Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Copenhagen Style

So over in Copenhagen I was inspired by the use of bikes, seeing mothers with a bunch of children in a cargo bike and seeing cargo bikes carrying loads which I guess I'd thought weren't possible. It's funny for us I think as we just don't see any other cycle couriers or anyone doing anything remotely like what we are doing. No butchers, bakers or florists delivering, no cafe's delivering coffee or sandwiches. Seems daft really, surely it'd make total sense. We certainly think there's been an increase of cycling in the last 3 years, which is a great thing and maybe as that increases other people will begin to think about what's possible with bikes. For the moment we've been taking inspiration from our friends across the fjords and pushing our bikes harder which has fitted well with a few interesting deliveries this week.
Deliveries aside now the clocks have changed and we're heading in towards April we're hitting some great weather and some not so great April shower style weather!Wet roads mean less stopping distance which means we have to be more vigilant especially on some of the junctions in our town. Every day I face this, a contraflow cycle path crossing a t-junction which is joining a one way road, todays example of horrific road terror features two vehicles crossing our right of way, one of which is turning the wrong way up a one way street. Amazing!Hoepfully we'll avoid any crazy situations!

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Powered by the wind..

Most of the time we spend on the bikes cursing the wind, we know it's pointless as it wont stop it. However recently our attitude has changed, we've whacked a wind turbine on top of the shack to help generate the power we need....

This week the wind really picked up, and what's more, our turbine started turning and even better it started generating electricity. Not much but it's a start, we'll get the positioning sorted eventually.

So this here, is the very first Amp Hour of power out turbine produced, pretty cool we think.

Friday, March 12, 2010

A letter from the Prince of Wales

So things have been really good at Hereford Pedicabs HQ recently, first of all we're busy, really busy and definitely seeing an increase in business. We've got lots of potential contracts pending and are putting into place things we've been thinking about for a long time.

One of the other amazing things that happened recently was a letter of recognition from none other that Prince Charles. He dropped us a line to say well done for all of the work we are doing to benefit the environment. Last year we won a Prince's business award for our concept and its inception, so it was great to have some further recognition.
Best of all has to be the change in the weather recently, we can definitely feel the temperature warming and the sun slipping his hat on.
I also recently had the opportunity to visit Copenhagen which was fantastic, bikes everywhere being used for everything. Piles and piles of bikes parked and being used despite the weather. It was very inspiring to soak up the atmosphere and the locationand to try a few of the local delicacies..Whilst in Copenhagen it was great to visit the chap who built one of our Cargo bikes, Hans is one half of Larry Vs Harry who make the Bulliitt bikes which we use Excellent to have the chance to speak to the guy who made the bike and talk about why he did it and his views on cargo cycles as solutions to work and infrastructure solutions, or course over there the bike is the number one form of transport so it's not strange to see huge loads balanced on bikes without a second glance from passers by.

There were plenty of other things to give us food for thought also... maybe next year!?

So all in all the last few weeks have been great, refreshing attitudes, great places and fantastic weather roll on the rest of the year!

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