I've been cycling forever.
Since the age of 5, I’ve loved it. It's always been my chosen way to get around rather than driving or on public transport and now it’s my livelihood.
I had been thinking about setting up an e-cargo bike delivery service for quite some time, toying with the idea for a few years before the pandemic and I couldn’t get it out of my head.
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When I hit 50, I thought it’s now or never, because I’d just get too comfortable - be too afraid to give up a steady income and pension. I put together a business plan, and with the support of my wife, we decided to go for it and set up Velo-City Deliveries.
I wish I’d done it sooner to be honest, but the technology I needed to match my vision for the business also didn’t fully exist until that moment, so it all just seemed to come together at the right time.
Running Velo-City allows me to build a business around my life and around my son.
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Before, I was leaving the house at 6am and wasn't back until after 6pm, and I just felt I wanted to be more involved in my family, taking my eight-year-old son Daniel to school in the morning and be an active member of his life - taking him to after school activities and being a part of the parental network that I never thought I would enjoy but I really do.
The business is growing slowly and steadily, and I have some really brilliant, forward-thinking clients.
I deliver fine wine and expensive whiskies, delicate flowers and artworks, medicines and sensitive electronic equipment, I can pretty much deliver anything although I draw the line at wedding cakes - for now at least.
All it takes is a little bit more thought and a change of your approach to logistics, which we’re here to help with.
With big changes coming to Glasgow like low emissions zones and traffic-controlled areas, the small changes needed to use our deliveries will be nothing compared to the benefit.
I can deliver a maximum load of 100kg, which is equivalent to 85 bottles of wine or a giant Panda bear or a baby elephant.
I’ve not actually transported any animals yet, but hey, you never know. If a veterinary centre needs my help, I’ll be there.
We’re now six months post-COP 26 and it would be great to see more businesses in our city adopt a sustainable approach to deliveries.
In terms of my well being - emotional, mental health as well as physical health - everything is so much better now, immeasurably better.
I also feel proud that I’m trying to make a difference, taking responsibility, not just for myself, but showing that there is another way of delivering goods which has a positive impact on our environment.
There's always a way, you know? If we can talk, we can find a way.
For more information on Velo-City Deliveries head to their Facebook page.
