Gastronomy

Pizza delivery without traffic for a Piotrkowska restaurant

A small pizzeria had a problem with delivery times during rush hour. They rented 3 bikes for couriers for 4 months. Delivery time dropped by 11 minutes, and fuel costs vanished completely.

–11 min per delivery
ClientPizzeria U Romana
IndustryGastronomy
TimelineMay–August 2024

Pizzeria U Romana is a small but crowded spot on Łódź's Piotrkowska. Their biggest enemy wasn't competition, but the traffic jams at the Mickiewicza and Kościuszki intersection that blocked couriers every Friday evening.

Long-term rentalUrban logisticsCity CardŁódź Downtown

The challenge

During peak hours, between 4:30 PM and 7:15 PM, the average delivery time for a pizza within a 3-kilometer radius was as much as 48 minutes. Delivery cars stood still, and couriers lost their nerves looking for a free parking spot under tenement houses.

In May 2024, Roman recorded 19 order returns because the food arrived cold. Fuel costs for the old Seicento rose, and the margin on a single order melted with every kilometer spent in traffic.

Our approach

We met with the owner on Monday morning to calmly calculate the costs. Instead of buying his own bikes, Roman decided to rent 3 units from our Cryptoreporter fleet on a subscription model.

We trained 4 delivery drivers on how to use our app and showed them how to quickly plug bikes into our 47 stations in Łódź. We set up the system so couriers could unlock a bike with one city card in 8 seconds and hit the road without filling out papers.

The solution

We delivered 3 city bikes with solid front racks, which we adapted for stable mounting of large thermal bags. Couriers got unlimited rides for a fixed monthly fee, allowing Roman to precisely plan logistics expenses.

We used our station network – the courier didn't have to return to the restaurant with the same bike. He could leave it at the station closest to the customer and take another one on the way back, saving time on returns.

Results

Switching to two wheels saved the restaurant's online reviews. Couriers now bypass the biggest blockages using bike paths and shortcuts through courtyards that car drivers can only dream of.

-11 min
average delivery time
0 PLN
fuel expenses
22%
more weekend orders
430 PLN
monthly savings on car

Timeline

  1. 12 May 2024
    First meeting on Piotrkowska and analysis of courier routes.
  2. 21 May 2024
    Mounting bag holders and start of field tests.
  3. 15 June 2024
    Full transition to bike deliveries during 4-8 PM.
  4. 30 August 2024
    Season summary and contract extension for another 6 months.

"I was afraid the guys wouldn't want to pedal, but when they saw they weren't stuck in traffic on Mickiewicza, they took the bikes themselves. Pizzas arrive hot, and I have 430 PLN more in my pocket every month just on fuel."

Roman Stępień Owner, Pizzeria U Romana September 2024