Smartphone data from riders and drivers schlepping meals for restaurant-to-home courier service Deliveroo shows that bicycles are faster than cars. In towns and cities, bicyclists are also often faster than motorized two-wheelers.

Key findings

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Frank, Deliveroo's routing algorithm, has used millions of actual journeys to calculate the relative speeds of the self-employed couriers in cars, or on their scooters and bicycles. “In some areas over a given period, the average travel time can be far shorter for cyclists than for scooters,” said Deliveroo in an email.

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Deliveroo’s scooter and car couriers face calculations of their own – they have to figure out the best places to park, especially when picking up from town center locations. Circling to find a free parking space adds precious time; time that cyclists use to pedal to their destinations.

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