kingdom in the more crowded cities. In some of the outlying areas (farm and ranch areas, small towns) they even use small motorbikes for package deliveries - think motorcycles with 150cc-200cc engines. I've got a cousin that runs the family farm in Northern Ireland, and he got a delivery of medicine for his cows delivered by Fed-Ex on a Fed-Ex-branded motorbike one morning while I was there.

Small package delivery by bicycle/small motorbike was also common in some South American cities when I used to travel down there in the 1990s. I saw it while traveling in Buenos Aries, Mendoza (Argentina), Santiago, Quito, Monteviedo (Uruguay). Anybody been there lately who can verify if its still happening?

fietsbob

Portland still crushes a few Bike riders under the wheels of delivery heavy goods Trucks every Year ..

CrankyOne

Just saw this and thought it appropriate.

Jobs ? E5 Bakehouse

noglider 

Bike delivery looks like one of the worst jobs out there. As I mentioned, I see a lot. Lately, a lot of restaurants are empty but are doing heavy business, mostly by delivery. Those guys are tough, and they don't look happy. I haven't seen any food delivery women yet; they're all men. They go out in all weather, including with a foot of snow on the ground.

CrankyOne

The Hard Men of NYC! I remember Andy Hampsten making a comment about NYC bike messengers during winter snow & wind. Very thankful for them when dinner arrives.

CrankyOne

Depends a lot on the environment too. Much less enjoyable in NYC than Amsterdam?

They can also significantly reduce the number of HGV's on the streets which I'm very grateful for.

noglider 

Yes. I guess I have a funny position on it. I think it's good for the city, but it's a tough job that I wouldn't want to do.

CrankyOne

:-)

Where's Mike Rowe when we need him?

Long list of jobs that are good for us, our communities, society, our country, and the world... That I'd not want to do. Fortunately there are people out there who choose to do them.

fietsbob

Pianos and Mattresses and New Furnature By Bike ?

noglider 

Well put, @CrankyOne. Where are you?

CrankyOne

Kind of depends on the month... MN, NYC, FL, UK, NL. TZ apparently now added to the annual migration.