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Pedal Post

By Christina Bramsnæs

In town and country and in all kinds of weather they have been pedalling with up to 30 kilos of mail in their bag. The story about the bicycling postmen is told in the museum’s new travelling exhibition
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Postman on a Bicycle

Always on the lookout for quicker ways to deliver the mail the postal services all over Europe were at an early stage aware of the possibilities of the curious means of transport, the bicycle, which saw the light of day in 1817 when the German Karl Drais von Sauerbronn presented his running machine on two wheels, the dandy horse. Shortly afterwards, the British postal service introduced dandy horses on some selected routes. However, the arrangement was soon discontinued as it entailed far too heavy expenses for resoling of the postmen’s shoes. The dandy horse was without pedals and was therefore to be pushed into motion by feet. In 1869, the Danish postal service tried out a velocipede – an early bicycle model with pedals on the front wheel – but it was considered too unsafe for the purpose.

On Unpaved Roads …

During the 19th century inventors and manufacturers made the bicycle safer and more applicable. Eventually, the classic model with the low front wheel, inflatable tyres, chain, and pedals was developed. The Safety Bicycle soon became popular in all stratums of the population, and the postal service reappraised it, at first for use in the rural districts. From 1894, village postmen were allowed to use a bicycle in the service; that is if they procured it at their own expense. In 1894 the price of a bicycle was equivalent to 8 months’ salary for a village postman who earned DKK 0.20 per hour. Nevertheless many postmen did procure their own bicycle as they often had the job as a supplement to their other incomes as smallholders or craftsmen. On bicycle they could get through their route faster and get on with their other daily tasks.

… and on Bumpy Cobble Stones

The post bicycle made its entry in the towns from 1898 when in Copenhagen bicycles were introduced for delivery of express mail and from 1902 for collection and delivery of letters. In the capital the bicycle was paid for by the postal service. As it was still an expensive investment, it was accompanied by detailed instructions about proper use and treatment. In "Instructions for the Use of the Bicycle" of 1902 a postman is requested "(…) as far as possible to avoid riding across stones, road metal, sharp objects, holes, and hollows; and to take, anywhere possible, the cleanest and smoothest section of the road. Such riding should be observed in order to protect the bicycle against bumps by which one or another part may easily be damaged." It is stated that by such care the postman is protecting not only the bicycle, but also himself as it is easier and more comfortable to ride a well-kept bicycle.

Bicycle Duty

In 1919, the village postmen became public servants with an eight hour day. To avoid an increase in the postal service’s expenditure the village postmen were from 1921 in duty bound to use a bicycle for work. The bicycle was now made available by the postal service. The time saved by bicycling meant that some routes could be united.

Sit Straight

To the postal service the bicycling postmen were not only a practical and time-saving arrangement, but also a means to show itself to the surrounding world as a modern and efficient institution. Being some of the most visible representatives of the postal service the bicycling postmen were expected to acquit themselves well on the street scene. In the standing orders of the sorting office in Copenhagen of 1942 is stipulated: "Please always remember that the uniform you are wearing puts you under an obligation to be particularly punctilious. Keep it nice and tidy. You are moving on roads and streets where people are noticing you. Nothing looks uglier than a postman hanging over the handlebars of his bicycle, pedalling with the arch of his foot. Sit straight and easy on the bicycle so as to demonstrate that you are an energetic young man. In that way you are a good advertisement for the service you belong to and where you will be earning your living in future."

With an Engine

In the 1950’s some village postmen started to use motorbikes instead of bicycles. However, when in 1960 the postal service took the initiative in motorizing the rural mail routes, it was the van that replaced the bicycle. The vans were often introduced on a route when a bicycling village postman retired. Usually three bicycle routes could be combined into two van routes. By replacing the bicycle with a van the village postman could go further to collect the mail, get around in a wider district, and deliver more mail in a day. And parcels were no problem anymore.

Whereas the bicycling postmen have disappeared from the rural districts long ago, short distances and impossible parking conditions for cars in the towns make sure that they will continue as a well-known leaven on the street scene also in future.



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