marcelinyc

would i need to learn german to work in Zurich?

cavernmech

For most folks Swiss-Deutsch is their first language but almost anyone under 40 speaks English as well. The real problem is finding a job as most will not hire you without a work permit and those are harder to get than Campy track cogs.

marcelinyc

but any citizen of european union gets a permit without a problem right?
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/144541-cracow-fixed.html check out the norrow streets and sidewalks in europe

RedMenace

negative... Switzerland is not a member of the EU. Zürich has its own form of swiss german, not quite a dialect i don't think, but distinctive. makes no difference to me as i can hardly understand swiss german at all. it's frustrating that they can understand me but i can't understand them.

Zatoichi

Seattle, Wa is one of the best cities in the world to be a bike messenger. Think about all these factors: perfect weather for cycling all day, summers are not too hot, when it does rain the jobs start hopping because nobody in the dwntwn offices wants to walk on the wet side walks. CMWC in 2003, relatively sane drivers in the downtown core, lots of cool coffee shops besides Starbucks. Best bunch of guys and gals working as messengers with lots of togetherness as a bike messenger community.

RedMenace

i don't know, man... from what i hear it rains all the time in seattle between about september and march... that hardly sounds like perfect cycling weather. working in the rain sucks, and i don't feel the need to be all tough about it and say i don't mind. i ****ing hate it, actually. it is miserable and i quite dislike it. CMWC 03 was super fun, but i kind of hated the city. and i hate coffee, too. i am cranky!

Zatoichi

I totally understand how you feel about the rain, but it doesn't come down heavy very much, more than often it is just kind of a lighter drizzle. But alot of people out there dislike the gray and short days during the winter months. The spring, summer and the beginning of fall are just great! But you definitely make a valid point about how the rain affects some peoples psyche. I am curious, what was it about the city that you hated.

drolldurham

fredericksburg, va. deliver BBQ for 5.50/hr + tip. what more could you ask for?

plus, there's enough antiques and civil war memorabilia to keep you happy for about 30 minutes!!!!

bikiola

seattle did sort of suck.

sof5000

three citys i've been thinking of moving to

dublin, ireland
houston, texas
austin, texas

anyone ever worked these citys?

Jonny Pockets

I love Seattle more than any place in the country.

I think I should start a messenger service here in Corvallis. I'll monoploize this city.

spud

How is San Diego for messengers?

junioroverlord

They're a quite a few messengers here. Pay sucks, and there are lots of hills. Not many hipsters running packages around here, mainly immigrant family men, fighting to feed thier families.

Zatoichi

Thanks for the support of Seattle as a great messenger city! All you Seattle messengers out there let everyone out there know that Seattle rocks! Also the home of some of the best alley cat races, just check out the Reload website https://www.reloadbags.com/ October 22nd race.

Jonny Pockets

I meant the city in general, seeing as how I am not actually a messenger, but, well, YEAH!

stinkyonions

dublin was pretty pricey when i visited there in september 2005. then again, things are always different when you are living in a place rather than just visiting. it's a great city though and my friend was there for a few months and loved it.

stinkyonions

yea. apparently my friend, who's living there right now, said there was a recent sweep of a bunch of bars that were closed down since they were owned/staffed by illegals. i remember hearing white trash was owned by two canadian ex-pats. it stinks since i loved that place and someone on here told me about it. the website says it will eventually be back and i hope it is. that place was the saviour of my thirst for proper tortilla chips since europe goes for the whole texmex thing.

dcbikeguy

If you want to smoke dope in the park, sleep outside and smell like urine - I recommend D.C.

bostontrevor

I've been to Dublin a few times and may actually move there if a job prospect comes through in the right way. But it's pricey. A recent survey tied it with NYC for the 13th most expensive city world-wide. On the other hand, Boston didn't figure at all in that list and I know that on at least one other list it comes in more expensive than NYC, so YMMV.

Still, it's a nice town other than the fact that it's ALWAYS FREAKING RAINING!

RedMenace

nothing specific, really. i just didn't get excited about it. every city you go to gives you a certain feeling, you know? i've been to cities that give me a great feeling just being there (Philadelphia, NYC, Berlin, Warsaw, to name a few...) and some that i'm neutral about (Toronto, München, Frankfurt/M, Konstanz/Kreuzlingen, Portland, DC), and others that i get a negative feeling from (Paris, Seattle, Boston). i can't explain it exactly... it's just a feeling. the flow of life in that city, i guess.

everyone reading this who knows me is laughing right now because they had no idea i was so SENSUAL. did you!? no you did not.

spud

i dont understand, i havent seen any homeless messengers in DC parks...what does this have to do with messenger employment?

sof5000

dublins off the list.

so anyone from houston or austin.

Orikal

It's relatively cheap to live near downtown, but you're not going to earn a whole lot of cash messing for someone else. Downtown/Med Center are easy to get around. Great weather 9 months out of the year, then it gets pretty hot and humid. Wanna start a business?

Austin's got a much cooler vibe, but is a much smaller city = much less work. Also can be expensive if you choose to live near downtown.