Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Decline in bike courier standards?

[BDG]

There's actually a lot less bike couriers around then there used to be, and lots of them in London are now either eastern Europeans or South Americans. They tend to be good workers but spend an awfull lot of time asking for directions or getting lost for a while. Maybe they just don't have the same loony spirit that used to abound back in 1980 when i first started in London.

At one time we had nearly 20 bikes and just 2 vans at my place in Manchester. I doubt if there are more than 20 bike couriers in the whole of Manchester now.

A lot of the lads are now using vans as they are cheaper to run and they tend to be a bit warmer and dryer. After a few years of doing 50,000 to 80,000 miles a year in all weathers it makes a big difference.

Also biking has become more of a leisure activity. In the early 80's there were loads of people in their early 20's or even teenagers who rode bikes and took up despatching. insurance was a lot cheaper in the days of the old Norwich Union rider policy and no loading for courier work either.

the price of bikes, insurance and the general age of riders means that the young (often daft) recruits are no longer there. We NEVER EVER get anyone asking for a despatch riding job under the age of 35 now, and generally they are over 40.

The courier market has also changed, less documents with email, faxs etc.

We now move lots more boxes and stuff that can't be sent down the line. The humble bike courier has evolved into 'White Van Man'

[Edited on 29-3-2005 by BDG]