NEITHER RAIN NOR TRAFFIC NOR EVEN SOME RED LIGHTS CAN DETER
THESE BICYCLE COURIERS FROM THEIR APPOINTED DELIVERIES

By Dele Omotunde

Philadelphia Inquirer, October 13, 1987
 

If you regularly walk or drive around Center City, you've undoubtedlyseen them often - and probably at one time or another had to do some quickstepping or hard braking to avoid meeting them head-on.

In and out of traffic and danger they dart, knapsacks on their backsas they hunch over the handlebars of their hurtling bikes. You might wonderif they're in training for the Tour de France or filming a sequel to BreakingAway, but no, these are not racers or actors. These are bicycle messengers- a corps of young, hell-bent-for-leather daredevils who are like somelatter-day, urban version of the Pony Express.
 

Those who pedal professionally for the half-dozen or so firms employingbicyclists to deliver letters and packages may not be racers, but theyare in competition every working day. For they must beat the clock, thetraffic, the elements and each other. The pay may not be great, but inthe act of picking up and delivering packages within the city, they canfind the thrill of victory and the freedom of the street.

"I like to ride in the traffic," said Kevin Cason, a full-time courierfor American Eagle Express at 1810 Callowhill St., as he prepared to goon a run recently. "It's a lot of fun cruising along the road with thecars."

"Suicidal," said Michael Fuller of Philadelphia Express Courier Inc.at 1519 South St., describing how it feels to ride in city traffic. Fullerhas a scar in the middle of his head, a souvenir of a collision with acar last Christmas, before he joined Philadelphia Express - but he stillrides with the traffic, and at times, he said, he cheats at traffic lights.

"It's only risky if you are foolish," said Marc Weil, branch managerof Choice Courier Systems at 2011 Walnut St. "It's like a campfire - it'snot dangerous unless you jump into it."

Murray Lewine, president of American Eagle Express, put it more starkly:''If they are stupid, then they get run over."

What does it takes to be a bicycle courier? Your own bike, your owninsurance (if you care for such niceties) and the need to earn a living.The companies supply work and, in most cases, a uniform. Most of them regardthe couriers as independent contractors, which is why the job doesn't carrymany benefits. It's a vocation that draws vacationing students, dropouts,the temporarily unemployed and people looking to earn a few bucks outsidetheir regular jobs.

Chris Wisen, who is working toward a master's degree in education atthe University of Pennsylvania, uses his free days to double as a bikecourier for the American Expediting Co. at 2133 Arch St.

When he is not free-lancing as a graphic artist, Larry Feraca mountshis bike for Philadelphia Express. "I have a bike, which I ride every day,and I think I can ride it and make money," he said. "After all, I knowthe city very well without looking at the map."

For Fuller, who prefers to be called by his nickname, "Strange Wolffe,"taking to the streets as a courier allowed him to support his hopes ofhaving a career playing rock-and-roll.

At the center of a courier operation is the office dispatcher, who preparesdelivery notes stating where an item is to be picked up and where it isto be delivered. The couriers keep in touch with the dispatcher eitherby coming into the office or, once they're out on the road, by telephone.

"On a typical working day, I just get up and shoot down to the place,"Wisen said, referring to his office. "The dispatcher gives me two or threedelivery jobs at a time and I get going."

Most of the courier companies have uniforms and badges for easy identification.Choice Courier has a navy-blue sports shirt with the company logo writtenin white above the left pocket, and Philadelphia Express has blue letteringon a white shirt. American Eagle Express has its logo in red on a lightpurple shirt.

A courier must really be a go-getter, a healthy and adventurous type."He must really be in top shape," said Sunil Patel, vice president of PhiladelphiaExpress. "He must know the city in and out, always have a smile on hisface no matter what the weather is."

Couriers who work hard enough may earn as much as $200 to $300 a week,but they will have to sweat for it, because couriers' earnings are commission-based. At Philadephia Express, the commission is 57 percent of the feefor each delivery. At American Eagle Express and Choice Courier, a minimumwage of $3.50 is guaranteed against the commission, which the companieswould not disclose. Companies' rates vary, but minimums can range from$3.50 to $8 per delivery.

Obviously, a courier's hustle has a lot to do with how much he earns,but luck plays a role, too. Feraca hit it big barely two weeks into hisjob at Philadelphia Express, earning $115.50 in one day. The next day,his earnings nose-dived to $5. "That was a bad day for me," said Feraca.It happens like that once in a while, but when it becomes too regular,a courier can get fired.

Then again, many couriers don't stay long on the job. Some stay fortwo weeks, others for a month or two. "It's a tough life," said Lewine."That's why they don't stay long."

Fuller, for example, said he was on the job just two weeks before hethought of returning to rock-and-roll. "We work for ourselves, on a commercialbasis," he said. "No insurance of any kind. If I get hit, it's whoeverhits me that will have to take care of me."

It's just one of the occupational hazards that the bike couriers havehad to contend with, but still they pedal the streets, picking up and deliveringparcels with competitive urgency.