Postal Service Bikes
11-30-11, 08:21 PM
#1
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Postal Service Bikes
So earlier today I went to the Post Office in Chandler and noticed as I was walking into the building in the mail truck parking area they had those old heavy duty bikes. The ones with a double top tube, small front wheel, and huge front basket.
I thought it was a little sad that they were not putting use to these ones, however I did see some complete bikes near the trucks.
I ended up inside and asked the supervisor on duty if they are going to get rid of those bikes or even sell them as I would like to take one off there hands. She told me that they can't sell them but some of them are still in use out back. I thought It was pretty awesome that they even still have them around. But as I said a bit sad that these were sitting in a graveyard. Im actually surprised no one has stolen them from the neighborhood.
You cant see in the pics but they had USPS stickers on the top tube.
Just thought you guys would like to see.
I thought it was a little sad that they were not putting use to these ones, however I did see some complete bikes near the trucks.
I ended up inside and asked the supervisor on duty if they are going to get rid of those bikes or even sell them as I would like to take one off there hands. She told me that they can't sell them but some of them are still in use out back. I thought It was pretty awesome that they even still have them around. But as I said a bit sad that these were sitting in a graveyard. Im actually surprised no one has stolen them from the neighborhood.
You cant see in the pics but they had USPS stickers on the top tube.
Just thought you guys would like to see.
11-30-11, 08:45 PM
#2
Wood
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Thanks for the pic James.
Growing up, there was one of these in the neighborhood, liberated from the coal oil plant. Great fun for us kids, no trouble hauling your buddy around.
Growing up, there was one of these in the neighborhood, liberated from the coal oil plant. Great fun for us kids, no trouble hauling your buddy around.
11-30-11, 09:10 PM
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A guy that works at the post office in my town was able to buy a surplus one and restore it. All done up in red and blue it looks pretty cool. I keep telling him he needs to get a decal made of "Mr. Zip" for the headtube.
11-30-11, 10:03 PM
#4
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I appreciate the pics James. I'd love to get my hands on one since I work for USPS. I'll have to do some checking around to see if any are available. Boy could you haul some groceries and/or beer in those baskets!
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Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride - JFK
11-30-11, 10:22 PM
#5
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Good thing the BLF (bicycle liberation front) hasn't found them, they'd be gone on the first Federal holiday.
11-30-11, 10:42 PM
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Worksman front basket bikes. Lots of warehouses bought them.
I want an RPO (Railroad Post office) car, some were set up really well, with bathroom, stove and bunks.
I want an RPO (Railroad Post office) car, some were set up really well, with bathroom, stove and bunks.
11-30-11, 11:09 PM
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Looks like you can still buy them new:
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s.../indbikes.html
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s.../indbikes.html
12-01-11, 12:32 AM
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If I recall the front basked stayed stationary when you turned the front wheel.
Definitely dangerous with a hefty load!
Definitely dangerous with a hefty load!
12-01-11, 01:29 AM
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A bit sad to see them rotting away like that. I remember these from when I was a little kid in NYC. Some of the neighborhood supermarkets used them to deliver the groceries.
12-01-11, 07:58 AM
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Great idea
Still being used in Germany?
more info on bike above: https://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4541051,00.html
Still being used in Germany?
more info on bike above: https://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4541051,00.html
12-01-11, 08:31 AM
#11
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12-01-11, 08:43 AM
#12
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I thought this post was going to be about one of Lance's old bikes 
12-01-11, 02:34 PM
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Love the old postie bikes, this one belongs to a pal and was actually for the 'cleaner' to ride around in when he cleaned the phone box's with a bucket and sponge!
[IMG]
GPO 'cleaners' bicycle 1940's by waverley610, on Flickr[/IMG]
I believe all the UK postie bikes are soon destined for Africa in some Charity scheme.
[IMG]
GPO 'cleaners' bicycle 1940's by waverley610, on Flickr[/IMG]
I believe all the UK postie bikes are soon destined for Africa in some Charity scheme.
12-01-11, 04:25 PM
#14
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You're right. Recently the company is split into an independent postal and an independent express company and now it is post.nl (previously TNT Post) and TNT Express. Notice the crown in the logo. You wouldn't find it with a German postal service.
12-01-11, 06:41 PM
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Ah I can chime in here 
I'm proud to be from one of only 3 cities left in the US to still deliver mail by bicycle.
These bikes deliver the mail to most of the downtown area of St. Petersburg. Today, bicycle mail services exist somewhat intermittently throughout many countries. In the United States, the USPS delivers mail by bike in only three places – Sun City, Arizona, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Miami Beach, Florida. According to USPS:
more info here: https://www.utilitycycling.org/2009/1...ivery-by-bike/
One of the bikes "in the wild"
USPS Mail Delivery Bike by (cobrabyte), on Flickr
At their depot:
St. Petersburg Open Air Post Office by (cobrabyte), on Flickr
I'm proud to be from one of only 3 cities left in the US to still deliver mail by bicycle.These bikes deliver the mail to most of the downtown area of St. Petersburg. Today, bicycle mail services exist somewhat intermittently throughout many countries. In the United States, the USPS delivers mail by bike in only three places – Sun City, Arizona, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Miami Beach, Florida. According to USPS:
more info here: https://www.utilitycycling.org/2009/1...ivery-by-bike/
One of the bikes "in the wild"
USPS Mail Delivery Bike by (cobrabyte), on Flickr
At their depot:
St. Petersburg Open Air Post Office by (cobrabyte), on Flickr
12-01-11, 06:44 PM
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I also met a guy in Jamaica when I was there a few weeks back that was using one of these delivery bikes to sell patties. He had the same front metal box as in the bike above; filled with beef, chicken and veggie patties. His bike had no chain or saddle and was only used as a cart up and down the beach. I havent loaded the pics yet, but this is a good reason to
12-02-11, 11:39 AM
#17
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The Danish postal service apparently still uses bikes pretty extensively; check out hot track racing action, from Copenhagenize.com:
12-02-11, 01:55 PM
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If they can turn these into racing machines, why not race postal delivery bikes? Puts a whole new spin to the US Postal racing team.
