Urban Flow: Bike Messengers and the City

by Jeffrey L. Kidder

Bike messengers are familiar figures in the downtown cores of major cities. Tasked with delivering time-sensitive materials within, at most, a few hours―and sometimes in as little as fifteen minutes―these couriers ride in all types of weather, weave in and out of dense traffic, dodging (or sometimes failing to dodge) taxis and pedestrians alike in order to meet their clients' tight deadlines. Riding through midtown traffic at breakneck speeds is dangerous work, and most riders do it for very little pay and few benefits. As the courier industry has felt the pressures of first fax machines, then e-mails, and finally increased opportunities for electronic filing of legal "paperwork," many of those who remain in the business are devoted to their job. For these couriers, messengering is the foundation for an all-encompassing lifestyle, an essential part of their identity. In Urban Flow , Jeffrey L. Kidder (a sociologist who spent several years working as a bike messenger) introduces readers to this fascinating subculture, exploring its appeal as well as its uncertainties and dangers. Through interviews with and observation of messengers at work and play, Kidder shows how many become acclimated to the fast-paced, death-defying nature of the job, often continuing to ride with the same sense of purpose off the clock. In chaotic bike races called alleycats, messengers careen through the city in hopes of beating their peers to the finish line. Some messengers travel the world to take part in these events, and the top prizes are often little more than bragging rights. Taken together, the occupation and the messengers' after-hours pursuits highlight a creative subculture inextricably linked to the urban environment. The work of bike messengers is intense and physically difficult. It requires split-second reflexes, an intimate knowledge of street maps and traffic patterns, and a significant measure of courage in the face of both bodily harm and job insecurity. In Urban Flow , Kidder gives readers a rare opportunity to catch more than a fleeting glimpse of these habitués of city streets.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cycling, Bicycles, Anthropology, Urban Studies

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2011

Reviews

[audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Some interesting anecdotes about messengering and lots of accessible philosophical theory, but the sociology seems scientifically unrigorous.

For example, in giving fairly concrete numbers re: bike messenger populations in various cities, the author admits that since no formal census of bike couriers exists (which... really?) the numbers are based on his own estimates. So basically, he pulled them out of his ass. Kudos for being up front about it, but there must be a better way to approach data for sociological purposes.

[Gretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kidder expertly uses anthropological theory to dissect the complex, diverse, fascinating, and sometimes contradictory world of urban bike messengers. As a "native anthropologist" and participatory observer kidder has a great deal of respect for the people he represents. Though he does manage to address outside perspectives it's very clear that he loves the profession, and the reader occasionally has questions which don't occur to him as an imbedded researcher. Still, well thought-out and fun to read.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked Kidder's book. As an urban dweller and avid bicycle rider myself, the life of a messenger is appealing and curious. I enjoyed the philosophy included in this book, such as the concept of work flow and how messengers use (and are used) in space. This book makes me want to be a messenger, or to have a gig that allows for the creative freedom unique in the bike courier's world.