Rider / Member-Owner — Job Spec
Role: Self-Employed Cargo Bike Courier & Cooperative Member
Location: Bristol
Type: Self-employed, member-owner (not an employee role)
About Pedal Collective
Pedal Collective is a worker-owned cargo bike courier cooperative based in Bristol. Our members are self-employed couriers who are also member-owners of the business. There are no managers or supervisors; we share responsibility for running the organisation, looking after customers, finding and delivering work, maintaining our bikes and equipment, and handling the day-to-day jobs that keep things moving.
What the Role Involves
Collecting and delivering goods by cargo bike across Bristol, safely and reliably, in all weather conditions
Communicating directly with customers, handling enquiries and resolving issues without a manager to escalate to
Carrying out basic maintenance on your cargo bike and equipment, and flagging or fixing problems as they arise
Taking on a share of the cooperative's non-delivery work: admin, answering enquiries, workshop upkeep, onboarding, or whatever else needs doing
Managing your own time, workload and priorities across a working day with no fixed instructions from above
Participating in cooperative decision-making as a member-owner, including occasional meetings and votes on how the business is run
Supporting fellow members and stepping in where needed, since the cooperative's smooth running depends on everyone pulling their weight
What We're Looking For
Comfortable cycling for long periods and carrying loads, in all conditions
Self-reliant and organised: able to plan your own day and stay accountable without supervision
Proactive: you notice what needs doing and get on with it, rather than waiting to be told
Practical: comfortable troubleshooting problems on the road with limited tools or support
Good with customers and confident handling situations independently
Willing to contribute to the less glamorous side of running a cooperative, not just the riding
Genuinely interested in the cooperative model and comfortable with shared ownership and shared responsibility
Some experience of self-employment is useful but not essential, provided you understand what it involves
Working Hours & Holiday
We work Monday to Friday. Hours vary from day to day depending on workload, so flexibility is important. All members are paid for holiday, but as this is a self-employed role, holiday is agreed collectively by the team during member meetings rather than booked through a manager.
Pay & Structure
As a member-owner, you are paid from the revenue you generate, net of the cooperative's running costs. We share workload evenly, so pay per rider is equal. We've found this to be very important for keeping the cooperative functioning as a genuine team rather than a group of people competing for the same jobs. It means members are motivated to support each other, share information about work and problems openly, and prioritise the cooperative's overall success rather than protecting their own patch. Because resources and costs are shared across the cooperative, individual overheads are generally lower than they would be working entirely alone.
Probationary Period
All new members join on a 3-month probationary period. During this time, you'll be supported to get up to speed with the role and the cooperative, and both you and the other members will have the chance to confirm it's a good fit before full membership is confirmed.
Before You Apply
This is not a conventional employed courier role. There is no manager organising your day, no fixed schedule handed to you, and success depends on how well you manage yourself and contribute to the wider cooperative. Full membership follows a 3-month probationary period. Please make sure you're comfortable with this model before applying.
we're open to job shares. if that's something you want, pleas eget in touch to dicuss. two members covering one role will have resposibility for ensuring all working days are covered.
Here's the full job spec with a note on job shares added to the Working Hours & Holiday section:
Rider / Member-Owner — Job Spec
Role: Self-Employed Cargo Bike Courier & Cooperative Member
Location: Bristol
Type: Self-employed, member-owner (not an employee role)
About Pedal Collective
Pedal Collective is a worker-owned cargo bike courier cooperative based in Bristol. Our members are self-employed couriers who are also member-owners of the business. There are no managers or supervisors; we share responsibility for running the organisation, looking after customers, finding and delivering work, maintaining our bikes and equipment, and handling the day-to-day jobs that keep things moving.
What the Role Involves
Collecting and delivering goods by cargo bike across Bristol, safely and reliably, in all weather conditions
Communicating directly with customers, handling enquiries and resolving issues without a manager to escalate to
Carrying out basic maintenance on your cargo bike and equipment, and flagging or fixing problems as they arise
Taking on a share of the cooperative's non-delivery work: admin, answering enquiries, workshop upkeep, onboarding, or whatever else needs doing
Managing your own time, workload and priorities across a working day with no fixed instructions from above
Participating in cooperative decision-making as a member-owner, including occasional meetings and votes on how the business is run
Supporting fellow members and stepping in where needed, since the cooperative's smooth running depends on everyone pulling their weight
What We're Looking For
Comfortable cycling for long periods and carrying loads, in all conditions
Self-reliant and organised: able to plan your own day and stay accountable without supervision
Proactive: you notice what needs doing and get on with it, rather than waiting to be told
Practical: comfortable troubleshooting problems on the road with limited tools or support
Good with customers and confident handling situations independently
Willing to contribute to the less glamorous side of running a cooperative, not just the riding
Genuinely interested in the cooperative model and comfortable with shared ownership and shared responsibility
Some experience of self-employment is useful but not essential, provided you understand what it involves
Working Hours & Holiday
We work Monday to Friday. Hours vary from day to day depending on workload, so flexibility is important. All members are paid for holiday, but as this is a self-employed role, holiday is agreed collectively by the team during member meetings rather than booked through a manager.
We're open to job shares. If that's something you're interested in, please get in touch to discuss. Two members covering one role will be jointly responsible for ensuring all working days are covered.
Pay & Structure
As a member-owner, you are paid from the revenue you generate, net of the cooperative's running costs. We share workload evenly, so pay per rider is equal. We've found this to be very important for keeping the cooperative functioning as a genuine team rather than a group of people competing for the same jobs. It means members are motivated to support each other, share information about work and problems openly, and prioritise the cooperative's overall success rather than protecting their own patch. Because resources and costs are shared across the cooperative, individual overheads are generally lower than they would be working entirely alone.
Probationary Period
All new members join on a 3-month probationary period. During this time, you'll be supported to get up to speed with the role and the cooperative, and both you and the other members will have the chance to confirm it's a good fit before full membership is confirmed.
Before You Apply
This is not a conventional employed courier role. There is no manager organising your day, no fixed schedule handed to you, and success depends on how well you manage yourself and contribute to the wider cooperative. Full membership follows a 3-month probationary period. Please make sure you're comfortable with this model before applying.