E-bike subscription platform Whizz gives away free helmets to delivery drivers in New York

Whizz, an e-bike subscription platform for last mile delivery drivers, has launched a ‘Ride Safe’ initiative to provide 100 free helmets each month to riders in New York.

Anyone with an active delivery service account can claim a free helmet.

With a growing number of riders on New York’s busy streets, traffic related deaths among cyclists have risen by 8%, according to Whizz, while accidents involving delivery workers are growing at an alarming rate.

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Of the 150,000 couriers working in the city, 62% have been involved in a motor vehicle collision at least once.

Some 30% have missed work due to work related injuries in the last year and, with many operating as independent contractors, even a few days off the roads can be crippling financially.

Whizz claims that most retailers don’t provide their drivers with vital safety gear. Which is why it has launched the Ride Safe initiative. The startup is also calling on the market to join in in an effort to provide adequate equipment to every rider that serves the industry.

To take part, drivers should fill in the form on Whizz’s website. They can then collect their helmets from one of the company’s locations in Manhattan or Brooklyn by showing an active delivery driver account and ID.

“Rain, shine, or snow — there’s always a delivery driver on hand to get our orders to us within the hour. Offering instant delivery, keeping small businesses afloat, and serving those with limited mobility — they’re among the unsung heroes of our workforce. Yet, they’re too often underappreciated,” says Ksenia Proka, Co-founder and CPO at Whizz.

“So much so that they’re not even provided with important safety equipment, despite the frequent crashes that occur on our city streets. More than half of delivery drivers in New York have been involved in an accident in the past year and collisions continue to rise. We feel a responsibility to make sure our clients are safe.”

“We’ve already handed out the first batch of helmets and most drivers couldn’t believe they were free — but they truly are. This is not a marketing campaign, the helmets aren’t branded and you don’t have to be a Whizz client to claim one,” says Mike Peregudov, co-founder and CEO at Whizz.

“This isn’t about profit or recognition. It’s about making sure every delivery driver on the streets of New York is safe. However, we cannot protect them all ourselves and will need the wider industry to join us in providing vital safety equipment to those that keep the sector moving forward.”

“We would love for every company in this space to take part in this initiative. Together, we can ensure delivery drivers everywhere feel safe while doing their job.”

Funding round

Whizz recently raised $3.4 million from Joint Journey, TMT Investments and a group of angel investors in a seed round of funding.

This brings its total fundraising to date to $4.5 million.

The cash will be used to fuel the company’s growth; upgrade the Whizz Automation Platform, its ERP system for business process automation; and set up new locations in New York equipped with lounge zones, bike maintenance and repair stations, and overnight storage facilities.