Bicycle messengers are people who work for courier companies carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business districts of metropolitan areas. Courier companies use bike messengers because bicycle travel is less subject to unexpected holdups in city traffic jams, and is not deterred by parking limitations, fees or fines in high-density development that can hinder or prevent delivery by motor vehicle, thereby offering a predictable delivery time.
A bicycle courier in London riding a fixed-gear bicycle with spoke cards
A bicycle courier transferring urgent mail onto a high-speed train in Geneva, Switzerland
Bicycle messenger boys, Salt Lake City, 1912
Julia Obear at the headquarters of the National Woman's Party, 1922
A courier is a person or organization that delivers a message, package or letter from one place or person to another place or person. Typically, a courier provides their courier service on a commercial contract basis; however, some couriers are government or state agency employees.
Courier in Taipei, Taiwan, organizing parcels for delivery
A hikyaku (courier or postman), Japan, hand-coloured albumen print by Felice Beato, between 1863 and 1877
A Ya-Yieh or Yamen Runner in Western China, 1915
An image of three takeout boxes and one paper bag sitting on the passenger seat of a car while the delivery driver drives in the foreground.