There’s a new bike courier in town that’s in the business of delivering goods on two wheels. While you might not be thinking about being out and about on two wheels yourself at this time of year, the owners of Bufvelo thrive on a year round business. Over the years we’ve seen some interesting bike-oriented businesses take root in the city, and as we witness more bike-friendly measures come to pass, hopefully that will have a profound impact on the number of new bike ventures that spring up.
As for Bufvelo, owners/riders Nat and Andy Rosevear recently moved to Buffalo from Boston, where they both have five years courier experience. One of the reasons that the couple moved to Buffalo was for the real estate opportunities. Upon relocating, they purchased a house that Nat says, “was the same price as renting for two and a half years in Boston.” Not only that, he says that the apartment in Boston was pretty much a tiny hovel compared to the spacious home that they purchased. It’s actually so spacious that they store 35 of their bikes in the basement, five of their cargo bikes in the garage, and they have a bike workshop off to the side of their full kitchen. The couple told me that the house wasn’t in great shape when they bought it, but when I paid a visit it looked great.
According to Andy, bike cargo delivery and messenger services are ideal in Buffalo because of the flatness of the city and the roads. While there might not be as many bike lanes and connectivity, and the cars go a little faster, she tells me that she feels that this city is prime for this type of service. It’s not that they are going to start taking phone calls and delivering a pizza on the fly. Customer must allow for a window of time if they call with an immediate request in mind. If it’s reasonable and feasible, the pair can pull off just about any delivery.
Ideally Nat and Andy are looking to hook up with people and businesses that can give them some leeway with their delivery requests. “It’s better if we are able to plan the deliveries ahead of time,” Andy says. “We want to work with bakeries, urban farms, food share programs, businesses that can anticipate when they will need deliveries to go out.”
The advantages of bike delivery can be fewer costs, speedier deliveries, being green, no parking hassles, and various other conveniences. According to the couple, the benefits that they offer to local businesses transcend everyday life. “In Buffalo, we don’t even have a car. So we have no car payments, repairs, insurance. We get to be part of the community. It’s part of a routine that is less stressful. We love riding our bikes, and we want to grow our business along with Buffalo.”
When I first met Nat and Andy, I couldn’t help but try to think of all the ways Buffalo businesses could benefit from this service. From pet stores that make daily food deliveries to press juice outfits that could make weekly drop-offs to customers, the possibilities are as open as our minds are when it comes to incorporating relatively unfamiliar and non-traditional services into our daily and weekly routines.
I am thrilled to know that Buffalo is back in the cycling delivery business. I hope that fans of the service think of ways that they can utilize the conveniences that the couple has reintroduced to Buffalo. Remember, this is a year round delivery program. Their hardiest cargo bikes can accommodate up to 300 pounds of product. As for pricing, they can work with any client to find the best rates. Their target range is five miles in radius from the Lexington Co-op, but they are willing to look at any scenario. “When people see us out on the road delivering,” stated Nat. “That’s our best form of marketing. We are seasoned bike messengers that love what we’re doing. We’re involved with the bike community on various levels.”
These are the types of grassroots businesses that we all need to support. I wish that I had a business that could utilize their offerings… I’m brainstorming ways to help them out in the meantime. Hopefully people reading this article will be able to direct them to a number of people and businesses that can incorporate their progressive delivery methods into their business operations.
In the meantime, keep a look out for Andy and Nat, and their fleet of 40 bikes as they canvas the city with their new service – Bufvelo!
We will be following the adventures of Bufvelo in coming months, as the business grows. Find Bufvelo on Facebook for additional information or to message them with an inquiry. Also bufvelo@gmail.com and 617-945-6555. See website.