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Green Pedal Courier s: Zero Emissions, Countless Possibilities B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D W hen it comes to earth-friendly trans- portation, it's hard to beat a bicycle— plus, riding is a lot of fun. One Monterey entre- preneur has found a way to turn his love of bicycling into a prospering business. Mike Baroni founded Green Pedal Couriers in 2009. "I ride track bikes—they have no gears or brakes—and I learned people were using them to deliver packages in big cities," Baroni says. "Monterey didn't have a bike courier serv- ice, so I started one." A one-man operation, Green Pedal's services include delivery of court documents, packages and food and medications and personal items for elderly parents. Baroni rides 60 to 80 miles every day, ranging from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. "I don't have a car, never had a driver's license," he says. "Never even thought about it." In Belize, Baroni saw a guy making drinks in a blender hooked up to a bicycle drive train. He adopted the idea, and is seen at festivals mixing up tasty smoothies using only human power. Green Pedal Couriers isn't a big company, but it is definitely one with a big heart and a com- mitment to leaving as small an environmental footprint as possible. For more information on Green Pedal Couriers visit www.facebook.com/GreenPed. SHORTCUTS NEIGHBORS Mike Baroni started Green Pedal Couriers to deliver court documents, medications and food for the elderly via a track bike — which has no gears or brakes. 82 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 Photo: Kelli Uldall