Amazon Expands Manhattan Cargo Bike Fleet Past 300 as It Pilots Deliveries in Washington
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 19
Amazon Expands Manhattan Cargo Bike Fleet Past 300 as It Pilots Deliveries in Washington
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 19
Amazon now has more than 300 battery-powered cargo bikes making same-day deliveries in Manhattan after a recent expansion, and it has launched a pilot in Washington, D.C.
The four-wheeled bikes are aimed at dense urban routes where vans struggle to park; Amazon says they are more efficient on some routes and significantly cheaper to operate.
Each bike carries more than 100 parcels in an enclosed rear container, though it typically takes two trips to match roughly the number of deliveries handled by one van.
The bikes have become common in parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, and Amazon said it plans additional U.S. city pilots later this year, signaling the model could spread beyond New York.
Can Amazon's e-bike productivity gains truly outweigh the massive investment required for a national network of urban micro-hubs?
What is Amazon's plan for ethically recycling the thousands of lithium-ion batteries that will power its expanding global e-bike fleet?
As Amazon's e-bikes flood city streets, what new infrastructure and regulations are required to ensure public safety and prevent traffic chaos?