Ask a bike delivery person....

[CapnAwesome]

So I'm up in Portland and training for a climbing trip to Spain I'll be taking in less then a month all while nursing a shoulder injury. A friend suggested that I could both get in shape and make money by delivering food on a bike for ubereats.

I also have a future goal of going on a multi month long bike/climbing tour in the southwest. Bike tourers bike between 60 and 100 miles a day. Do im working up to that. I've found ubereats to be a totally fascinating system. So ask me questions! I'll give you the skinny..

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Is your area bike friendly? I've heard horror stories of bike messengers and so forth being forced off the roadway (or worse) by cars. Any issues with that?

Boru

[CapnAwesome]

Is your area bike friendly? I've heard horror stories of bike messengers and so forth being forced off the roadway (or worse) by cars. Any issues with that?

Boru

Well I'm in Portland. I don't actually live here though, I'm just visiting people. So the whole city is new to me. But the other city I've biked in (just to get around, not as a job) is Seattle, and Portland is a dream compared to that. I'm Seattle on my normal commute, 0 bike lanes and what I called "the hill of death" Portland has whole separate bike lanes that aren't even on the road and most roads have bike lanes. There are really only two scary bits that I regularly go through delivering.

That said, I almost got door checked yesterday. I'm like hyperaware while biking and my bike is actually a hybrid street cruiser, not a strict road bike. I lose a little speed on the roads but I can go on sidewalks or grass even with no problem. So I'm not afraid to get on the sidewalk of the traffic gets crazy. I also haven't been riding at night, because I don't know the city well enough for that. In Seattle I would though.

[shadow]

Compared to car delivery, does bike delivery save money (because of fuel and vehicle costs being eliminated) or cost more (because it takes longer) for a company?

Also, can you bike  some lunch up to Vancouver for me please?

[CapnAwesome]

Compared to car delivery, does bike delivery save money (because of fuel and vehicle costs being eliminated) or cost more (because it takes longer) for a company?

Also, can you bike  some lunch up to Vancouver for me please?

I have no idea. I think uber has a formula for whether or not to give a job to a bike or car based on a number of factors, distance, parking, traffic. From what i was reading online, bike deliverers make more money on average. Since you are paid per delivery, not hourly. I have a Toyota dolphin, it's a small RV, and no amount of money would be enough to make me drive it around Portland.

Vancouver Washington or Canada?

[vorlon13]

A long time ago a friend of mine was doing that and some idjit opened the car door and was getting out at moment of impact. Friend was ok, driver had hairline fracture in lower leg.

[shadow]

Compared to car delivery, does bike delivery save money (because of fuel and vehicle costs being eliminated) or cost more (because it takes longer) for a company?

Also, can you bike  some lunch up to Vancouver for me please?

I have no idea. I think uber has a formula for whether or not to give a job to a bike or car based on a number of factors,  distance, parking, traffic. From what i was reading online, bike deliverers make more money on average. Since you are paid per delivery,  not hourly. I have a Toyota dolphin, it's a small RV, and no amount of money would be enough to make me drive it around Portland.

Oh, that sounds like it's a good deal for the company then or they wouldn't hire you (makes sense because cars aren't very efficient in dense urban areas compared to bikes). I love it when I see more sustainable business practices actually out-competing unsustainable ones.

Vancouver Washington or Canada?

Canada.

[CapnAwesome]

A long time ago a friend of mine was doing that and some idjit opened the car door and was getting out at moment of impact. Friend was ok, driver had hairline fracture in lower leg.

I almost got door checked yesterday. Lol. I would have been okay though, just like with your friend. The driver would have been fucked.

---

I like to complain to uber a lot. If a delivery doesn't go smoothly, mostly because of their maps program i send them a mean complaint via text. In a way I never would to a boss I had to meet in person. Ive never met anyone in uber in person. Normally they respond to these texts by giving me a little extra money! Lol. Mostly for me they are just frustrated venting because they sent me over a bridge I didn't have to go to.

I also used to be a programming TA so i know the basics of how their program works, and why there is confusion in certain places. Mostly around Hawethorne bridge, which runs right over Hawethorn boulevard. So I send them programming advice sometimes too. Which confuses the hell out of the person on the other end, who doesn't seem to really be a tech person. They always say they forward it to their tech people. You always have actual person to complain to about pretty much anything.

[CapnAwesome]

So i decided to turn on the app and make a delivery. It was cold out but once i get started its not so bad. Delivered a grocery bag of tacos to a construction building. Took me about 20 minutes, $7.50

---

I think i'll take one more. I'm waiting, which is really strange on a friday. I think cause it,s the holidays and people are with their families. Nor ordering take out.

---

It's been raining on and off all morning. Which is why i just got started. Uber maps sent me to the back of the warehouse. Finding where to drop off is the hardest bit, oh, just got another o e. Guess ill take it.

[Foxaèr]

I just recently learned about Ubereats; seriously, how much lazier are people going to get?

That's my question.