Bike or scooter: it's a courier's first decision, and it depends less on preference than on the geography of your deliveries. Here's the honest comparison, criterion by criterion.
The table
| Criteria | Bike / E-bike | Scooter 50/125 |
|---|---|---|
| Range | City, short distances | Large area, suburbs |
| Ideal density | Dense center (shortcuts, traffic jams) | Spread zones |
| Cost per km | Very low | Medium (fuel + maintenance) |
| License | None (e-bike) | AM/A1/B depending |
| Maintenance | Simple, inexpensive | Regular (variator, tires, oil change) |
| Weather/fatigue | Exposed, physical | Protected, less tiring |
| Parking | Anywhere | Restricted |
The bike wins in dense centers
In hyper-center, the bike is often faster: shortcuts, banned turns allowed, traffic jams, immediate parking in front of the restaurant. Unbeatable cost per km, no license (e-bike), simple maintenance. Limits: range, weather exposure, physical fatigue over long shifts.
The scooter wins on large areas
Once the area spreads (suburbs, mid-sized cities), the scooter regains the advantage: range, speed on main roads, weather protection, less fatigue. Downsides: higher cost per km (fuel + variator maintenance, tires, frequent oil changes), license depending on displacement, more limited parking.
