Getting paid to ride?

Couriering is fun for a while, but gets dull pretty quick (well, it did for me) and can put you off fun riding a bit. The money's OK, but not really that great when you consider hours worked, depreciation on the bike, petrol, repairs etc. Think I was on just over minimum wage...

[Stu]

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

Im with tom jones, the novelty might wear off when you have to ride nights surrounded by half asleep lunatics and being half asleep yourself.

I wouldnt mind being a riding instructor in the future, but I dont think I could ride good enough for that. I'd like to have a go at that SERV thingy, the people who deliver blood to accidents and stuff? Maybe when I have a steady job and a better bike though

Matt

Serv is delivering to hospitals not accidents! at night surrounded by half asleep lunatics and being half asleep yourself and it's voluntary so not really relevant to the thread.
You don'tt need a better bike, Do it! (you might not want a top box (NB not requ'd) on a better bike)

I get 24p a mile as well, I reckon its the standard rate which I figure covers wages whilst driving, as I normally have to get up earlier to get to other sites.

As a matter of interest how many people who use there bike for work have buisness insurance, from my reading of the policy comuting only covers to and from one permanent place of work?

Been riding again suprise, this morning was great but still dont like the dark, I think riding a lot in the week seems to detract from weekend riding somewhat, however I now hate driving a car anywhere, just dont like queing in traffic. Or maybe i'm just getting winter depression.

Originally Posted by tomjones2

As a matter of interest how many people who use there bike for work have busness insurance?

ahem, if I crash I'm suddenly just taking the long way home via my favorite road. In Scotland the roads are such that a lot of folk do that, so having a suit under your textiles and a laptop in your tank bag doesn't necessarily mean your using the bike for work.

Originally Posted by tomjones2

As a matter of interest how many people who use there bike for work have buisness insurance, from my reading of the policy comuting only covers to and from one permanent place of work?

This is correct, most policies define commuting as travelling to a single normal office, visiting clients/other offices/off site training courses etc. fall under class one business use (which I have on my policy, only cost about £30 extra). Don't quote me, but I believe that actually using your bike for a job where the movement of goods/people relating to the business is the purpose (IE couriering, pizza delivery, bike taxi, etc.) rather than simply getting you from A->B requires some other level of insurance, which costs extra.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

ahem, if I crash I'm suddenly just taking the long way home via my favorite road. In Scotland the roads are such that a lot of folk do that, so having a suit under your textiles and a laptop in your tank bag doesn't necessarily mean your using the bike for work.

If it's a small claim, it's not worth their time/money pursuing it. If you kill someone, I'd not be in the least surprised that they asked your employer to court to testify you were not making the journey for work purposes. Is your boss prepared to perjur himself on your behalf? Personally for £30 a year, it's not worth it IMO.

I have got buisness insurance as well, cost £100 quid but i will get it back on the milage anyway. Same as you Ceri I cant see the point in not having it, if you do end up in a major case they will look into these things and you could end up being liable for a 7 figure sum. Got loads of friends who run the risk but its on there heads.

Also if you get caught making a false claim its insurance fraud isn't, I belive this is also big trouble and very difficult to get insurance in the future.

Originally Posted by tomjones2

Also if you get caught making a false claim its insurance fraud isn't, I belive this is also big trouble and very difficult to get insurance in the future.

Oh you can get insurance if you're convicted of insurance fraud alright, it's just that you'll pay for it.

Pay for it many times over! You'll also have to get insurance with absolute pirates who will treat you like dirt (well even moreso than usual ) because they know they can and insurance will be prohibitively expensive, so much so that you may well have to buy a smaller bike just to be able to afford the premiums. Sadly, I suspect this leads to many people who are convicted of insurance fraud just not taking out insurance...

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by tomjones2

I have got buisness insurance as well, cost £100 quid

Would that cover you for courier work or is that a whole different thing?
Considering having a go at it in the hols.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Would that cover you for courier work or is that a whole different thing?
Considering having a go at it in the hols.

I believe actually using the bike for work (as in, the job revolves around the bike, rather than the bike being transport to get you to work) requires a higher level of business insurance. Don't quote me on that as being standard, but that's what my current policy says.