What jobs can I do with my bike?
 

I just ordered a single speed bike, and I'm curious if I can get a job biking around delivering stuff. The thing is I don't live in a busy city such as NY so I like cars would be better for delivering stuff. But I could be completely wrong. I was thinking of newspapers or something...what do you think?

you can drag brush to a beach fire

Well, you might be able to start a one man messenger service. Sounds like you'd have no competition.

I don't think they have paperboys anymore. A person in a car can carry more papers.

Singing birthday greetings? Pizza delivery?

You'll have to tell us more about where you do live for any further guessing.

There are jobs that can be done by bike, but if you don't live in a fairly densely populated area, they're quicker to do by car, so you don't see much demand for cyclists to do them.

So #1 thing you can do with the bike is get yourself TO a job. Don't forget to get a good lock if you have to leave it outside while you're working. Or maybe 2 good locks.

I did try getting a job delivering papers and I had to have a car with insurance to get the job...

I did try getting a job delivering papers and I had to have a car with insurance to get the job...

delivery on a fixie doesnt sound like it would be fun...

Computers have about killed off the bike messenger business, even in big cities. There's just no demand for somebody to schlep a document across town when you can email it in five seconds and get a response when the messenger is still running down the stairs to the parking lot. Packages are a possibility, but the market's pretty small.
If you're determined, a high school kid here made a few bucks last summer doing grocery shopping, pharmacy pickups etc for people who didn't want to do it themselves. He'd either pick up an order they'd phoned in or choose the items himself if they gave him a list. Worked well enough in downtown Reno, where you can go to the store in 10 minutes. Not so well as our suburbs expand, though.

The last I knew Reno does have a bike messenger service business with about 2 or 3 people working unless it has failed since last year. There are always things like moving small packages and legal or financial documents which cannot be electronically transmitted. The more suburban or rural the setting the less chance of finding a bicycle based job though IMO.

In major cities bicycle messenger delivery is relatively common as a bike can frequently navigate traffic faster than a car, at least for relatively short distances.

I have friend that delivered Jimmy John's sandwiches on campus by bike. Perhaps something like this would work?

Bike Taxi? Doesn't work real well on a single speed. And probably much better in an urban area. However, if you are willing to take a "bike taxi" to a big event, I think you will do well. I'll hire a bike taxi at an MLB baseball game to take me back to my parked car. I'll park a good distance away from the stadium, walk to the game, and take the bike taxi back to my car. I can park the car a greater distance away from the stadium and beat the after-game traffic. Usually cost $10-$15 for the trip. It save a bit on parking and it's usually split between 2 or 3 of us. If you can ride fast, I'm sure you could make about $100-$150 per event.

Great thanks for the posts.

If you're mobile, you might find a place where even realtors and financial advisors arrive at appointments by bike.

Have you thought about trick riding? Give an exhibition and pass the hat.