Evri customers in Oxford faced two-week delays for parcels after the courier giant’s e-cargo bike delivery partner unexpectedly ceased trading, leaving packages stranded at depots across the city.
Pedal and Post, which had been operating for 14 years, shut down without notice after losing a significant client earlier this year. The firm handled deliveries within Oxford’s Clean Air Zone on behalf of Evri before its sudden collapse forced the courier to rapidly restructure operations.
The company’s chief executive Christopher Benton confirmed around 60 workers, including both employees and self-employed contractors, lost their positions as a result of the closure. The workforce faced redundancy when the e-cargo bike firm, which also operated in London, ceased trading entirely.
Carol Leonard, a Grandpont resident in Oxford, experienced significant disruption when several packages she ordered in late January failed to arrive. The parcels, containing specialist cat food and litter, sat undelivered at a depot despite being marked for dispatch.
Leonard’s items eventually arrived on 10 February, two weeks after she had placed her orders. Evri contacted the Oxford resident directly to apologise for the inconvenience she experienced during the disruption caused by Pedal and Post’s unexpected shutdown.
The sudden closure left packages stranded across Oxford as Evri scrambled to implement alternative delivery arrangements. The courier giant expressed disappointment at learning its e-cargo bike partner had shut down without warning, acknowledging this created temporary problems for local customers.
An Evri spokesperson pointed to the company’s overall performance, stating: “We successfully deliver more than 900 million parcels each year, with industry-leading on-time delivery rates.” The firm confirmed it had swiftly restructured delivery operations in the affected area.
“We have quickly re-organised deliveries in the area, and our local team are working hard to resume normal service,” the spokesperson added. Evri confirmed Leonard’s parcel had been successfully delivered following their conversation with her.
Speaking to Zag Daily, Benton reflected on the challenges of maintaining ethical employment standards in an industry dominated by self-employment. “Lower operating costs of cargo bikes really helped enable this to be able to pay better,” he stated.
Pedal and Post specialized in e-cargo bike deliveries designed to operate within clean air zones where traditional delivery vehicles face restrictions or charges. The firm’s business model attempted to balance environmental sustainability with better employment conditions for delivery workers.
However, the loss of a major client proved insurmountable for the 14-year-old company despite the operational advantages e-cargo bikes offered in urban delivery markets. The firm operated in both Oxford and London before closing down entirely.
Evri now manages Oxford deliveries through alternative arrangements following the partnership’s collapse. The courier firm has not disclosed whether it plans to establish new e-cargo bike partnerships or if traditional delivery methods will permanently replace the environmentally-friendly option within the city’s Clean Air Zone.
The reorganization process continues as Evri’s local teams work to restore delivery schedules to pre-disruption timelines for Oxford customers. The company has not provided a specific timeframe for when normal service levels will be fully re-established across the affected area.
