Bike Couriers and the City ‘Mess’: Ciclo-logistica e corrieri in bicicletta, a Milano = Bike Couriers and the City 'Mess': Cycle logistics and bike couriers in Milan

Cycle logistics (the delivery of material goods operated by couriers using cargo bikes) is a unique resource and a strategic perspective to reduce the negative impacts of motorized traffic in urban and metropolitan areas. Starting from the analysis of bike couriers and messengers’ subculture, this paper investigates the activities of UBM (the most important cycle logistics company in Milan), with a particular focus on the ‘lockdown’ phase determined by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Finally, the paper points out the relevant specific knowledge that bike couriers could provide to rethinking our cities’ mobility in the future: a more inclusive and antifragile cycling mobility.