Bike Messenger documentary

Bike Messengers in Pittsburgh and SF
Directed by Crispin Tobey

[@petethehobo]

This video short featuring one of the messenger companies that I worked for, really captures the spirit of messenger life. Seeing two of the guys I worked with, really takes me back. I still identify with most of the messengers that were interviewed. The JET "office" looks exactly like it did way back then, same shit beer, just some different faces.

[@jodi183]

I don't miss the job, but I do miss my ole friends at the Statue, 1 Post and the Wall. Nice to see some familiar faces--have to agree with Brue. I can't do that job anymore, I had to quit. I'm glad I rode, and I'm glad I quit when I did. Peace.

[@ChristianF15cher]

Messenger here. I've made deliveries to the Hill District and Oakland. I actually like the challenge of it.

[@tatankaiyotanka1]

I was a push bike courier in Sydney in the golden age, 1988 to 1996. Recently we had a gathering of guys I worked with and one of them said it was not a job it was a lifestyle. Guys I worked with lived in big share houses, in awesome locations because we were making serious money. Then along came email. Time to get out. This time was the most fun time of my life, but left me with PTSD because of all of my friends I had to pick up from being messed

[@edwingomez4017]

Bump, i wanna be a bike messenger when i grow up, all i do all day and even when i coms back from school i just pick up my fixed gear bike and ride all day

[@firstlast5386]

yeah, but what you should do is get an education!

[@djCsyck]

I like how you did the Credits at the beginning. Great video.

[@TheWatersailor]

Really cool documentary!

[@ChristianF15cher]

Are you prepared to haul 50 lbs binder boxes uphill in the rain and snow? Are you able to ride a bike 30 miles in a day? Are you on point enough to ride on Grant Street?

[@muchomusiclibre]

Crazy, just riding in a medium sized town I am almost hit by dumb drivers a lot. These guys have balls.

[@pandesal_mark]

These are my hero when it comes to jobs.

[@bigbillbob88]

Loved this vide. I wish it was my job

[@ChristianF15cher]

I actually feel safer riding in Downtown Pittsburgh than anywhere else. Drivers are typically a lot more on point because there's a lot more traffic and pedestrians. And the traffic downtown moves slower.

[@bluemountaindrivepae]

Have fun cycling in the cold winter rain and snow.

[@richardalvaran1769]

have fun commenting and no friends..

[@bluemountaindrivepae]

Been there, done that. Was a messenger in Pittsburgh seven or eight years. The independent contractor deal is a scam. Had daily pickups to do rain or shine. The pay was chump change, not worth risking your bones. Got a bit frostbitten a few winters. Worse job ever, and I dislike Hammer, hope he breaks a leg.

[@richardalvaran1769]

here in Italy, Rain or shine! We ride!

[@h_e_n_n_i_e_k]

It's a matter of habit and appropriate clothing.

[@keitht.2727]

I run a Specialized Crux with discs, White industries ENO hub SS and swap between slicks and studs depending on the day, but when it snows more than 6-8 inches, delivery by car is faster. Denver, CO.

[@ChristianF15cher]

I'm a messenger and I do it with a 27 speed hybrid bike. And none of us ride without brakes, even those of us that ride fixies.

[@h_e_n_n_i_e_k]

Greetings from the courier from Poland ! Pozdrowienia od kuriera z Polski !

[@ChristianF15cher]

Only with motorists.

[@larsbevers]

10:08 no one is overqualifeid to drink beer, laugh and ride your bike.

[@packleader1215]

This started out as exciting, then it just got real dark

[@twenty2082]

damn this is some old footage,i dont ee alot of these people out there anymore,kyle went to the army along time ago.

[@fatalseizures]

The first line is them bragging about being scumbags and whistling at women... I'm not surprised.

[@FR0STv2]

Well, first of all, it's cheaper. If it gets stolen, it's not too much of a disaster. And in cities like NYC, where everything is flat and close to each other, you don't need much more. You could slap on a brake, but that just comes down to preference

[@Tubepoacher]

if internet stranger says i am, then i guess i am .

[@Rascopuff]

@Lucassandro25 Yes, you will need a visa. It might be hard to work in a town that you aren't familiar with. Have you tried working as a courier in France? Try that first at least :) It is a very special job, just like the one guy said it's the best and worst job at the same time.

[@zdwade]

Pittsburgh is so easy compared to other cities like nyc or Phl. People move so slow.

[@JLai1969]

I guess the truth really does hurt.

[@JoHnLuRIahk]

Unfortunately,In My country there are no Bike Messenger :'(

[@Erikkeating]

Never been hit by a car, but flipped my bike cause my foot came out of my toecage and the pedal pushed my left foot into my wheel. woke up in an ambulance and almost died. Can't even image getting hit while crossing a street.screw that.

[@RyanWilson876]

@disesed Yeah, I hear. I dont message, but I could never ride a fixie, worst in any type of down town traffic.

[@ChristianF15cher]

You're beating a dead horse. Triangle went out of business years ago.

[@2011blueman]

I still haven't figured out why they all opt for fixies. Not willing to do the upkeep on a geared bike?

[@SW4GEST]

Brakes save lives .

[@SweetandFitting]

It's like a bike version of Mirror's Edge.

[@coinmba]

And now in 2022 almos all those companies are gone

[@Rascopuff]

@Lucassandro25 Well I'm not american, but I thought it was kind of hard to get a working visa for the US. I mean you will probably need to have an employer before applying and you might need to actually be in SF to find a courier company and apply for a job. Without the visa you won't be able to get in the US. A bit of a chicken and the egg situation. I mean I don't want to destroy your dream, but you will need to be properly prepared :)

[@JD_82]

riding bike's in urban metropols= think for everyone... cars,pedestrians,busses,.... because they always seem to forget that bycicles also use the road... drive fast but safe ;-)

[@glenndavis7315]

The Polish Hammer!!!

[@thisgame2]

@nilo2209 im going to go ride for a few hours, i going to enjoy going where i want to go, peace and happy new year nilo, none of this shit really matters,

[@Tubepoacher]

lol try it for a week. Seriously. In January Montreal downtown? no wait in early march, when youve been in snow, slush and ice since october! Try it, i dare you. Try it on a brakeless fixie, with a beer in you. Try it.

[@bluemountaindrivepae]

Tubepoacher No thanks, I like my bones whole.

[@rustcohle3803]

just ride gears, at least it's considered more safe than fixed. they should blame themselves more if they get into this shit.

[@kitten-inside]

Fixed gears and no brakes. Because it's OK to get hurt as long as the bike is easy to maintain. "Logic."

[@tylerwestover234]

I deliver 40s of beer or farm fresh eggs on my bike sometimes. Also if you wanna work on your bike collect aluminum cans on the side of the road. A lot of assholes text and drive so be safe.

[@schlooonginator]

I love watching all the crazy riding skills on all these vids but as a former mess. I agree with the guy who says you cant just fly blindly through a red, sorry, but you are askin to get nailed and that ain't cool in anyones book. Hell, you get injured enough without doin that stupid shit!

[@beattwoman]

San fran disco?

[@9sactown1skater6]

being a messenger in sf sounds like a death wish. most people who are driving there are tourists and don't havE a clue what their doing on the road.

[@iivv_nn]

At 5:50 that's the kid who hit him. He has all the signs of lying.

[@GOJU4LIFE1]

is that a glass of wine in his hand?? HA hgh class Messengers...lmao

[@Tubepoacher]

haha dont get me wrong, its awesome, just really hard. BUT AWESOME

[@yunk9]

wow that was grim.

[@Grehmdel]

Safety third my brother & sisters.

[@ChristianF15cher]

Forty dollars a day. That's what you make after April 15th when tax season is over. Had to quit the job, it's fun but it doesn't pay the bills.

[@DendriticWolf]

I don't claim to know the Bike messenger culture that well, but this seems to be the most mature look at it that i've ever seen. I don't feel that it's all a bunch of twats cutting off traffic and blowing red lights 90% of the time. P rops to these guys.

[@wretched13spawn]

2:32 macaulay culkin!!

[@JLai1969]

@ 5:00 - Of course it couldn't be your fault. It's never a biker's fault. Everyone needs to watch out for them, even though they consistently do not follow road rules. It's that false sense of entitlement that they learned by being an adult and still living with their moms. Grow up and read your DMV issued driver's manual.

[@thisgame2]

@nilo2209 im from florida, so i have warm blood. I just dont get it, i could messenger on a scooter. messengering is not about fixed gear, all it is , is a preference of a bike set up, i dont get you guys and your subculture, but i do ride for hours everyday, the only diff is i go where i want to go, i havent met a messenger that didnt act like a ordained minister of the church of im cooler than you,

[@substance1]

You guys are happy because you are healthy. Your not suffering from all the inflammatory diseases that plague 99% of the desk jockey workers. Sedentary lifestyles do not a happy person make.

[@taila1976]

What's an hipster...?

[@thewilly704]

7:55

[@ChristianF15cher]

Troll harder. Jesus loves you.

[@tonyblack3957]

Doing a dangerous job for peanuts is not very sexy,

[@faarkthelite]

so what?

[@thisgame2]

@nilo2209 im sure i could out ride you

[@thisgame2]

and btw my mom says im da coolest

[@livinlvis]

Darwin Awards.

[@cmk5358]

No, it is NOT okay to run lights. Please stop giving Pgh cyclists a bad name.

[@jio-lito]

they still ride fixed gear bikes and look like junkies, that makes them hipsters to me... lol

[@apatz87]

Hahaha PGH MSGs talking like they deal with the same shit MSGs from NYC or any real city deal with. That's like somebody working at McDonald's saying they know the stress and hard work of a world class 5 star restaurant. Your friends died being stupid. I am for bending the rules of the road but be smart about it. 90% of drivers don't notice cyclists in PGH because this isn't a city known for cycling so they don't consider us out there making it a dangerous city to be blindly running red lights.

[@bluemountaindrivepae]

Please go out of business and get off the streets. Being a messenger is not fun in the cold rain and freezing winter. Go play in traffic Hammer.