By Monica Gonzales,
Philadelhpia Inquirer, June 13, 1986
 

Xander Robb was pedaling swiftly up Broad Street when the traffic signalat Vine Street turned red. He stood on the pedals and quickened his pace,rolling between stopped cars and startled pedestrians.

Robb, a messenger, was in and out of the intersection before the crossingtraffic had begun accelerating through the green light. He had no timeto wait for the light to change. Robb had packages to deliver, money tomake.

More than 150 bicycle messengers pedal through Center City each daydelivering photographs, blueprints, legal documents and other businesscargo.

Astride a sturdy bicycle, usually a three- or five-speed model withwide tires, and with a canvas sack slung over one shoulder, an agile anddaring bicycle messenger can travel through heavy traffic from 30th Streetto Front Street in as little as five minutes. A car or truck would takethree times as long.

Robb, 23, one of 30 messengers at Kangaroo Couriers, does not hesitateat red lights, and will travel the wrong way down a one-way street if itmeans a faster delivery.

"If I stopped at every red light, I would make maybe 10 runs a day"instead of his current average of 33, he said. "I wouldn't make any money."

Robb says the nature of his occupation gives him a sixth sense. "Carsaren't looking for us, but we're looking for them," he said. "Most driversin Philadelphia don't even use their turn signals, so I have to watch theirhands on the steering wheel to know what they will do."

Will Maus, 25, another Kangaroo messenger, agrees that a red light doesnot mean stop when there is something to be delivered. "We're doing ourjob, and we don't get in people's way," he said. "Wherever I see an openspot among the cars, I go, but I'm always alert and aware of the trafficaround me."

Maus says disregard of a red light or a one-way sign rarely attractsthe attention of the law.

"The police in this city have their minds on bigger things than stoppingus," Maus said. "Usually if they see us do something, they just shake theirhead or make a grimace."

No records of bicycle summonses are kept by the police, although bicyclistsare expected to abide by the same traffic laws as are motorists, a policespokesman said. Police said the only infraction that would get a bicyclista summons is traveling along the Chestnut Street Transitway, from Sixthto 18th Streets, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. It carries a $67.50 fine, policesaid.

The messengers say that competition with cars on the street is moreof a problem than the threat of a summons, but that it is eased by thefreedom their bicycles give them in traffic.

"Car drivers will get upset if they feel that you've cut them off,"Maus said. "But by the time they can yell something to you, you're downthe street."

Robb had a glass of cold water thrown in his face by a motorist whobecame upset when he pulled up close to his car window.

"We really get all kinds of abuse," Robb said. "And it's not all verbal."

United Cab driver M. Fox said he has no objection to sharing the roadwith bicycle messengers.

"The ones that do it for a living know what they're doing. It is thekids who are reckless that create a problem," he said.

"People sometimes mistake us for crazy kids because we're moving sofast," Maus said. "They just have to realize who we are, and that we'redoing our job, and we're in control, as well as having a good time."

Commission earned on each run helps to explain the haste of some bicyclemessengers. At Kangaroo, where a point-to-point delivery in Center Citycosts $3.50, a messenger can make $1.25 for a pickup and delivery. An averageday may contain 30 to 40 pickups and deliveries, for a $250 total on agood week.

Messengers for Philadelphia Express Courier Inc., 1440 Lombard St.,are the only bicycle messengers in the city who are paid a weekly salary,though they get no commissions. Sunil Patel, vice president, believes thatpaying his bicycle messengers a weekly salary builds a better employer-employeerelationship.

But Robb, of Kangaroo Couriers, said he preferred commissions. "I usedto make $125 a week when I worked for salary," he said. "Now my own speeddetermines my income."

Averaging 33 deliveries a day, Robb considers himself very fast. "Flyingthrough the streets on a bike is a real adrenaline rush," he said. "It'salmost a heightened state of mind." He said the rhythm of the moving bicycleoften inspires some of the music that he writes for a band he is startingwith some friends.

Maus enjoys meeting the variety of local businesspeople. He plans topursue a career in urban planning in the fall, after seven years of offand on courier service.

Bogdan Constantinesen, 22, a messenger for Heaven Sent Couriers, 60N. Second St., said his job is also his life's love. The former memberof the Romanian bicycle racing team came to Philadelphia in 1983, and hasbeen a messenger for two years.

"I love to ride, and if I can do it and get paid for it at the sametime, that's what I'll continue to do," he said.

Although the messengers enjoy what they do, they admit that there arehazards that accompany the job.

"I've flown over several open cab doors when I ride alongside the curb,"Robb said. "But defensive driving has gotten me out of most situations."