Jennifer Mastalerz Bennett Compost Philadelphia, Penn.

1. PHILADELPHIA, PA

2. HI! I’M JEN
2010-2013
2011- Present
2014 - 2016
2014 – 2016 2016 - Present

3. PROS AND CONS
PROS:
- Less emissions
- Great marketing
- Can maneuver more easily around city traffic
- Built in exercise!
- During good weather, very pleasant work
- Great example for next generation
- Easy to create community around bikes
- Less mistakes on the route vs truck drivers
CONS:
- A little less efficient (cost for business) than trucks
- With having both vehicles & bikes, always competition
- More risk
- Have to have built in back-ups for weather issues
- Harder to find employees

4. BIKE TYPES

5. PROS:
- Light weight, easy to get on and off sidewalks
- Low maintenance
- Double kickstand – K EY
- Affordable. Bike around $300
CONS:
- Hauled about 200lbs max
- Limited on distance due to no elec assist (1 mile max)
- No extra storage on bike
- Even with double kickstand, full load on trailer would cause bike to
tip over occasionally
- Cross bar in middle doesn’t allow for each step through
BIKE TYPES…FEATURES
SCHWINN HYBRID

6. PROS:
- Electric Assist
- Weight of trailer doesn’t throw off
balance
- Can haul up 500lbs on trailer and
additional 300 on the front
- Lots of storage space for bike pump,
extra bins/buckets
- Easily seen (sometimes)
- It’s different (in this country) and
people ask questions
- Disc brakes (had to be replaced once)
CONS:
- High Maintenance
- Broken spokes on back wheel
- Battery issues due to being
exposed to ALL weather
- Harder to handle issues if they
happen on route
- Expensive
- $8,000 purchase price
- Each battery $500 (we have 2)
- Had to rebuild front wheels to
accommodate weight
BIKE TYPES…FEATURES
NIHOLA FLEX TRICYCLE

7. BIKE TYPES…FEATURES
NIHOLA FLEX TRICYCLE
Can be used for other tasks
Easy resting position

8. BIKE TYPES…FEATURES
NIHOLA FLEX TRICYCLE

9. BIKE TYPES…FEATURES
NIHOLA FLEX TRICYCLE
- Bar Mits – life changing in the winter
- Cell phone holder (currently
upgrated to one with built in battery
pack and plastic cover)
- Drink Holders (also hold hand
sanitizer, keys, snacks)

10. TRAILER
BIKES AT WORK
64AD Bicycle Trailer (also have a 64AW which holds ½
weight)
Holds 4-8 Plastic Rubbermaid totes – 600lbs max
Dual Wheels
Added plywood floor
Lightweight, low maintenance. Great customer service.
Parts easy to order from manufacturer or get at local
hardware store
$1,250 new

11. RISKS
Make sure equipment is insured under personal property policy
Be seen. Lights, reflective apparel and stickers on equipment.
Flags.
Early start time – Less cars vs less light.

12. SAFETY
Biker safety training. Proper signaling.
Helmets always
Allow extra time for biker to find routes
they feel safe on
Reflective apparel
Balance of being on the road and
demanding respect from cars but also not
trying to retaliate when a driver doesn’t
pay you that respect

13. HAULING, ROUTE PLANNING, CONTAINERS
• Found transfer hubs in each neighborhood
we work in. School, community garden(s),
bike shop. Pay rent to some, barter w/
some
• Total daily route (between 150 and 200
stops) divided into legs of between 40 and
60 stops. Empty and reload at transfer
locations.
• Containers get picked up at each hub at the
end of the day by another vehicle and taken
back to our home base (3-5 miles) Some
days the biker is responsible, some not
30 miles
27 miles

14. HAULING, ROUTE PLANNING, CONTAINERS

15. COMPENSATION
• Started in July 2017 @ $15/hr
• Currently full time employee, 75% of time
riding
• Makes $17/hr w/ health insurance, 2 weeks
PTO