"I’ve been a bike courier for 27 years, always in DC nonstop. We don’t make no money anymore, though, and the courier companies are hiring new people who don’t know what they’re doing. They are firing all of us veterans and taking on all of the rookies for cheap. Come on, man, these rookies don’t know the busines and they don’t have people’s respect.
"Most buildings want customer service. They want the courier to be polite, respectful, and to dress well when he comes inside the office. Now, these new couriers have no respect and because of that, none of us can go inside of offices because clients don’t want to see no raggedy looking rookie courier, someone who doesn’t take a bath or turn his radio down, come inside the office.
"Things also changed when the Capitol Hill police officers got shot and with the Anthrax scare, they didn’t want us in the buildings no more. Whenever anything goes wrong, they blame the couriers. Then, when the terrorists came in, that really blew it for us. We had enough problems dealing with the fax machine. Now, we got to deal with terrorism!
"Nowadays, the only people that’s making money is the security because every building you go in, you got to see a security guard. Back when I was doing work, there were no security guards. You could go in the building, drop off a package and leave. Today, you have security in the lobby and one on each floor. I think everyone is too paranoid.
"Now, I’m working in a guaranteed company that isn’t going nowhere, so, if I can maintain and keep coming to work everyday, I might be out here for another 15 or 20 years."
Read more about DC bike couriers here.
"Most buildings want customer service. They want the courier to be polite, respectful, and to dress well when he comes inside the office. Now, these new couriers have no respect and because of that, none of us can go inside of offices because clients don’t want to see no raggedy looking rookie courier, someone who doesn’t take a bath or turn his radio down, come inside the office.
"Things also changed when the Capitol Hill police officers got shot and with the Anthrax scare, they didn’t want us in the buildings no more. Whenever anything goes wrong, they blame the couriers. Then, when the terrorists came in, that really blew it for us. We had enough problems dealing with the fax machine. Now, we got to deal with terrorism!
"Nowadays, the only people that’s making money is the security because every building you go in, you got to see a security guard. Back when I was doing work, there were no security guards. You could go in the building, drop off a package and leave. Today, you have security in the lobby and one on each floor. I think everyone is too paranoid.
"Now, I’m working in a guaranteed company that isn’t going nowhere, so, if I can maintain and keep coming to work everyday, I might be out here for another 15 or 20 years."
Read more about DC bike couriers here.
10 comments:
Nice story... I think I remember seeing him around back when I was a courier in the 1980s! That was before email, and before fax had really caught on... I'm actually amazed the industry still exists.
This is great. Thanks for posting.
Being a current bike courier, I can say this- there is plenty of work out there for those who are willing to hustle for it. For those who choose to sit on a park bench and get high all day, they have no one but themselves to blame. It is aggravating to keep reading these interviews where the only people quoted are the part timers, whiners, and washed up park dwellers, but i guess they are the only ones with time to do an interview.
oh man...
DC Unabiker has no respect!
it is a perspective worth hearing... Stuttering Mark's that is...
the word on the street from all the vetrans... the industry is drying up
over hiring... I think that has always been the messenger business way
here is DC Unabiker...
DCUNABIKER
I will say... he does hustle and roll
joel- not debating the perspective, not disrespecting anyone. I am simply venting that every article, blurb, news piece, whatever, seems to be playing the "dying industry angle". The industry, like the rest of the world, has evolved dramatically. I just feel that when you live in the past you severely limit your future
Amiable fill someone in on and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you on your information.
Mark is right on! I rode for years in dc and could make as much as 900 a week! now companies are hiring, like Mark said, ROOKS. Companies evolve but must understand, more money means better riders, better attendance and solid customer base. I've thought about signing on with a decent paying company but they either have ten bikers or horrific, biased dispatchers. OP ridin a fixie!
Hey anonimous there is plenty work for 1/3 of money we use to make we Old Bikers who pave the way for you show some respect.
Well, Mark is one of our OG's; was and always is an excellent representative of a real courier, true cyclist and fine human being. Our industry failed most of us in increments mentioned above and not. To go out there today and THINK one can get that job like the ones we had in the days is delisional. We had high salaries, major freedom to work or not, some took care of our medicals, some favored the more serious or talented courier, our behavior code was acceptable to be invited to my Grandma's table, we supported each other, we held amazing parties & alley cats that we invented, we had degrees in college but chose to earn our way on a bike, we were a bunch of talented thinkers, musicans, artisans, and advocates. Those racks on the Metro buses came from an idea pitched to the MTA by one of ours!, we delivered straight to Senators & Congressman politely stating, "Please print your name and sign.
.thank you, Senator Deamoto", we were allowed to be the only courier in The Cap Bldg while dropping Fifths of booze off at key offices while only 2 Cap police gave you the professional courtesy to do so on 12/23. We all were different and never shamed each other, we knew we were in a circle of influence and never a triangle of stinking power. Other obstacles: lowest tenure, 12th most dangerous job, no benefits, trickle down economics, and The Patriot Act. So, yeah, we have a right to compare better or best with this current state. 15 years, 2 cities has given me a perspective of knowing the difference. Stating negative or positive facts changes nothing. We know who we are and how we did it and how it change for the worse. Not really debatable. My 350k on a bike gave me much but in the end, it was over, for it offered next to nothing. The true cyclist still out there, I only hope you have benies & a contract. 1099ing it is a high tax bracket. I mostly quit the industry b/c of these all mentioned factors AND my heart could not take another loss of life on the streets or road without a moving violation ticket to the motor vehiclist! Riding is like giving up one's right to life, liberty and that pursuit....why?! It is not worth it. Another injury, not getting paid, invest in broken machine and back to low pay, harsh treatment and false promises by rich employers?! No thanks. But it truly was Good Times, Good Times...in the day (80's to 90's). PHOENIX/DRAGO 87-01
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