Almost polo mallets

Soon we'll be playing

Faster than a speeding bullet

We let you catch a glimpse of our need steed "The 8 Freight" some months ago and since then, as you can see, she's undergone some modifications.

We had a box made by a chap called Lars who makes some truly amazing things out of aluminium, he set to work using top grade thin wall aluminium usually used to make fancy bits for custom motorbikes. Lars is a real perfectionist to spent plenty of time getting the box perfect. It's not square, if you look carefully it's very cleverly curved to fit in the frame.

After we had the box back we had to make the inside usable to we've hung some movable baskets and fitted it with a tool kit, first aid kit and all that sort of stuff. After undergoing some fettling to ensure there were the minimum of rattles we sent her to have some vinyl applied.

And now 8 Freight is ready to roll!

We can take loads of around 75kgs, up to 100 every now and then.. and that doesn't include the rider. Barely shoulder width we can average 20mph all day (the cargo bikes appear to have given us some fantastic training) and shoot through the traffic.

Watch our Royal Mail...

Wedding Season

It seems that it is becoming quite the thing to leave your wedding or arrive at a prom in a Pedicab. We'll be booked right up if it keeps on going like this..

Not bikes but. .

Made a whale out my my hedge today. The sun was shining and i had a beer in hand. Roll on summer!

Hereford bike week

Click the image to Zoom

Busy sunny days!

Well done luke, working like a trooper.

Bike Polo 2 - wanted.. old ski poles!

So.. it's all hotting up on the bike polo side of things, it's just that nothing can happen until we have some mallets.

And the best way, so I'm told, is to make them out of gas pipe and ski poles.

Any body know where we can get old ski poles?

Bike Polo

Oh yes.....

Coming soon....

Have a gander at this, it'll give you an idea.

Should be a nice excuse for drinking some beer in the sun, come on Summer!

Pedi Keetch

We've been up to plenty recently, here's a picture we had with Paul Keetch (local MP) on Monday, Tom and Luke moved his office for him last week. Sadly Tom couldn't make the shoot so I jumped in. The story is here - Keetch Story and will be heading to a paper near you soon I'd imagine!

Wanted Flat Screen Monitor..

In the interests of recycling and using the internet to reach out to as many people as we can.....

Is anyone throwing out a working Flat Screen Monitor? We could really do with on and we're sure that someone out there will be throwing something like that out. It doesn't have to be in great condition, it needs to be safe and work.

If you're in Hereford we'll send a bike out to pick it up and we might even make a donation..

We look forward to hearing from you!

One Year Old!

Well, who would have thought it, it’s over a year since we launched the Pedicabs in to Hereford! And what a year it’s been!

April was amazing- we picked up the bikes, got them licensed and launched!- April

May- we took our 1000th customer - May

June- was even more amazing – Luke and Adelaide started working for us and we were involved in a Police chase of all things - June we also started having our first chats about running a cargo service.

July- Dazzler started riding for us, a legend in his own time. Ben and I also picked our way through flood water to Bath to pick up our cargo backs - July

August- We launched the trial Pedicargo service and the bikes started to go out with just the lease riders on them. August

September- I met with Hereford’s Director of Environment and discussed the future of how we would work with the Council. Pedicargo started to gain some extra customers. September

October- Pedicargo officially launched, we did plenty of weddings, were on Radio 2 and helped launched a new cycle path in Hereford.
October

November- We started to think about recycling for businesses, I grew a beard, my brother dressed as a spaceman, we got the first advertising on the bike, took the dame to the pantomime, completed the length of the country in distance of deliveries. It was a year since the first idea.
November

December – Christmas party! December

January- We put the finishing touches to the campaign to Launch recycling and had some really exciting talks with some very important people! January

February – We delivered our 10’000th item of cargo, took on two new riders, ran a trial recycling scheme and took delivery of a new bike! February

March – Trade waste recycling started, we took delivery of a new bike and we doubled the size of our depot- March

April-

We became a year old! And many other things, we’ve been in some really exciting talks recently with the Local Authority and the NHS. Our recycling programme has been such a success that Luke has started riding for us 3 days a week just on recycling. We take tonnes of paper, cardboard and plastic each week from local businesses.

We have 7 riders now and have delivered over 14’000 items of Cargo since August. Our Pedicabs are still going strong and survived the winter, literally 1000’s of people have used them now (over 10 thousand), with hundreds stepping aboard each weekend.

We’ve saved 1000’s of miles worth of emissions and enabled the general public and business to have access to affordable and accessible sustainable green travel and logistics solutions.

So I guess you could say that it has been an interesting year. We think so. The thing is that we only feel like we’ve just got going. This time next year who knows where we will be…

Thanks for all of your support, we can’t wait to see what happens next!

Will, Ben, Ad, Luke, Daz, Matt and Tom

Test

Tea

Time to get bigger

We have finally grown a little bigger than our shipping container.. so today things changed!
Good old Bulmers came up trumps again and have given us a slightly older, little worn container, nothing a lick of paint wont fix..
So, looks like we'll have space for the office again!
Just got to decide on what colour to paint them now..

Trade waste recycling, here we go

We started yesterday,

Everybody has been very good.

Sorted the things in to the right bags and boxes, filled in waste transfer notes, and now we are recycling which is great!

It's hard work, but good work

Nice Box

It's been a couple of week since we posted any news, we've been very busy. Ironic that, the busier we get the less we tell you.

Anyway, lots of work going on this end, the recycling scheme is now very close to launching, companies have been placed on a scheme, have been issued bags for paper and plastic and await their first pick ups the week after next!

As soon as it's up and running we'll then recruit new customer on to the programme, it looks, all things going well, that we'll be able to take Luke on a few more days a week which will be great.

We've also been in lots of interesting meetings which are shaping the way we will provide our service and more importantly how Hereford will address its responsibilities to be green. So all good!

You may remember from a couple of post ago that we have a new type of bike... well.... it's having a cargo box made, out of aluminium, by a friend of Hereford Pedicabs - Lars - The Great Dane - Jones - so far it's looking pretty swanky:

Our new riders are getting on well, Matt has his first night next Friday and T-Bone had a great time last week so things are shaping up. We've got lots in the pipeline and will tell you when we can, in the mean time, have a great weekend and jump on a pedicab if you see one!

Will

10'000 Items of Cargo!

This week has been amazing, we've met big companies who want to use us and we've got lots of little companies who want us to recycle their waste but the best bit of the whole week has to be item 10'000 for the Council!

Pictured are Mark and Sue from Blueschool House, who passed me the 10'000th item! They got a box of chocolates and a handshake in return. Brilliant stuff.

Lots of exciting things happening at the moment, funny how all things happen at once! We also took on two new riders last week, Matt (in the picture below) and Tom, who from this moment forward will be known as P-Unit and T-Bone..

The recycling scheme looks to be a winner with almost 100 pre launch companies on board, cargo is booming and we have new riders for summer, things are looking up!

Good news travels fast!

It's been a great week so far, Ben has been working with me as he has time off for half term (he's a lecturer).

Together we have hit almost all of the shops and businesses in town about recycling, next week we go out to pick the bags up, it's going to be very interesting seeing how many people come on to the scheme.

In other news I think I might have mentioned that we went through 9000 items freight the other day and for the Council alone have travelled over the distance of Land's End to John O Groats. Well the press got hold of this and we'll be in a few papers and on the radio a bit this week!

Good news travels fast!

Recycling Starts

We are running free trials to local businesses at the moment, today we picked up the first lot. Out of 55 businesses we approached, 30 are going to become customers!

It's nice providing new services, and making them accessible and affordable.

Just the rest of the town to do!

A new bike arrives..

So as you will all know we're launching some new things at the moment. Recycling is being pushed to businesses in February and then we'll launch in March for official weekly collection.

What that does mean, is that it looks like the trikes that carry big cargo loads will be used for recycling more than anything else. So we needed to find a solution, a dedicated cargo bike, quick, light and British. We've been shopping around for ages and been speaking to lots of other courier and cargo companies. The guys at outspoken delivery pointed us to a chap called Mike Burrows. He made a bike once ridden by Chris Boardman in the Olympics.

So after much chatting, thinking, deliberating, tea drinking, chatting and tea drinking, we parted with some hard earned profit and purchased an 8 Freight! :

Before it hits the street for the company we'll have to do a few bits, have a box made and some vinyls, I guess all you guys need to know is that it's a little ripper!

Next Venture ....

\Truly remarkable...

Launch of Recycling Scheme very soon...

Hereford Pedicargo Launch Inner City Recycling Scheme!

Since the launch of Pedicargo in August we have moved over 8000 items of freight and clocked up 1000's of emission free miles, our new goal is to make recycling affordable and accessible to all local businesses. In Hereford it’s really hard to recycle trade waste, in fact a lot of trade waste goes to landfill. We want to start with businesses close to town and then expand.

If you are a business close to town we can offer the following solution:

Recycling of waste paper - £1 per 15kg bag (supplied by Hereford Pedicargo)
Secure shredding and recycling - £1 per 15kg bag (supplied by Hereford Pedicargo)
Recycling of cardboard and newspaper - £5 per cage/pro rata
Recycling of plastic films - £1 per bag (supplied by Hereford Pedicargo)
Free recycling of ink cartridges if you are using our recycling schemes

Orange Council waste bags cost £1.14 each, go to landfill and are set to rise in price, we are cheaper for your business and better for the environment.

Throughout February we're asking businesses to get in touch who might be keen on being involved in our scheme. We'll come and have a chat and drop a free collection bag and questionnaire to you. Then when we have a good idea of demand we will launch officially in March.

If you think we can be of help feel free to email or give me a call - 07718320195

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers that might help you with any initial queries.

I hope this has been of interest to you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Will Vaughan
Rider and Director
Hereford Pedicabs and Cargo

FAQ's

What counts as waste paper?

Mixed Paper
Plain White Paper
Coloured Paper
Stationary
Cream and White Card
Printed Paper
Magazines
Brochures
White Envelopes Windowed/Non Widowed
Paper based product thin enough to tear
Staples in paper are ok

What can’t I put in with the waste paper?

Metal – paper clips, binders
Newspapers
Brown envelopes
Grey Card
Cardboard

How does the paper get collected?

We deliver paper sacks, we pick them up weekly and charge you monthly.

What counts as Carboard and Newspaper?

Corrugated Cardboard
Grey Card
Brown Paper
Brown Envelopes
Newspaper
Telephone Directories

How does the cardboard get collected?

Collected Bundles – Cost - £5 per full bike cage/pro rata cost – picked up weekly - Invoiced monthly

What counts as Plastic Film?

Polythene film
See through plastic film of all colours
Bubble wrap
Cellophane
See through plastic packaging

How does the plastic film get collected?

We deliver plastic sacks, we pick them up weekly and charge you monthly.

What can I Secure Shred?

Mixed Paper
Plain White Paper
Coloured Paper
Stationary
Cream and White Card
Printed Paper
White Envelopes Windowed/Non Windowed
Paper based product thin enough to tear
Staples in paper ok

What can’t I Secure Shred?

Metal – paper clips, binders
Newspapers
Brown envelopes
Grey Card
Cardboard

How does the Secure Shredding get collected?

We deliver paper sacks, we pick them up weekly and charge you monthly.

Are we close enough to town to use your scheme?

A good guide is the Council Mini Map , if you are on it, there's a good chance we can help you out - http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/docs/Hfd_Mini_map_07_(copyright).pdf

What are your rates for moving freight and how far do you go?

See the map in the last question!

And here are our rates!:

Size of load:
· Small (up to an A4 Box or equivalent) - £4.00

· Medium (up to 3 x A4 boxes or equivalent) - £6.00

· Large (up to 6 x A4 boxes or equivalent) - £8.00

· Larger loads (up to 250kgs) - See contract work

Extra charges:

· Urgent delivery (Within 2 hours, often much quicker!) / Timed delivery - £2.00

Specialist Services:

· Contract work - £25.00/hour pro rata

· Multi-drop - from £2.00 per drop
· Local post considered for £2.00 per drop
· Signed on receipt service if required
· Email confirmation of delivery if required

If you have a large amount of parcels going to one or more places on a particular day, we’ll charge whatever is cheaper to you. Either the individual cost per item, or a shared cost of ‘Contract Work’ for the vehicle.

Around the world on a penny farthing

This guy has been going a few years now, incredible journey. Well worth a read.

Hill Training Days

Even pedicab riders need to get training! Today I went with good friends of Hfd Pedicabs, Rob and Chris for a run in the Brecon Beacons.

The wind was gusting and the rain was slamming but we made good time up and down the hills, here's a wet Rob and I on the top of Pen y fan, Chris's dog Izzy is in the foreground, she's a better runner than any of us.

Almost time to launch the recycling scheme

It's been a little while coming, but that's because we've had so much stuff to sort out for it.

We are licensed waste carriers now (bin men) and just have a couple of other tiny bits to tidy up. On the 31st of January we are having some promo stuff in the Hereford Times where we are giving out a free trial of how we are going to do recycling. The whole of February is going to be about getting customers keen and onboard!

Just for now we thought you'd like to see what the whole shebang looks like..

Hit and miss

Sometimes when I'm out riding I always feel a little hit and miss with the traffic, do they see you, have they any idea how fast your going, will they indicate, are they fiddling with the radio, are the windows misted up, have they scraped the ice off the car. All that sort of stuff. Today could have been better for things like that.

Frosty morning, no one can see out of car, bright day, no one can see because of sun shining bah, if they want to hit a cyclist maybe they should try this!:HIT A CYCLIST! Post your high scores.. 944 to beat..

It must be frustrating for car drivers, they sit in this all day:


Oh well, maybe they'll use a bike a bit more this year

Rickshaw Driver Sails to France

Link to BBC website story
Seemed kind of appropriate after yesterday

Pedicargo Sailing

Today was a tough day, lots and lots of wind, lots and lots of rain. You see the thing about the pedicargo bike is that it's not that heavy but it is very big, so instead of punching through the wind it, well, it practically goes backwards.

So riding today has been a bit like sailing, diving through the built up areas when I'm heading into the wind to avoid being blown of course and then shooting back along the big open roads when the winds behind me, rain stinging my face.

I'll make a sea dog yet!

Be honest be green and have fun, it works!

Another great day at the start of what looks to be a great week for Pedicabs, Pedicargo and the yet to be named recycling scheme!

Met with the Hereford Times today who have given us some free space to promote the cargo scheme, free trials and that sort of thing, also they are looking at putting the weekly headlines on the sides of the recycling bike!

Plenty of meetings this week, most of them about recycling!

It's going to be a good year.

And if you are wondering what the photo is about, I'm making a diary of my year, one photo that sums up each day, this was todays. Nice fast riding on a cold day, lovely stuff!

Will

Great start to the year!!

Bit of a funny one this because we cant really say too much about some of the really great things that are happening to Pedicabs at the moment. They are a secret, don't panic, all will be revealed in due course, it looks like it is going to be a brilliant year!

On top of the things that we cant really tell you about it wont be long until we release our Recycling scheme, we're looking for a name for the project so feel free to post a comment if you have one. We are pretty full on with this scheme, currently we are awaiting some licensing and as soon as that's gone through we are pretty much ready to start the trial!

Businesses in Hereford will be able to embark on recycling their paper, card and plastic film with us. What's better is it will cost them less than it costs to pay the Council to take it to landfill. It's kind of why it's taking us so long to get it going, lots of things to sort out, all very exciting though!

Other new things include a proposed inter industrial estate same day postal loop, we are working on it! Also the cabs are going from strength to strength, advertising on board and sticker schemes running!

All that and it's only the 3rd. In fact 318 is the date today, that's also the number of a friend of mines house - the 318 club. We celebrated that today.

So, so far, so good, I think this is going to be our year!

Oh, before I forget, I just found out about these guys vegware shame I couldn't tell you all before all of those Christmas parties!

Will

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you from all of us!

Resolutions:

Green
Fun
Honest

Hold on tight, it's going to be an exciting one!