In 1912, in Washington, D.C., the United States Postal Service (USPS) operated various methods for mail collection and delivery, including the use of bicycles. Bicycles were commonly used by postal workers for local mail pickup and delivery in urban areas.
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During that time, the Post Office Department, the predecessor of the USPS, had established mail collection boxes throughout the city. These mailboxes were placed strategically in convenient locations, such as street corners and near post offices, to allow individuals to deposit their outgoing mail.
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Postal workers, often referred to as mail carriers or letter carriers, would use bicycles as a means of transportation to collect mail from these boxes. They would ride from mailbox to mailbox, emptying the contents and transporting the mail back to the local post office for sorting and processing.
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Bicycles were popular among postal workers due to their agility, ease of maneuvering through congested city streets, and cost-effectiveness. They provided a more efficient and faster alternative to walking, allowing carriers to cover larger areas in less time.
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In 1912, Washington, D.C., would have witnessed postal workers riding bicycles as they collected mail from the collection boxes scattered throughout the city. This method of mail pickup continued for several decades until it gradually transitioned to motorized vehicles as postal services evolved and expanded.
