How to Become a Bicycle Courier

Bicycle couriers are usually paid per delivery.

Although it won't make you rich, working as a bicycle messenger will pay you more than the minimum wage and can earn you a decent living if you're willing to put in the hours. There is also the added bonus of working outside and getting plenty of exercise. However, it can be a dangerous vocation. You'll need to have good road sense and quick reactions if you're going to avoid the bumps and scrapes that can be part of the job.

Instructions

1. Invest in the equipment you'll need to become a bicycle courier. You'll be working as a freelancer so the companies you deliver goods for won't be providing you with the gear you'll need. A good-quality mountain bike is obviously a prerequisite. You'll also need a bag, a lock for your bike and a helmet.

2. Familiarize yourself with the area, since the ability to get around quickly will help you earn more. Learn the streets of the town or city you'll be couriering in and look for shortcuts that can help you save time. As well as making more money, you'll impress your clients by delivering their packages quickly.

3. Get in shape. Being a bicycle courier is an incredibly physically demanding job. Not only will you be riding a bike for the best part of every day, you'll also be carrying heavy packages up long flights of stairs. If you're not very fit, it's likely you'll find the job a bit of struggle when you start out.

4. Buy some health insurance. Bicycle couriering can be a dangerous business and there's a chance you could be involved in an accident that results in you needing hospital treatment.

5. Place an advertisement in your local business directory for your courier service. You should also make up fliers to deliver to local firms that have a high number of employees and contact companies to compete for business on a speculative basis.

6. Behave in a professional and polite manner when dealing with clients. You'll be representing the companies you're making deliveries for, so it's important that you're presentable.

References

• New York Bike Messenger Association: Frequently Asked Questions
• The Guardian; Feared by Pedestrians, Despised by Cabbies: the Life and Hard Times of a London Courier; Matthew Sparkes; September 2009