Local bicycle delivery services roll into high gear due to COVID-19 pandemic
As most people are at home and choose delivery options on food and everything else, messenger at Maritime Bicycle Courier is working at the front line of the coronavirus pandemic in Long Beach.
Tagquiped and Bud Abilles are both former competitive cyclists, and they launched a local delivery service in 2014, but slowly corporate delivery services drove away their business.
Even after facing hard competition, their business kept on rolling—Maritime Bicycle Courier partners with nearly 30 restaurants and businesses across the city.
"It's very important to us as a Long Beach-based business that we keep our money in Long Beach," said Ryan Hughes, co-owner of The 4th Horseman.
The 4th Horseman is the exclusive partner for Maritime Bicycle Courier for deliveries. Hughes said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, around 70% of orders placed at The 4th Horseman consist of deliveries.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the local delivery services had increased its workforce by 33%.
I'm grateful," Tagquiped said. "It's a weird blessing that the community basically has brought us back up and shown us support."
If you want to support local businesses in Long Beach, visit the Maritime Bicycle Courier website.