Swiss AIDS Federation Introduces Bicycle Delivery Service for Condoms

ZURICH, Switzerland (July 15) -- They have a catchy slogan: "We come before you come." And it says it all.

If you get caught up in the heat of a passionate moment before you realize there's no condom at hand, don't worry: just pick up the phone.

A new initiative in Switzerland, part of a broader anti-AIDS multimedia campaign sponsored by local health authorities, vows to rescue distracted lovers.

Swiss AIDS Federation

Bicycle couriers deliver condoms to forgetful lovers as part of the Swiss AIDS Federation campaign for safe sex.

It only takes a phone call to one of the local bike couriers participating in the project to have them hop on a bike and quickly bring the coveted item right to the spot where it's most needed.

"The main purpose of this initiative is to create a buzz and help people remember safe sex rules and the need to carry condoms at all times, even in the most unforeseen situations," said Bettina Maeschli, a spokeswoman for the Zurich-based Swiss AIDS Federation, which promotes the campaign.

"The bikers go everywhere in their region, bringing condoms where they are needed, in every situation, at the lake or at people's homes," she said.

Maeschli says the first figures on how many lovers have benefited from the emergency delivery will be released by the end of the month, but already the fact that people are talking about the initiative is a good enough result.

"We wanted to convey the message in an unusual way, so people would definitely hear it."

The bikers from Vélopostale in Geneva, Velokurier in Bern and Veloblitz in Zurich crisscross the bike-friendly Swiss cities to deliver a total of three condoms per person, at a cost of $7.50 a package.

The Swiss AIDS Federation says the "Love Life Stop AIDS" campaign will continue through July as part of a wider anti-AIDS effort that includes TV commercials, posters and an online test to evaluate how risky your sex life is.

The federation says over 25,000 people are HIV-positive in Switzerland. Every day, two more people are exposed to the virus.