Harvard Book Store Delivers by Bike

Local patrons who order from the Harvard Book Store will now be brought their purchases by bicycle instead of truck, due to a recently-created “Green Delivery Service.”

The two-week-old program is the result of a partnership with the Somerville-based Metro Pedal Power (MetroPed), a company that uses pedal-powered, three-wheeled vehicles to provide “eco-friendly pick-up and delivery services” to businesses and universities throughout the Boston area, according to its Web site.

The service guarantees same- or next-day delivery for in-stock orders to Cambridge and parts of Somerville and Allston, and one-to-three day delivery to other areas in Boston.

Heather L. Gain, marketing manager for Harvard Book Store, says that the partnership stemmed from the store’s effort to provide innovative services to the community.

“We’re now able to provide faster delivery service, drop prices considerably, and have zero emissions,” Gain said.

Deliveries—via MetroPed or otherwise—require a $5 flat fee plus $1 for each additional book, a rate reduced to make ordering books from home “more accessible,” Gain said.

MetroPed owner Wenzday Jane said that from a customer’s vantage point, the delivery process remains exactly the same as using a traditional service. Every afternoon, a MetroPed “driver” stops at Harvard Book Store to pick up the orders—packed in repurposed shipping materials—and brings them to patrons.

Jane said that the three-wheeled vehicles have a capacity of 650 pounds and are equipped with power assist to avoid getting stuck in snow banks.

“We ride in all weather,” she said.

Thirty green deliveries have already been made to individual residences, offices, and businesses since the partnership began, Gain said, adding that the response to the program has been positive.

“Cambridge is a very green-oriented community, so there has been an interest in Harvard Book Store to have greener practices,” Gain said.

“I support it,” said Justin S. Ross, a Somerville resident and Harvard Book Store patron. “It sounds like an experiment, but one worth trying.”

—Staff writer Liyun Jin can be reached at ljin@fas.harvard.edu.