Cargo bike courier firm closes after 14 years

An environmentally friendly courier service based in Oxford has closed down after 14 years.

Pedal & Post said it was with the "heaviest of hearts" that it shared the news that its "journey has come to an end".

In a statement on its social media, the firm said it had been forced to close its sites in Oxford and London after losing a "major client" earlier this year.

The company had previously provided its bike-based courier service to groups including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.

"Despite exploring every possible avenue to continue - and truly exhausting all options - we have reached the point where we can no longer sustain the business," the firm said.

It thanked "everyone... who believed in what we were trying to achieve", including "clients, partners, riders, staff, and the wider community".

The company, which was based on Osney Mead industrial estate, used cargo bikes to deliver its parcels rather than by van.

It said it had shown cargo bike deliveries were "not just possible, but practical, sustainable, and better for cities".

"Over 14 years, we've helped remove countless vans from urban roads, reduced emissions, and shown that a people-powered delivery model can deliver excellent service while putting cities first," it added.

On the Facebook post announcing the closure, customers and clients voiced their disappointment at the closure.

The Oxford-based campaign group Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel said it was "sorry to see" the firm close.

"You have been a bright feature of the Oxford streetscape for more than a decade, and we have enjoyed following and supporting your progress," the group said, addressing Pedal & Post.

"We hope that other cycle-based logistics firms will rise to take the space that you have created."

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