Zippy Delivery covers downtown area on bicycle
By Lisa Haarlander
Mike Rizzo, owner of Zippy Delivery, is on the job in downtown Buffalo.
With a satchel over his shoulder and bike helmet in hand, Michael Rizzo waits in the lobby of Gresens & Gillen as lawyers put the finishing touches on a document. A minute later, Rizzo runs out the door, jumps on his bicycle and gets the papers to the courthouse before closing.
Speed and reliability are what Rizzo has built Zippy Delivery around, a bicycle messenger service now in its second year.
"This is a very trust-oriented job," he said. "It could cost them money or a case."
Rizzo's company is a one-man operation. He carries his office on his back in the form of a cell phone and Dell Pocket PC. For $8, Zippy Delivery will take a document or package anywhere in the downtown Buffalo area between the waterfront and North Street.
Gresens & Gillen has used Zippy Delivery since Rizzo started the company in February 2001.
"His service is impeccable," said Faith Carberry, office manager. "We use him almost on a daily basis. We used to send our own employees, but he's saving us time, money and creating more efficiencies."
Bike messenger services are most common in congested East Coast cities, such as New York.
"It's a dangerous way to go," said Bill Goodman, executive director of the New York State Messenger & Courier Association. "There's accidents continually, but they reach places that motorized or ordinary foot messengers find difficult to get to quickly."
No separate information is available for bike messengers, but overall the courier business is down 20 percent to 25 percent so far this year, Goodman said.
"It's been declining steadily since 9/11, but only in the last six months has it shown such sharp drop offs," he said.
At work is a tough economy where companies are looking for ways to save money. Many are increasingly using technology that allows them to send documents and images using e-mail and the Internet.
"When the faxes came out, everyone said the messenger industry was dead," Goodman said. "That didn't happen. E-mail has taken its toll on the industry, but messengers aren't going anywhere."
Lawyers often want documents hand delivered, and architects need plans that cannot be sent electronically. The number of jobs varies, but Rizzo estimates he rides 30 miles to 40 miles a day on his one-speed bike.
"Because of the amount of snow and slush, I don't need it getting all my gears jammed up, but it mades pedaling tougher," Rizzo said.
Zippy Delivery has weathered feet of snow, blizzards, 90-plus degree summer days and 50 mph winds.
"The past two months have been brutal," he said. "They've been the coldest in the two years I've been doing it."
And the worst place to make a delivery is the Federal Building on Huron Street because of the metal detectors and tight security.
Rizzo does not yet make enough money to support himself (his wife works full-time). Zippy Delivery is turning a small profit, he said, and business is up 50 percent over last year. He's found direct mailings and word of mouth are the best ways to recruit new customers. Rizzo is now adding new services, such as legal research. If the company grows large enough, Rizzo would like to get an office and hire bike messengers.
"There are days when I wonder what more I can be doing to grow the business," Rizzo said. "Then there are other days when I'm pedaling like crazy and wondering when I can hire some help. It's just been a crazy roller coaster ride."
e-mail: lhaarlander@buffnews.com