Delivering pallets by bicycle is possible under certain conditions
Many businesses regularly receive pallets rather than parcels. This pilot project was launched to test pallet delivery by bicycle in areas where truck or van traffic and parking are difficult: pedestrian streets, congested thoroughfares, narrow streets, etc.
Project description
The 2024 pilot project tested pallet delivery by bicycle with Montreal merchants, allowing the identification of conditions favorable to this practice.
The project partners are Courrier Plus, acting as the pallet shipper, and La Roue Libre, providing the bicycle delivery service. Coop Carbone identified which deliveries could be carried out by bicycle—up to a maximum of two pallets per shipment. Beyond this volume, the economic viability of bicycle delivery decreases. The targeted delivery areas were those near the Courrier Plus warehouse in Hochelaga, as well as the Colibri Iberville service point on the Plateau-Mont-Royal.
The objective of the three-week test conducted in October 2024 was to validate the feasibility of bicycle deliveries under real-world conditions.
“It didn’t raise any internal concerns; I was excited about this project. The couriers were curious.”
— Marie-Josée Vanasse, President of Courrier Plus
Results and learnings
Weight and distance limits
Bicycles are suitable for deliveries of up to 400 lbs within a 3 km radius of the collection point, for businesses receiving doorstep deliveries, construction sites, or festivals.
Doorstep delivery
Bicycles are not suitable if the business has a loading dock (for example, a supermarket), as the bike would require a dedicated ramp to align with the receiving area.
Challenges
Access to bike lanes
The pallet trailer is wide and may not fit on a two-way bike lane.
Destination information
Difficulty in reliably identifying recipients suitable for bicycle delivery, that is, those without a loading dock.
Pallet standardization
Lack of pallet standardization, which makes transport capacity more variable when using a trailer designed for European-standard pallets.
This pilot project was made possible thanks to the collaboration of:
Coop Carbone
Project Lead
Courrier Plus
Partner
La roue libre
Partner
PME-MTL
Financial support
Desjardins
Financial support
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