250 letters all in a day's work for pedal postie

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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WHEN Robert Scott needed a job he decided to get on his bike – literally.

That's because Mr Scott runs Plymouth's only cycle courier business.


Mr Scott does have four part-time cyclists who work for him, collecting the mail from clients, but he's the one who's mainly out pounding the streets.

"I deal with about 250 letters on an average day," he said.

Mr Scott began as a cycle courier working for the firm's original owner Ken Holder, who launched it in 2008.

Three years ago Mr Holder decided to sell up, and his employee bought the business.

"Before this I didn't know what I wanted to do," Mr Scott said. "I had studied IT at City College Plymouth, but I had always been cycling.

"The first couple of weeks after I took over it was hard – and it's still hard. That's because of the volume of mail, which has gone up."

City Cycle Couriers now has more than 70 clients, mostly professional firms such as accountants, estate agents, lawyers and GPs.

He only covers the PL1, PL2 and PL4 areas of Plymouth – but that's a huge amount of the city for one person.

He said the attraction is that his deliveries are cheaper than using Royal Mail and "more eco-friendly".

Firms pay him per item dispatched, and at the end of the month Mr Scott invoices them.

His typical day sees him hitting the streets on his trusty Trek hybrid cycle, delivering from 7.30am until about 2.30pm, when he does admin and waits for his part-timers to bring in the next collection.

Mr Scott then sorts that mail for delivery the next morning.

He often doesn't end work until about 7.30pm.

In addition to his delivery income, Mr Scott is a walking billboard, being sponsored by firms including lubricant maker GT85, sport nutritionist High 5, Schwable tyres, cycle clothing designer Shred, the Devon Coffee Company, and The Bike Cellar in Plymstock.

Mr Scott said the Business Centre is ideal for him, being a mere five minutes' ride from the city centre.

"And it's got somewhere I can keep my bike," he said. "Plus there's a good atmosphere in here."

However, when Mr Scott finishes work he leaves the centre and heads home to Staddiscombe – after jumping in his car.

"I'm on the bike eight hours a day," he said. "So I drive home."