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Friday, April 22, 2011

On Riding Around Sixth Avenue and the Travel Channel

Pedicab, NYC
Photo by myself in Midtown, around 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Ah, pedicabs.

This is one way to get around the city without affecting the environment. Many cyclists will give rides to several people at a time.

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Speaking of cyclists, there is yet another new series on TV. Mark and I tuned into Triple Rush, a new show on the Travel Channel, set in Manhattan.

The show follows three different bicycle courier companies during a typical day. Apparently there are 1,500 bike messengers working at 70 messenger companies in New York. A messenger might make 20 deliveries in a day and make a bit over 100 dollars.

This job is not for scaredy cats. Cameras mounted on the messengers' helmets show just how dangerous it is, weaving through traffic at high speed in all types of weather. Dispatchers in the office are equally stressed out, delegating jobs and being assailed with orders.

All offices in New York use messenger services. It's the fastest way to deliver documents during the day. Be warned though, it can be dangerous just walking in the city because of these guys on the street.

You can see how stressful and dangerous this job through this show. I will be nicer to the messengers we use from now on!

Here's the trailer for the show:

Triple Rush - Extended Trailer from Triple Rush on Vimeo.



Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style and Pedaling in Style, on Central Park South.

6 comments:

Olivier said...

il faut etre fou ou acrobate pour faire du velo dans NYC ;o)) la video est superbe

Birdman said...

I'll pass on this job. Looks like a daily adventure, but really an accident ready to happen. ha!

Ken Mac said...

I watched the bike messenger show with a dropped jaw. I mean, what's next? reality shows from Duane Reade? I thought it was hilarious, how they clocked his time....10 minutes late! Angry dispatcher! No tip for you! You only made $3.50! Next up...Street Sweepers of Times Square!

Kitty said...

Hi Olivier
I agree, the trailer is pretty nice, almost like a movie trailer. I really like the bike cams. :-)

Hi Birdman
Lol, I like your thinking. I think it's very rare that people would want to throw themselves headlong into traffic on a daily basis. I mean...nuts!

Ha Ken!!
That was my feeling exactly. What is next?!

Their jobs are probably stressful but also pretty mundane. The way it was put together definitely added to the hilarity, how dramatic it was. Ha.

But I'm glad to have seen it. I have newfound respect for those guys and gals.

dianasfaria.com said...

this is one job where you get to stay in shape. especially those pedicab drivers -everyone I've seen so far looks lean & muscular!

Washington Cesar Takeuchi said...

Wow! Crazy! The third most dangerous job in NYC? We have a similar in São Paulo (but on motorcycles). Those guys are insane!