Because life is not just about bicycles......
Times Are A Changing
I get at least 3 or 4 phone calls a week from young people asking what they need to do to become a bicycle courier. I tell them move to New York. I hear there are still some jobs there. Most of them don't like my advice. New York is cold. You see, I'm in San Diego, so when they call me they are hoping I tell them, "Yes, I'll hire you, there has never been a better time to become a courier." Unfortunately I don't believe that. But is it just me?
When I started over ten years ago I knew that the cycle, (no pun intended) was on it's way down. We had survived the fax, the email, but could we survive the economic crash? Maybe it's just a bump in the road, (no pun intended) for the industry but I can't help but think that in smaller markets like San Diego you just can't make a living as a courier anymore. Sure, you can make minimum wage. And of course I'd rather make minimum wage as a courier then I would making minimum wage flipping burgers. Now I am getting off on a tangent.
My point is this. Should rookies looking for work really go into this business? Maybe some fresh blood would do us all good. But when I get those, "please give me a job because I think it would be so neat to be a courier, I just love to ride my bike everywhere" phone calls. I can't help but think the best advice I can give them is, "Good, ride your bike to the grocery store, ride your bike to a party, ride your bike to church, but for God's sake ride your bike to a better apying job than this."
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Comment by FIL ONE KINGZ DESTROY on January 29, 2011 at 10:05am -
summer 2010 i walk right up to the half a door at cycle hawk and just straight up ask for a job old school style,and Kid says to me "WHO YOU WORK FOR" I say i never been a messenger before he just looks at me and shakes his head and takes my # down 5 days later im workin for cyclehawk. I'll always remember my first day as im leaving the office for my first pick up at 1501 bwy SQUID introduces himself to me and says dont cry when you see your first pay check.I was a truck driver for 13 years and unfortunately for financial reasons im back behind the wheel there is nothing worse than doing something you dis like for a living being a messenger might not pay alot but i was happy as a fat kid in a bakery when i was working for cyclehawk for that short time it was a hell of an experience i will never forget and i thank the cycle hawk family for the opertunity i miss it so much everytime im sitting in traffic on 8th ave and see a cycle hawk messenger smoothly cutting through traffic i get open and reminisce for a second of my short lived messenger career until the scum bag cab driver behind me blows his horn and i engage the clutch on my slow ass polluting truck.... shout to the cyclehawk team KID BOBBY CARLOS AND SQUID be safe out there YEAH YEAH
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Comment by Master King on January 28, 2011 at 9:55pm -
i can only speak for new york.... it's hard to jus' hire a rook even if you needed the help 'cause of the high liability, most of us take chances on younger stallions but remember, here in new york it's like rollin' dice. one day you riding high enjoying our beautiful city and then Father cold bites you in the a** or you hear someone got wrapped up under a whip and all of a sudden you have a change of heart...."that's NOT GOOD for business"---- here in new york the demand is still high for a courier...... we're prime examples "cyclehawk" we started this in 9/11/07 and people have requested our service and we've grown..... slow but, we decided to take a chance in the dead smack of a recession and proved a lot of people wrong. for you youngins', DON'T be messengers..... the life span for a courier is like 18 months now. in less you wipe-out earlier..... like kenton said, ride your bike to live.... NOT to depend on your bike to live..... jus' sayin'... ride safe, stay strong.
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Comment by D. D. H. on January 28, 2011 at 2:36pm -
Quality Post.
Squid, what's wrong with looking for an easy way in? Have you ever heard of anyone getting a job just by applying for the position? More commonly, it appears jobs are attained through connections with other people.
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Comment by Squid on January 28, 2011 at 7:23am -
I feel the industry can grow. Light cargo holds endless possibilities. Anything (within reason) that a van/car delivers can be moved by bike for less money/environmental impact.
Give me six months in San Diego (or any city) and I will give you a new courier business with new clients. Are you highly motivated!!? The glass is half full!!!
People asking you for work are looking for the easy way. If they want, they can make a business card and get one client..
Sound crazy? Sounds better than giving up to me..
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