Nocar Cargo is a bike-powered delivery company. One of its main clients is Peoples Coffee, a coffee roaster and café supplier. Find out how bike powers this delivery service.
Peoples Coffee’s cycling journey began in 2010, when they signed up as a sponsor of Go By Bike Day, providing good coffee to participants. Jesse reports:
We’ve been involved every year since then and it has always inspired us to see so many people from all walks of life jump on a bike in support of our environment.
Every year, (…) the amount of coffee we've needed to supply has increased and we see that as a pretty strong indicator that the idea is resonating with people more and more.
Approximately 40% of People’s staff now cycle to work.
Peoples coffee at Go By Bike Day on Wellington's Queens Wharf
I never have to search for parks, I never get parking tickets, and I get to keep fit during the work day!
I cycle to work, to client meetings, events etc. I've found that it is such a great way to get around the city quickly. I never have to search for parks, I never get parking tickets, and I get to keep fit during the work day! Because Peoples is an environmentally driven business I think biking to work makes a lot of sense to us - our staff are all passionate about protecting the environment so supporting biking to work through initiatives like Go By Bike Day is just a natural extension of our values.
In June 2015, one of People’s barista’s, Russell Silverwood, left Peoples to start his bicycle delivery business 'Nocar Cargo', which he hoped would lead the way:
...providing a practical, emission-free alternative that doesn’t waste time looking for parks, would travel at safe speeds and could give high fives.
In the first 6 months Russell and Nocar Cargo delivered 1157 kilograms of Peoples Coffee, emission free!
Nocar Cargo deliver to client in Wellington Central
Starting in June 2015, Nocar Cargo was built from a desire to contribute positively to Wellington’s cityscape. Inspired by the everyday use of cargo bikes overseas and seeing an increasing focus on ethical business locally, Russell sought to create a courier service that offered Wellington businesses a sustainable option for local deliveries.
Nocar’s first clients were a handful of businesses that employed sustainable practices in other areas of their operation. So, they appreciated the value of a local, low-carbon courier who could extend those best practises to their customers.
Peoples Coffee were the first customer, providing support and advice while getting up and ru… cycling (!). Since 2015, Nocar has delivered over 2000 Peoples Coffee parcels, ranging from 10-250kg, which would otherwise be delivered by van!
Russell Silverwood
Cycling contributes hugely to my overall wellbeing.
From a childhood of family day trips mountain biking on trails around Wellington, and memories of Big Coast overnight rides, cycling lost favour through Russell’s teenage years. So, what got him back on the bike?
It was the purchase of an 80’s BMX bike at 20, (…) and it quickly became a solution to daily transport around Wellington. This bike sustained me for the next 2 years, travelling with me to Sydney and Melbourne. Travelling further afield, a cycle tour in Cuba and then a year in Amsterdam cemented cycling as the most enjoyable, practical and fulfilling means of transport.
Cycling contributes hugely to my overall well-being. Through riding and repairing bikes and now running a business, bikes and cycling have positively impacted many aspects of my life and continuously inform an appreciation of how we can live better in today’s world.
Cycle journey beginning: 2010
The spark that started the fire: Go By Bike Day(external link)
Staff @ Peoples who now cycle to work: 40%
Key focus: Environment
Start-up: 2015
Inspiration: The everyday use of cargo bikes overseas
Man behind the mastery: Russell Silverwood
