Electric Delivery Bikes Roll Into NYC

Urban mobility specialist Tern is teaming up with Dutch-X to deliver goods to retail customers in New York.

Dutch-X, a New York-based delivery service provider,  recently acquired a fleet of Tern electric cargo bikes to help make greener and more efficient deliveries. Dutch-X makes more than 3 million deliveries per year and has paired Tern's electric cargo bikes with an existing fleet of Carla Cargo trailers, which carry up to 150 kg (330 lb). This modular solution carries plenty of bulky cargo such as the extra-large grocery containers of their main client, Whole Foods—but is still easy to maneuver in inner-city traffic.

Sustainability Matters Again 

Dutch-X says 40% of RFP requirements were related to sustainability. 

Sustainability took a backseat during the height of the pandemic. According to HT’s 2020 Customer Engagement Technology Survey, few were focused on recycling and environmental sustainability in 2020, but operators cannot and should not forget the importance of the environment to their guests and to the overall future of the hospitality industry.   Other restaurants are touting their Earth-friendly commitments. Just Salad will expand its Reusable Bowl Program to digital orders and offer participating customers loyalty rewards in its mobile app. KFC has gone all in on sustainable packaging.  Taco Bell is partnering with TerraCycle to tackle recycle its sauce packets. In April, Chipotle announced a 51% waste diversion rate through recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy programs. 

Delivery cargo bikes and trailers have received special permission from New York City to park in commercial loading zones. Cargo bicycles are able to park and unload much closer to the delivery address, saving time searching for parking and shortening the distance a delivery person needs to walk to the delivery address.