Daring Jobs: Episode 04: Perfect Line, THE DARING LIFE OF A NYC BIKE MESSENGER

Inside the ride of New York City’s daring bike messengers

There are nearly 10,000 km of streets on the island of Manhattan alone, connecting more than 45,000 buildings and millions of people all trying to go about their frantic lives in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. But gridlock traffic and crowded sidewalks mean the simple act of getting a parcel from SoHo to Midtown can feel like trying to mail a package to the Moon.

Unless you’ve entrusted the task to one of New York’s daring bicycle messengers, that is. They’ve been zipping around the city’s byways for over 100 years.

There’s a purity and minimalism to the bike messenger’s mission: Deliver a package from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible, without damage to the package – and without endangering himself. But there’s an art to it, too. Finding that elusive perfect route is a pursuit that motivates a good messenger each day, from sunrise to sunset, as they continue to explore and discover new paths throughout their home city. Shaving off a few seconds or a couple of blocks can be the difference between “mission accomplished” and “better luck next time.”

These adrenaline-pumping daredevils zip around the city at record speed; managing the stress, dangers, and risks with a #BornToDare focus that enables them to get the job done.