Physiological and biomechanical workload profile in the sector of bicycle-based express delivery services

Status:

ongoing 02/2026

Aims:

Express delivery services employing bicycle riders have become an established feature of goods and food delivery and represent a growing alternative to the use of conventional vehicles for deliveries in urban areas. A recent survey conducted in Milan (Italy) revealed the following breakdown by form of vehicle type. 47.4%: pedelecs/e-bikes; 41%: conventional bicycles; 9%: motor scooters; 2.6%: other vehicles. The use of a non-motorised vehicle (pedelec or conventional bicycle) may be associated with additional physiological load on the rider which has not yet been adequately documented. Ergonomic studies have already been conducted on related occupational groups that use conventional bicycles in their daily work; examples include bicycle couriers and postal delivery workers. However, previous studies have generally been limited to recording general stress parameters such as the heart rate, and metabolic equivalents derived indirectly from them. In contrast, the sports science literature describes measurement methods more specific to cycling and load parameters that can also be applied to the occupational group of delivery workers. These enable factors such as mechanical work, mechanical power and muscle oxygen saturation to be recorded continuously during daily work, on the vehicle or on the delivery workers themselves, in addition to the global parameters referred to above.

From 2024 to 2026, the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the DGUV (IFA) conducted an interdisciplinary field study commissioned by the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions for the trade and distribution industry (BGHW) and transport industry, postal logistics and telecommunications (BG Verkehr). The sub-project described here focuses on the physiological stresses associated with the use of conventional bicycles and pedelecs for goods and food delivery.

Activities/Methods:

The measurement-based physiological load profile for the occupational group of express delivery riders was compiled for the subgroups of conventional cyclists (n=6) and pedelec riders (n=14) from the following parameters: mechanical power, mechanical work, working heart rate, heart rate variability, muscle oxygen saturation, total haemoglobin, cadence and core body temperature. Furthermore, general activity parameters such as speed, distances travelled, elevation gaom and information on periods of stress and recovery were recorded. The recordings of all parameters, which were synchronised, were obtained with the use of commercial measurement systems such as a power meter, a heart rate chest strap with temperature sensor and a near-infrared spectroscope in combination with a GNSS multisport watch.

The stress arising was classified based on the energy expenditure and working heart rate. The energy expenditure during work was calculated from the mechanical work measured through a pedal-based power meter and an assumed gross efficiency of 18%. The working heart rate was determined as the increase caused by work over the resting heart rate. The resting heart rate was determined by a 30-minute rest interval in a seated position prior to the start of the work.

Results:

During riding, express delivery service riders on conventional bicycles exhibited a mean energy expenditure during work of 23 kJ/min. By comparison, the mean energy expenditure during work for pedelec riders was only 8 kJ/min. This is consistent with the working heart rates: riders of conventional bicycles experienced a work-induced increase in the heart rate of 72 bpm, compared to 42 bpm for pedelec riders. The use of pedelecs thus resulted in low physiological exertion (<4,200 kJ/shift), whereas riders of conventional bicycles must be considered as having a high level of exertion (>6,300 kJ/shift). The use of pedelecs did not result in a statistically significant increase in the average and maximum speeds: pedelec riders rode at an average of 18 km/h and a maximum of 32 km/h, compared to 16 km/h and 30 km/h respectively for riders of conventional bicycles. Nor was a difference observed between the two groups in the ratio of riding time to working time. The proportion of riding time for pedelec riders was 49%, compared to 57% for conventional bicycle riders. The use of pedelecs did not result in increased productivity; both groups were able to complete an average of 2.2 orders per hour.

It can be summarised that occupational use of pedelecs is effective in reducing physiological load. Based on the recommendations for physiological load during whole-body work, the use of pedelecs enables the work intensity over an eight-hour shift to be reclassified from heavy to light. The use of pedelecs has no impact on productivity, as external factors such as urban traffic conditions or food preparation times appear to be a greater factor in this context.

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