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"The fact that it rarely pays more than $300/wk (unless it's snowing) makes it a less viable option for people trying to make a good life for a family. That par
by klint 14y ago
"The fact that it rarely pays more than $300/wk (unless it's snowing) makes it a less viable option for people trying to make a good life for a family. That part's not really mentioned in the articles glamorizing the lifestyle."
Here's a bit that was cut from the article, originally right after the part where I write that Duff gave couriering one last shot after moving back to Toronto:
"It was humbling," Duff says. "I only lasted four months before I decided it wasn't worth it." When he was 22, if Duff had a bad day and only brought home $70, it was OK. He shared a house with three roommates and had cheap rent and few expenses. But now if he makes only $70 in day, it's barely enough to cover child care.
"I wouldn't recommend anyone who has a family consider leaving their white collar job for couriering," Duff says. "But I think it's a very reasonable decision if you hate your job and you're in your 20s and you're single and have relatively few expenses."
- Alex3917 14y agoHeh, that's kind of the most important part of the story. I guess it wasn't masturbatory enough to rack up page views with the truth left in.
- bootload 14y ago"... When a friend offered him a job as a bike messenger, he took it — in part because couriers had been glamorized in cyberpunk novels like William Gibson’s Virtual Light and Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, but also because it would ease his mind ..." Great read Klint. This is the best quote from the article and I really understand this. I remember having the best of both, working outdoors during University - some money and hard physical work. Undo-able now. Of the bike riders I see on the weekend, a fair portion I imagine are city-boys working in high-stress cerebral occupations like software & finance ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/5646201528/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/5646201528/