A job seeker who wants to work as a bike messenger must have the right equipment, skills, and connections. The equipment required to become a bike messenger will differ slightly from city to city, but it will always include a good bike, cargo storage space, and navigational aids. A bike messenger must be well-versed in the geography of the city in which he or she wishes to work, as well as in good physical shape. Finding a good messenger company to work for and networking with other bike messengers in the area can also be beneficial.
A good bike is the most important piece of equipment for becoming a bike messenger. A messenger will ride his bike for hours each day, stopping and starting in traffic. Messengers almost always provide their own bicycles, and they should choose one that is durable, comfortable, and has good brakes, as they must stop frequently and sometimes unexpectedly.
A bike messenger will also need to invest in some additional gear. It is necessary to have a bag, which should be waterproof. Maps or a device that can use the global positioning system (GPS) are also extremely useful. A lock is also necessary to protect the messenger’s bike while picking up or dropping off packages.
Anyone interested in becoming a bike messenger should expect long days of hard, demanding, and dangerous work. Every day, bike messengers must be able to ride for several hours. They are constantly weaving through dense urban traffic and, as a result, must have excellent reflexes to avoid the many accidents and injuries that occur in this line of work.
Although navigational aids make getting around easier, anyone interested in becoming a bike messenger should have a basic understanding of urban geography. It is beneficial to be aware of the exact location of buildings and streets. It’s also beneficial to be familiar with traffic patterns throughout the day.
A bike messenger will almost always have to use a messenger service. These services advertise and are not difficult to find, but finding the right service to work for can make becoming a bike messenger much easier. Most services charge by the delivery rather than by the hour. Few services provide medical or other benefits, but some do, and it’s worth looking into this aspect of potential employers, especially since bike messengers have a high rate of on-the-job injury.
In some cities, messenger communities are very active. These communities provide socialization and camaraderie opportunities. More importantly, they can provide leads and information about messenger services in a given city to someone interested in becoming a bike messenger.