Delivery service by cycle

Press, 10 February 1988, Page 8

Delivery service by cycle

Christchurch’s new cycle courier service hopes its employees will last longer than their London counterparts. The average length of time in the job for a London cycle courier is four months. “They are either badly injured or give up when they lose their nerve,” says Mr Ben Wooliscroft, the operator of the new Christchurch firm.

Mr Wooliscroft, a racing cyclist, began Spokesong this month, after becoming tired of his office job. The firm, believed to be the only one in Christchurch which uses bicycle couriers, has three cyclists and business has been steadily increasing, Mr Wooliscroft said, i He feels the bicycles will make them faster than the motor-cycle

couriers. “We have no parking problems.” Getting to know the customers, and what they really wanted, was an important part of the business, Mr Wooliscroft said. ' For Ms Virginia Buckeridge, her first job since leaving school-is “really fun.” However, inconsiderate drivers and “some really dodgy intersections” did- pose their problems.

Within the city’s four avenues, the firm promises delivery within 15 minutes and will also process documents through banks'or offices. So far the courier service has handled routine, requests, mainly for documents. More bizarre services, such as the transport of a goldfish, reported by an overseas firm, have yet to come their way.