The UPS e-bike in action.
(Photos by Mark Gamba for Truck Trike)

Global package delivery juggernaut UPS has chosen Portland to debut its first electric-assist trike in the U.S.

In a statement released today, UPS said, “The deployment of the eBike is part of UPS’s ongoing commitment to reduce carbon emissions as city populations and e-commerce grow, and traffic, noise and air quality challenges continue to rise.”

Using trikes and other small, pedal-powered vehicles to deliver cargo in dense urban areas is relatively common in Europe. The European Cyclists’ Federation (an EU-funded non-profit) says 25 percent of all goods could potentially be delivered bicycles. That number rises to 50 percent when just considering lightweight cargo.
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Remember the story we published back in November about UPS hiring bike delivery riders in the Oregon area?

Since then, the riders have undergone training and now they’re out on the road helping UPS keep up with holiday shipping.

Paul Lopez of PacificPedaling.com caught up with one of the riders, Tina Brubaker. Here’s a great video he shot of her in action on her route in the Salem/Keizer area:[Read more…]