Waterway and E-Bike Last Mile Delivery Service Planned in NY

DutchX, a New York-based logistics firm, has partnered with e-bike company Fernhay to solve a unique delivery problem in New York. The service will operate across both water and roads using waterway ferries and e-bike couriers.

"We are thrilled to be pioneering this ground-breaking delivery model with Fernhay to change the future of last-mile deliveries. With years of industry experience, we are familiar with the challenges of last-mile deliveries. Shifting deliveries from the roadways to waterways can spark positive change for our clients, our community, and the environment," says Marcus Hoed, co-founder of DutchX.

On the water

The approach involves ferrying packages from warehouses outside the city to Manhattan via existing NY Waterway ferries. Once they reach Manhattan's shores, bike couriers will take parcel to complete the delivery.

New York City's unique geography boasts more linear feet of shoreline than any other city globally. This makes it an ideal testing ground for this pioneering delivery method.

DutchX has seen substantial interest from clients eager to embrace this innovative delivery solution, demonstrating the growing appetite for sustainable and efficient last-mile delivery options.

E-bikes taking the lead

This endeavor builds upon the success of the city’s commercial cargo bike pilot program launched by the transport department in 2019. Cargo-bike deliveries have witnessed a meteoric rise across the city over the last four years..

In 2022, cargo bikes completed over 130,000 trips, delivering an impressive five million packages. According to the NYC’s transport department, this achievement also substantially reduced over 650,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, underscoring the effectiveness of cargo bikes as a sustainable last-mile delivery mode.

Upgrades incoming

It’s evident cargo bikes work for last-mile delivery in the city.

The transport department recently proposed using larger pedal-assisted cargo bikes within the city. This move is expected to make last-mile deliveries even safer and more sustainable.

The proposed changes would allow cargo bikes to be up to 48 inches (122 cm) wide and equipped with up to four wheels, making them more adept at carrying heavy loads and easier to maneuver. Current regulations limit cargo bike width to 36 inches (91 cm) and prohibit a fourth wheel.

The department’s commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez highlights the potential benefits, and says,"Greater use of cargo bikes will bring incredible environmental and safety benefits for New York City by reducing the number of large, high-polluting trucks on our streets.

The case of Vok Bikes

Vok Bikes, an e-bike company founded by former engineering students in 2019, is patiently awaiting regulations to change in the city. They developed heavy-duty cargo bikes as an environmentally friendly solution to address climate change.

The department’s changes will benefit e-bike startups like Vok Bikes.