Blogger's Forum - Bicycle Messengers

I am a Bike Messenger in New York City. After 16+ years I guess you can say that I'm 'a lifer', still love it and no desire to move on just yet.

Been documenting what I do on my site for a while now, mostly pictures:
http://cyclehawk.com/
click the link at the bottom or the side for archives

Also my good friend Carlos has a great site:
http://www.callejeronyc.com/

Any other messengers with sites? I know a few around the globe..


Ride Safe-

Squid

How's life running your own shop these days? I remember when you went indie. Best decision I ever made, gutsiest too.

Yo Pedex! Taking it day by day, made it past the 1 year mark in September. It's been a huge challenge/burden/experience. Still not out of the woods but we have 7 bikers on the street. Focusing on making it through the winter, getting more clients and always on the make for a serious investor.

We have a cargo trike and an xtracycle, light trucking is where the industry is going I believe..


today! 11:22 am

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that's good news, ya Im hip to the learning experience, being one's own boss changes things, its all good though, hard to believe Im on year 6 already, the time flies by so fast sometimes I wish I could hit the 'pause' button er something

Getting new clients and more work is one area I have had no problems in, I have to turn work away. I figured the economy would slow things down but it hasn't. But I do mostly legal work these days, its the local niche for the most part so it isn't all point A to point B tags. I was gonna bring on a biker or two but gave up on that after going thru a few of them realizing the legal side isn't so easy for rookies to just jump into. On the other hand though I could put 4-5 car drivers to work right now no problem. Im gonna wait a bit on that but it will probably be my next move. Age is catching up on me, at some point I will have to get off the street which I am not looking forward to at all. Some of the guys here already call me grandpa and Im not even that old, yet anyway.

Long term ya local trucking and haulage will indeed likely end up growing quite a bit, rail freight will grow while long haul trucking will die. Its simply getting too expensive and unprofitable for long haul trucking to deal with it.

Im not sure what NYC is like in this biz but I have found one line of clients that has really shocked me, the non profits. I never ever would have figured they'd have much work but they have turned into awesome clients. Places like the YMCA, legal foundations, and even the Red Cross. I got them just thru word of mouth, best advertising there is.

I know youve been doin this quite awhile but for me after year two on my own things changed, all of a sudden I started getting more and more calls out of the blue from people I don't know looking to give me work. Seems like it took that long just for people to get the idea that A) this guy really is serious and B) no he isn't going anywhere. They see my groundbills often and after awhile you get a call.

Thanks for the encouragement!! NYC is different than a lot of cities, bike messengers do nil legal work/deliveries!! Washington DC and LA are basically all legal from what I know.

We do a lot of architecture, fashion, media, more and more light truck work as well.

By the way check out my friend Rick's company blog, Clutch Couriers Santa Cruz:
http://clutchcouriers.blogspot.com/

I am a Bike Messenger in New York City. After 16+ years I guess you can say that I'm 'a lifer', still love it and no desire to move on just yet.

Been documenting what I do on my site for a while now, mostly pictures:
http://cyclehawk.com/
click the link at the bottom or the side for archives

Also my good friend Carlos has a great site:
http://www.callejeronyc.com/

Any other messengers with sites? I know a few around the globe..


Ride Safe-

Squid

Was checking out your site- does not seem to do anything. Looked intersting for sure. . .wish I could have seen more though.

fin- try the archives page:
http://cyclehawk.com/?page=StreetScene



Also check out a blog from Kyoto, Japan by Bicycle Messenger Kaze:

http://ameblo.jp/kazeonlineshop/



:thumb:

Congrats to Mike Green!! 5 years of BIKE BLOG NYC (http://www.bikeblognyc.com/)

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