{"id":1768,"date":"2025-09-15T13:52:04","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T17:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdr.coopcarbone.coop\/etude-de-cas\/cargo-bike-pallet-delivery-case-study\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T16:25:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T21:25:37","slug":"cargo-bike-pallet-delivery-case-study","status":"publish","type":"etude-de-cas","link":"https:\/\/cdr.coopcarbone.coop\/en\/etude-de-cas\/cargo-bike-pallet-delivery-case-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Cargo Bike Pallet Delivery \u2013 Case Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Pilot project<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1 cargo bike for every 10 trucks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Delivering pallets by bicycle is possible under certain conditions <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\n
\"\"<\/span>
\n
\n

Project description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014up 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.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The objective of the three-week test conducted in October 2024 was to validate the feasibility of bicycle deliveries under real-world conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

“It didn\u2019t raise any internal concerns; I was excited about this project. The couriers were curious.”

\u2014 Marie-Jos\u00e9e Vanasse, President of Courrier Plus<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Results and learnings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Weight and distance limits<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Doorstep delivery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Access to bike lanes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The pallet trailer is wide and may not fit on a two-way bike lane. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Destination information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Difficulty in reliably identifying recipients suitable for bicycle delivery, that is, those without a loading dock. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Pallet standardization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lack of pallet standardization, which makes transport capacity more variable when using a trailer designed for European-standard pallets. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\n