Michael Egger says he can deliver anything at any time with his bike
Published in the May 27-June 9, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Michael Egger delivers anything from auto parts to food and flowers by using his bike throughout Morgan Hill and the South Valley.
Photo by Marty Cheek
In 1997, Michael Egger and his wife were driving Highway 17 when a drunken driver without a license and insurance struck him from behind. The accident killed Egger’s wife and a woman in another vehicle. After months in the hospital, Egger said he found it emotionally difficult to drive again.
“When I got better, driving was stressful and I just started riding my bike everywhere,” the 50-year-old said.
Years later, Egger has now parlayed his love for riding bicycles into a profession. His Pedal Green Delivery service allows Egger to spend his days riding his bike around Morgan Hill and as far as San Martin and Gilroy, bringing clients everything from auto parts to food to flowers. He also has attached a trailer that can carry an advertisement board. BookSmart hired him to ride around town with the bookstore’s ad.
After 10 years working and living in San Jose as a machine engineer for a food packing company, he got tired of the job and quit, which led to his knew-found career delivering items.
“I came out here for a break and decompression and staying with a family and decided I just wanted to stay here,” he said of his recent relocation to Morgan Hill. “I’ve always wanted to do a business based around bicycles and I was working with some friends and they needed me to do a few deliveries. I made them and it was something I enjoyed doing. I love riding and if I could throw that into my daily routine and make money, then I’m excited.”
He now has a broad range of clients. He delivered flowers on Mother’s Day, and recently got a call from a man in the eastern foothills whose starter on his vehicle died. Egger pedaled up the hill, took the broken starter to an auto parts store then pedaled back with the new starter.
“I’m happy to deliver anything anyone wants,” he said.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, he ended up in Seattle through the travels of what he describes himself as an “errant teenager.” After hitch-hiking to the Washington city, he found a job with a courier company making deliveries between law offices and courthouses.
“It was a lot faster pace and more dangerous,” he said. “They didn’t encourage you to break street laws but it was implied. It was how you got paid. If you wanted to make money you had to get back to the (delivery company) pen and get another delivery. This job here in Morgan Hill is more peaceful. The people are a lot less stressed and seem to enjoy life here a lot more.”
Egger said Morgan Hill is an exceptionally environmentally-minded town and residents seem conscious of preserving the planet through business activities such as Pedal Green Delivery.
“Everyone has been very supportive,” he said.
Hiring a bike messenger can save a company the hassle of making a delivery and also save employee hours for about the same amount of money it would cost to pay the employee to make the delivery, he said. Plus, it’s a more personal touch than a UPS or FedEx delivery.
His current bike, a seven speed in gears, uses a Kona frame home built from different parts he purchased on Craigslist after his original bike was stolen.
“It requires a lot less maintenance,” he said. “Plus, you rarely use more than four or five gears.” On the handlebars are two much-needed gadgets — a cellphone and a coffee cup holder.
Egger said he is currently looking into purchasing a new trailer that will enable him to increase the payload he can haul from 150 pounds to 600 pounds.
“My goal is to be able to deliver anything at anytime,” he said. “I’m really excited to be working in the Morgan Hill area. I’m happy to deliver anything. Give me a challenge.”
