Two Blogs From Chicago Bicycle Messengers

It has become a bit of a cliche to pay homage to bicycle messengers. However, their influence on bicycling and even popular culture cannot be overstated. They have impacted film, fashion and cycling itself. They are the folks who ride every day in city streets all over the world fighting traffic, bad roads and weather to deliver the stuff business needs to survive. Some do it simply to earn an living. Some do it to experience of joy of riding daily. Many do it for both. To some the way they ride may seem reckless. But those with experience are usually damn good cyclists who ride the way they do based upon a fine tuned understanding of what traffic and pedestrians will do under given circumstances. Mistakes happen. However, by my observation these guys and gals usually know quite well how to get around quickly, efficiently and safely. I recently came across two interesting and informative blogs by Chicago based bicycle messengers, Dispatch 101 and Chicago Couriers Union. The former offers insight into daily messenger life, the good, the bad and the ugly. The later provides much helpful information and resources to messengers and would be messengers (including a bike law primer and the location of public bathrooms in the Loop).