Courier work

I've got plenty of time off in the summer, my girlfriend (a londoner) doesn't, so I need to do some moonlighting. Is being a bike courier worthwhile or am I better off sleeping for a few weeks? I know London reasonably well and can find my way around most areas.

Depends on how much you value your life and whether you're prepared to work for peanuts.....

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as above !!!!!!!!!

oh & dont forget i dive in london ( that alone should put you off)

[Sid Squid]

As an ex-courier of some experience - seven years - I'd say this:

The business isn't what it was and there's very little money it compared with the way things used to be.

If you know London really, really well, it's still not good enough, it's an easy enough concept; go from here to there - get paid, the reality is different.

If you just want to work a few weeks there are very few reputable firms who will want you, so you could just not tell them that you only want a few weeks, but they'll know anyway, they always do.

All of the other riders will give you a hard time, think about it like this; they work all year, you show up when the sun's out and take work they would otherwise be doing, be prepared for a less than warm welcome, I don't want to overplay this - most people are nice - but I've seen some folks very displeased about this.

Your insurance won't cover you, there will be a clause in your policy that says: 'Not for hire or reward', getting insurance can be really dear, and you'd be a mug not to arrange it, as a courier in central London your chances of getting a tug are raised.

I really enjoyed it, with certain reservations the best job I have ever done, met a lot of very good people, and did something a little out of the ordinary, some of the individual moments were rubbish of course but overall great fun.

as someone who rides to work the thought of being out in london traffic ALL day is scary...

whats the stats? I know people would scaremonger a bit saying your life expectancy as a london courier was 6 months but I wouldnt be surprised if true as it goes...

and with hall13uk diving all around the place its scarier

Something Id consider if I lost my job but not in London, poss Kent or distance work I think... but a mate who did that told me it hurt a lot...

but Ians definitely the man to listen to....

[Spiderman]

Are you certauin you wann do it on a bike?

I worked for Initial Citylink (the fluro green and yellow transits) and that was easy work for not a lot of money.

I'd rather do easy work for peanuts than risk myself and my precious bike for peanuts..

hth

[rictus01]

I'd have to say,my view is somewhat "rose coloured", let me explain.

I only did courier work for 7 months, whilst waiting to join the Army.
Back in the late 70's it paid rather well to, helped along by dating one of the girls in the office (controllers (well aren't all women, ducks and hides)), seem to remember insurance was paid on instalments then, and despite being born and raised in London, I probably learnt more about the place in that time than any other, but then there was plenty of work about, you could pick and choose what you wanted to do and when, not so now of course.

As I said, my view is somewhat tainted, so I wouldn't give it to much credence.

Cheers Mark.

I ride to Uni in London. Its a great buzz riding there but I would be wary of riding there all day because the danger of points on your licence for various courier 'moments' , I would have thought is quite high. Also I dont want to die just yet...

so what exactly is the money like ?

i read in MCN quite a bit "200 quid a day guaranteed"

cos thats much better than im getting at the mo and im also thinking of being a courier.

Less your fuel, less bike costs, and don't forget they're almost always self employed....

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