DHL Express has introduced ‘Cubicycle’ in Netherlands, which is a urban delivery service with cargo bikes.

Cubicycle will use quadracycle for the deliveries which has a removable container with a cargo capacity of one cubic metre.

First use of the vehicle has been done in the city of Almere.

Use of bicycle is expected to increase the volume of the deliveries and will be better integrated into the express delivery firm's operational systems.

Flevobike has manufactured the Cubicycles in Dronten.

The recumbent bicycles offer reclining position and speed along with electric power assistance which can facilitate faster acceleration from a starting position.

DHL Express Netherlands vice president of operations Kees de Lange said: "The Cubicycle is comfortable to ride and is surprisingly agile with a tight turning circle.

"Despite the large container, the bike fits perfectly on bike lanes. The height of the bike has been tailored so that other riders can see over it unhindered. This is a key distinguishing factor of the Cubicycle compared to other existing high volume bicycles."

The container to be transported through the cargo cycles is preloaded in an operational facility of the firm. It is then delivered at a predefined location near the city centre from where the bike starts its route.

Dimensions of the container coordinate with that of a standard shipping pallet, which assists its integration in to the firm's standardised shipment handling process.

Cubicycle containers offer increased cargo space than other DHL services like Parcycle (parcel transportation cycle) and the one which carries parcels in a backpack on a standard bicycle.

The service is expected to transport 125 kg of shipments on an average ride with the courier to cycle around 50km per day.

This new service launched in Netherlands by the firm is in line with the Deutsche Post DHL Group's environmental protection program GoGreen.