bike messenger
I was growing sick of temping so last week when my assignment at a particularly boring office ran out I decided to get out there and do something I’ve been dreaming of for years. I decided to become a bike messenger.
To get the job I called a few companies and asked if they needed any bikers. A really nice company only a few blocks from where I live said they’d get me started right away. I showed up filled out the forms and was given my first dispatch.
The dispatcher’s office is in an old building in the financial district. There two guys sit on phone or radios all day giving out street addresses to us messengers. I’m new so I still don’t have a radio, though I may get one next week. For now I have to keep a pocket full of quarters and keep going to pay phones all the time. It’s pretty crazy. But it’s also kinda’ fun.
On my first day I delivered 10 packages and rode 30.8 miles. I know since I save a copy of all my dispatch sheets and Aaron (who writes startsandfits.com ) helped me use google and a spread sheet to calculate the distance.
Here are the rest of the distances:
Day 2: 52.4 miles
Day 3: 39.1 miles
Day 4: 39.7 miles
So far I really love this job! Biking puts you in direct contact with the pulse of the city. Also, I get to see all kinds of wacky offices. People who work in advertising are crazy… their offices are crazier. One had… um… no furniture… and no, that was NOT because they just moved in… it was some kind of "concept."
I don’t know how long I can do this. The pay is crappy-but, I’ve honestly never loved a job as much as I love this one.
Keep an eye out for me on the streets. I ride a yellow bike.
(is anyone else here a messenger?)
To get the job I called a few companies and asked if they needed any bikers. A really nice company only a few blocks from where I live said they’d get me started right away. I showed up filled out the forms and was given my first dispatch.
The dispatcher’s office is in an old building in the financial district. There two guys sit on phone or radios all day giving out street addresses to us messengers. I’m new so I still don’t have a radio, though I may get one next week. For now I have to keep a pocket full of quarters and keep going to pay phones all the time. It’s pretty crazy. But it’s also kinda’ fun.
On my first day I delivered 10 packages and rode 30.8 miles. I know since I save a copy of all my dispatch sheets and Aaron (who writes startsandfits.com ) helped me use google and a spread sheet to calculate the distance.
Here are the rest of the distances:
Day 2: 52.4 miles
Day 3: 39.1 miles
Day 4: 39.7 miles
So far I really love this job! Biking puts you in direct contact with the pulse of the city. Also, I get to see all kinds of wacky offices. People who work in advertising are crazy… their offices are crazier. One had… um… no furniture… and no, that was NOT because they just moved in… it was some kind of "concept."
I don’t know how long I can do this. The pay is crappy-but, I’ve honestly never loved a job as much as I love this one.
Keep an eye out for me on the streets. I ride a yellow bike.
(is anyone else here a messenger?)