27 February 2012

Dear Mr. Postman

Copenhagen Bikehaven by Mellbin - Bike Cycle Bicycle - 2012 - 3804
The Royal Danish Mail uses bikes for delivery in all larger cities in Denmark. The postmen are easily recognisable with their red uniforms, yellow bikes and Royal insignia. For 7 years while at High School and University I used to deliver mail in Copenhagen myself.
Copenhagen Bikehaven by Mellbin - Bike Cycle Bicycle - 2011 - 3799

The postal bikes today are far better than the large and sturdy frames I used back then. A smaller front wheel helps ensure a stable and safer ride. Also the Post now uses cargo bikes - some of them with electric assist motors.
Copenhagen Bikehaven by Mellbin 2012 - 3313

Riding in shorts was a no-go back then. Every summer we would complain about having to endure the summer heat while running up and down the stair cases - typically 5 floors 50 times a day. Today there are official uniform shorts available.
Copenhagen Bikehaven by Mellbin - Bike Cycle Bicycle - 2011 - 3748

And of course - like most of the other postmen - I used to bike to the Post Office at 6am every morning.
Copenhagen Bikehaven by Mellbin 2011 - 1323
Happy cycling!

8 comments:

Erik Griswold said...

The USA's idea of "Green Transport":


http://ecology.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/USPS_T3_e-575.jpg


From this article.

lrunejensen said...

Yeah! What a lot of nice memories come to me from my time as employee in PostDanmark. Most of the time I worked only in summer - where I delivered mail on bike in a large area with summer vacation houses (Marielyst). To get to the area I had to bike 5 km - so when I arrived I was warm :-)

If I had been partying the night before - it was a looong day.

What a nice blog this is - Congrats!

steelschwinnster said...

What happens in the winter with snow and rain? It would certainly curtail hidding out in mail trucks.

steelschwinnster said...

What happens in the winter with rain and snow?

Anonymous said...

what happens in the winter with rain and snow?
steelschwinnster

bbbbb said...

What happens ? I guess they continue business as usual ,why would they not ?

Franz-Michael S. Mellbin said...

@steelschwinnster: 5b is right. Rain or Snow - the Mail must Go!

Anonymous said...

This makes me sad I am a postal worker in Canada and instead of bikes they are making us use trucks next year.Talk about going backwards.