On Their Bikes Looking For Work
Richard Liston discovers that being a. cycle courier is not conducive to longevity but a lack of jobs makes many young people, literally, risk their lives
( Weekly Journal, The )
UNEMPLOYMENT affects black people more than white people. According to statistics issued by the Low Pay Unit blacks are three times more likely to be without a job than whites.
Black people are often left wondering what to do. The choices are to go thumping down the doors of white corporates trying to convince the powers that be that you are good enough to do the job, or go it alone.
Many have chosen the later, and one particular line of work is to become a cycle courier, despite the fact that is dangerous, there is no holiday pay, no insurance, no pension, no sickness pay and no organisation acting on behalf of those who earn their living rushing around city streets delivering parcels.
The life of a cycle courier as been labelled exploitative, the industry "fraudulent" and the working conditions described as a "disgrace". But for many on the streets being a cycle courier offers freedom, flexibility and an opportunity to earn a lot of money very quickly.
The money, though, is not that great, unless you are a "fed" rider who is fast enough and experienced enough to do as many jobs as possible as quickly as possible. The typical rate offered by the larger companies such as Creative Couriers, West I and Cyclone, is 3.10 per delivery up to one mile, rising to 4.60 if the journey is over three miles. The courier gets half of the fee.
"On average a rider earns about 200 per week if they are good," says Boris, who has been a cycle courier for eight years.
He adds, however, that there is a huge base of riders who earn far less than 200, and a few "legends" who earn more than 200.
Understandably, the cash-in-hand nature of cycle couriering found a lot of the riders reluctant to divulge exact details of their employment status for fear of attracting the interest of the Inland Revenue or the local authority student grants unit. Furthermore, to become a cycle courier requires no more than to have a good knowledge of the area, a solid bike and an A to Z. There are no rules and regulations, helmets are not compulsory, riders and not many questions are asked by the courier companies.
Flexibility and freedom, however attractive as alternative means of employment, cannot hide the fact that being a cycle courier is dangerous. Official figures released by the police reveal that in 1993, 15 cyclists were killed on London's streets with 519 seriously injured and another 3,876 slightly injured. In 1994 there were 17 killed, 513 seriously injured and 4,078 slightly injured.
In Manchester, in 1992, seven pedal cyclists lost their lives, 73 were seriously injured and 764 slightly. In 1993, there were six killed, 91 seriously injured and 692 slight injuries. It is only in Birmingham where the life expectancy of a pedal cyclist is better. In 1993 no- one was killed and there was only one serious injury and 25 slight injuries. Figures for 1994 and 1995 for the West Midlands area are yet to be published.
There are also the health risks. One courier, who now works in a cycle shop, says he gave up delivering parcels because he became aware of the long-term effects of constantly breathing in toxic fumes. The health issue is a topical discussion among the riders, who pointed out that couriers in Seattle, USA, have named their fanzine Iron Lung. In keeping with the dangerous nature of the job. Britain's riders' fanzine is entitled Moving Target.
According to the riders, the biggest danger to cyclist are lorries.
"You tend to bounce off cars but lorries kill you at 5 mph. Everyone has got their own near-death experience and everyone gets injured or knocked off their bikes at some time," said one rider.
Jackson is a typical cycle courier for whom the risk involved is worth it. Having financed his way through university he is now using his mountain bike and his knowledge of London's West End to fund a masters degree.
At weekends he also DJs in a club to add to his university fund. " If I hadn't been doing this I wouldn't have been able to complete my course because the grant is so crap," he says, adding that working nine-to-five in a shop would not bring the same financial rewards as being a courier.
Like Jackson, Jason is a student who deferred his university entry so he could earn enough money to finance his university course, which he hopes to start next September. "It is a way of making a lot of money very quickly if you are prepared to put u with the bullshit, " he said.
Jason added that the number of cycle couriers swells in the summer when students are out of college, but the boom-time was in the recession of the late eighties when people were losing their jobs or they were struggling to make ends meet. Many took to cycle couriering as a way of earning extra cash.
Around that time the number of courier companies mushroomed leading to a situation where there were too many riders chasing the same volume of work. This resulted in the industry becoming very competitive and the riders left feeling exploited.
The situation has changed and now there is a regulatory body, the Despatch Association, a self-appointed organisation that meets with Government officials and law which affect the courier industry.
The DA does not have any legislative power but it has a lot of influence and acts as a consultative group looking after the interest of courier companies. The DA recognises that the courier industry is in need of some organisation and is trying to create better standards by introducing training courses.
Being a cycle courier as an alternative means of employment may be dangerous, stressful and the money may not always be great, but it beats joining the dole queue.
Ethnic NewsWatch c SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT
Richard Liston, On their bikes looking for work: Richard Liston discovers that being., Weekly Journal, The, 11-02-1995, pp PG.
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