Communities getting more delivery driver-friendly

Delivery driver-friendly communities are emerging in Chinese cities to improve working conditions for such workers and mitigate potential conflicts arising from delivery problems.

Accessing buildings, locating specific units, and finding parking spots and rest areas have long been headaches for drivers. Such issues are now being tackled through joint efforts among grassroots governments, delivery platforms and property management companies.

In Chongqing, Shapingba district has established delivery driver-friendly neighborhoods. Various measures, including posting driver-friendly maps, allowing access to underground parking lots and introducing designated parking spots, have been implemented to provide convenience for delivery drivers, local authorities said.

Huang Song, deputy director of the social work department of the Shapingba District Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the district has designated over 400 parking spots and built 36 new charging facilities and 750 charging piles for delivery drivers.

"These services are very thoughtful and can save us nearly 10 minutes in delivery time," said Zhang Daru, a food delivery worker in the district.

In Chenjiaqiao subdistrict, a pilot area for the driver-friendly neighborhood program, a delivery workers' union and service stations have been established to serve the workers. In addition, local businesses are also being encouraged to offer the drivers drinking water, places to rest and charge their cellphones, and dining discounts.

Chenjiaqiao official Zhao Liangyan said that since the pilot program was launched in May, the subdistrict office has been recruiting delivery workers to serve as part-time community workers so they can receive work permits that allow them to enter and exit residential areas freely.

"If they encounter any safety hazards while delivering food such as missing maintenance hole covers or blocked fire exits, they can report them in a WeChat working group," she said.

Zhao said more than 30 delivery workers have become part-time community workers so far, and they have reported over 100 safety hazards.

In Chongqing's Jiangbei district, an access solution jointly developed by major online services platform Meituan and property management companies began pilot testing in some residential communities in early September.

To gain access to the communities, delivery workers simply need to scan a QR code with their cellphones at the entrance to verify their identities. The whole process takes just a few seconds, according to executives responsible for the project.

"It makes entering and exiting the residential areas more convenient, enabling us to deliver meals to customers more efficiently," said delivery driver Wang Yu, adding that it also helps reduce the number of misunderstandings.

Since August, Meituan has been working with major property service companies such as Vanke Property, Jinke Service and Gemdale Smart Service to promote the QR code system to communities across the country.

Statistics from the food-delivery giant show that as of October, the number of delivery drivers using the QR codes has exceeded 1 million.

In Beijing, over 20 delivery driver-friendly communities have been established in areas such as Tiantongyuan neighborhood and Sanlitun subdistrict.

Meituan delivery driver Su Weidong said he frequently visits the service stations created for such workers in Tiantongyuan. There, he can drink water, charge his phone, use a microwave to heat up food and even take naps at lunchtime.

"If riders get sick, they can find medicine here. There is also a bookshelf, and I occasionally read the books inside when I take a break," he said, adding that the stations also have suggestion boxes that regularly collect feedback from the drivers.

Zhang Haiyang, who works in Sanlitun, agreed that the service stations have made things more convenient for his fellow workers, and that they sometimes gather at them to socialize.

He said getting in and out of communities and shopping malls has become smoother, as security guards or employees are ready to guide them in the right direction.

"Maps and signs have also been put up in the communities, making it easier for us to find our destinations," Zhang said.

A growing number of cities in the country are building driver-friendly communities. However, due to a lack of unified standards regarding driver-friendly communities, some property management companies are concerned about potential safety risks.

Shen Jianfeng, a professor at the China University of Labor Relations, suggests that all relevant parties hold consultations to set such standards, thereby promoting the establishment of driver-friendly communities.

Guo Yanqi and Liu Boqian contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn