I’ve weathered the famed bustle and hustle of Queens on two wheels, swift and agile, threading through the borough’s veins with parcels and packets in tow. My bread and butter? Delivering comfort in the form of food and essentials, from the cozy diners of Astoria to the vibrant corners of Flushing. As a bike courier, mastering the quicksilver streets has evolved into second nature for me, and it wasn’t long before I chalked out a strategy to maximize earnings while spinning my pedals. For those that are new to bike courier work, I thought I’d create a bike courier’s guide to help you earn money, and survive the city streets.
New York City’s groundbreaking law mandated a game-changing wage for delivery workers – a minimum hourly pay of $19.56. Such a shift in the gig economy landscape prompted a reevaluation of my strategies. Juggling two-wheelers in this field means constant adaptation, and with the wage reform, I saw an opportunity to combine two powerhouses in the courier game: UberEats and Relay Delivery apps.
A blend of routine and the adrenaline of the unpredictable, every day serves as a different chapter in my courier anthology. It’s a life of spontaneity and structure, and in the following segments, I’ll spill the secrets of making a good living off the bike lanes, share a peek into some of my favorite products that keeps me fresh and protected while on the saddle on hot summer days, and recount some of the memorable adventures that Queens has thrown my way. I hope you find value in this article, a bike courier’s guide to combining UberEats and Relay delivery apps.
Maximizing Income with UberEats and Relay in Queens
You may already be familiar with the frustration of delivery apps capping the hours you can work. Take UberEats for instance. The company’s tier system, designed to rank drivers, didn’t play to my favor. I use my reliable traditional bike, but in a city filled with electric bikes and mopeds, I often found myself relegated to the lowest tier. This meant I was maxing out at 5 hours a week on UberEats – not nearly enough to sustain my needs.
At first, I supplemented my income with a less-than-thrilling catering job in Ozone Park. It wasn’t something I expected to do, I definitely didn’t enjoy it, but it paid the bills. Eventually, I started looking for other solutions that would let me ride more and work less in a kitchen. That’s when Relay entered the picture.
I had signed up for Relay a while ago and had been on their wait-list. Then, out of the blue, I got the notification – my account was activated, and I had 30 hours each week waiting for me. Suddenly, I could visualize quitting the catering job and going back to what I love – riding. The unique structure of Relay, with guaranteed hours and hourly pay, was a stark contrast to the unpredictable nature of UberEats.
Merging my Relay work with those few hours from UberEats now gave me a solid 35-hour work week, solely doing deliveries. Relay has this brilliantly efficient zonal system, which meant little downtime and no grueling cross-borough treks. Those changes made a tangible difference in my earnings and my energy levels. Most days, I can count on over $100, which felt like striking gold compared to the scant hours and inconsistent wages I was working with before.
But it’s not just about the money. I’ve found joy in the hum of my bike’s tires on the pavement, the satisfaction of weaving adeptly through the avenues and streets. Sure, the sweltering summer heat can be relentless, but there’s a freedom in this work that I wouldn’t trade for the world.
As I share these insights, I’m also conscious of the toll this job can take on your body. Up next, I’ll talk about how I keep fresh and fend off the heat because let’s face it, no one likes sunburns or being a sweaty mess at the end of a run. I’ve got a couple of go-to products that I swear by – you’ll definitely want to check them out in the upcoming section.
A Bike Courier’s Guide to Mastering Relay: Tips for Consistent Earnings
Relay, while a great platform for supplementing income, operates a bit differently than Uber Eats. It’s crucial to understand its unique system to avoid negatively impacting your earnings potential.
Here’s a bike courier’s guide to keeping your Relay game strong and ensure those prime reservation times:
- Grab Hours with Commitment: When you reserve hours, treat them as a commitment. Cancellations and no-shows hurt your score significantly.
- Punctuality is Key: Aim to be on time for your shifts, and definitely no more than 15-20 minutes late, or your shift will be removed and this will affect your score and reservation times.
- Deliveries & Photo Proof: Timely pickups and deliveries are a must! Always take a photo of the order at the customer’s door or use the “Handed to customer” option with a photo for proof.
- Embrace the Elements: Working in bad weather like rain or snow can earn you bonus points.
- Accept Orders, Both In-Zone and Out-of-Zone: Declining any orders, regardless of whether they are in your zone or not, will negatively affect your score. Only decline orders if there is a legitimate reason, and in such cases, contact chat support to have the order removed without penalty.
- Stay Online During Your Shift: Don’t go offline until your shift is officially over, even if you receive orders after your scheduled end time.
- New Couriers & Top Performers: Remember, 9 AM is prime reservation time! Aim for a high score to secure the best hours.
- Redemption is Possible: Unlike Uber Eats or Door Dash, you can improve your Relay score over time with consistent good performance.
- Communicate with Dispatchers: Be responsive to dispatchers if they contact you about an issue. Provide photo evidence or screenshots as proof of delivery attempts or customer communication.
Remember:
- Treat Relay differently than Uber Eats. The rating system is more sensitive, so be mindful of your actions.
- Consistency and reliability are rewarded. Maintain good scores to unlock the best reservation times and maximize your earnings potential.
- Combining apps can be lucrative. If you have limited Uber Eats hours, using Relay strategically can significantly boost your income.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing your earnings and securing the best shifts on Relay in Queens!
Summer Essentials for the Urban Bike Courier
I’ve always emphasized the importance of using products that withstand the rigors of bike courier work, especially when braving the summer heat of Queens. Skin care isn’t just about comfort; it’s about health. That’s why Sun Bum sunblock is an essential part of my daily routine. The reliable protection it offers against UV rays helps me focus on deliveries, not sunburn.
I complement Sun Bum with their soothing cool down lotion. It’s a game-changer after a long day’s ride, especially if I’ve underestimated the sun. It helps in preventing dryness and keeps my skin hydrated.
What about dealing with sweat? I count on Hello sweet coconut deodorant. It’s an all-natural fighter against odor, and it works even through the busiest shifts. For all the areas prone to discomfort, Viking Revolution Ball Deodorant has been a standout discovery. It keeps chafing at bay, so I can ride in comfort all day long.
It might seem like a small detail, but trust me, good hygiene makes a tremendous difference in how I feel on the job and how I present myself to retailers and customers. These skin care and hygiene products aren’t just personal preferences; they’ve become essential must-haves that keep me at the top of my game.
Embracing the Adventure: Queens Through the Eyes of a Courier
I confess I was once reluctant to make Queens my delivery playground. The allure of Manhattan’s rush had me hooked. But life’s kind of funny that way, tossing you into unexpected territories that soon become a part of you. Working with Capsule and Alto Pharmacy cracked open the door to a world that I never planned to explore, and Queens gently nudged me in.
Queens is unique – a world of its own in a single borough. The streets are a vibrant tapestry of culture, and my bike allowed me to weave through them, connecting me more deeply to the community. Jackson Heights, in particular, serves up a slice of life so different, so alive, with chaos I’ve come to love. Zigzagging between cars and markets, I find the rush here is different but equally invigorating.
Having been living in Queens for two decades, you’d think I’d seen it all. But with each delivery, Queens unfolds a layer I hadn’t noticed, exposing undercurrents of tradition and modernity. It’s fascinating how a job can change your lens on life – where a borough I once skimmed became the cradle of my career.
As I gear up to relocate to Kansas City, MO, I find myself savoring the sights, sounds, and scents on these Queens boulevards. I’m wrapping up a significant chapter here, where I grew not just in mileage, but in spirit as well. While I look forward to new beginnings, Queens, with its unpredictability and charm, will always have a special place in the highlight reel of my courier days.
Riding with Care: A Bike Courier’s Guide to Safety and Wellness
I’ve come to understand that the thrill of weaving through traffic and beating delivery times has its share of risks. To truly thrive and last in the unpredictable streets of Queens, I’ve adopted a more cautious and strategic approach in my daily rides.
Learning the streets isn’t just about knowing the quickest routes; it’s about understanding the rhythm of traffic and recognizing when to slow down. Respect for the streets is respect for my own safety. It’s been my experience that keeping a level head and staying polite with drivers contributes significantly to a safer work environment.
Staying hydrated is more than a tip—it’s a rule I live by. New York City can get particularly hot in summer, and dehydration is a sneaky foe that can ruin a day’s work pretty fast. I always carry a water bottle, and taking regular sips has become a habit.
Likewise, consistent use of sunblock is part of my health regimen on the road. It’s not just about avoiding sunburn; it’s about protecting my skin from long-term damage. Keeping a small bottle handy for reapplication during the day has worked well for me.
In closing, longevity in this job comes down to more than just knowing how to handle the apps and the roads—it’s about fostering a mindset that prioritizes my well-being as much as my earnings. By combining practical savvy with a dedication to safety and health, I’m setting myself up for many more years of happy riding.
