DoorDash Bike Courier: How to Become One and Make Money
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The gig economy offers a lot of opportunities to make money side-gigging, especially with food delivery services.
One of the main benefits is the ability to work part time, full time or only in your spare time.
But, can you do Doordash on a bike?
If you are looking for ways to make extra money riding a bike; good news: you can Doordash on a bike.
Ever wondered what a Doordash bike courier does? Keen to find out what it’s actually like to be a bike rider? At BestReferralDriver we are a team of delivery drivers. We sat down with our friend, David, who delivers with DoorDash by bike in New York, to get the lowdown on life as a bike messenger and provide you with accurate and useful information.
We touched upon a range of topics; from why he started a bike rider job to how much he makes with his current gig.
We also got a fascinating insight into his gears and the tools he uses on a daily basis.
If hearing about David’s life as a Doordash bike courier has made you think “I could do this gig!”, then why not get a taste by actually becoming a Doordash rider? This article will provide you with all the information you need to have before embarking on your journey as a DoorDash bike delivery rider.
But without further ado, let’s meet David!
Before I started working with Doordash bike delivery service, I was used to making extra money driving with Uber.
With the coronavirus pandemic, New York became a ghost town. There were less people who booked rides and it often felt lonely. I also do not feel any more comfortable driving people in my car since it is safer to avoid coming into contact with people during this pandemic.
The current world situation really changed my perspective and I believe opened my mind to new experiences. Independent contractors are responsible for their vehicle maintenance and do not get reimbursed for gas expenses.
The gas price is currently about $1 per gallon higher than a year ago and it seems it could soon rise even more. I started looking for an alternative where I wouldn’t be so dependent on my car. I found that DoorDash offers just what I was looking for.
So, I started using my electric bike for food delivery.
Delivering food to customers by bike made me feel like I’m making an actual difference in the world as I am contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. I am also saving a lot more money on gas.
Making deliveries by bike is not a complex task, even if sometimes it takes some problem-solving skills. What I like most about my current gig is the flexibility and tremendous exercise. I do not need to motivate myself to go to the gym anymore since I have my bike all day to exercise with. I even get paid to exercise. I also get to explore and enjoy the city even more with my bike and be outdoors in fresh air. It’s all of this that makes me love my bike delivery boy job.
By riding with Doordash, I can earn money and get paid the same day. This is a very convenient advantage of working with Doordash.
Indeed, Doordash allows its drivers to cash out their earnings once a day. You can also sign up for the DasherDirect checking account and get paid even faster; at the end of each gig.
Doordash is my second job. I started to deliver by bike to make extra money and pay my student loan. Usually, my day as a courier doesn’t start until I’ve finished my first job, so it’s later in the day.
If you are looking for a bike courier job description, I can tell you that a typical day usually includes:
Delivering with Doordash is a strategic job. You must also be able to work under pressure. This means that deliveries must be completed fast!
If you want to earn a lot of money, you have to spend time and learn about your market.
You should always search for the best time to deliver in your area.
New York is really cold in winter and daylight goes away quickly, so I do not want to spend time freezing outside in the dark hours waiting for a delivery request. That is why I also take the time to plan out when I should do more deliveries. This varies according to your own personal preferences and conveniences.
DoorDash delivers from restaurant chains including Chick-Fil-A, Popeyes, Panera, Subway and other local restaurants.
They recently opened a Dashmart store . When you dash in New York you can easily get a delivery request for a 15 minute grocery delivery.
Keep in mind that the delivery radius for bike deliveries in my area ranges between 2 and 3 miles. This is a lot of biking, but when riding efficiently it is quicker.
Riding around the city with a bike is fun. However, whether you are in New York City, San Francisco or Washington D.C, it is really important that you have a good knowledge of road safety regulations and follow the local biking rules. You do not want to risk your safety and damaging the food. The last thing you want is to get hit by a car when delivering. Many cities have bike lanes on their roads to facilitate the drive for bikers.
👀 Related Article: Can International Students Do DoorDash
If you are looking for bike courier jobs near you, you are at the right place. DoorDash is looking for safe, reliable and punctual bike couriers to safely deliver various items to specified locations following the delivery instructions provided by the app.
Experience riding a bike or moped is preferred.
This means that you must be able to pass a background check.
In regards to what Doordash is looking for on the background check, you can be disqualified if you have a felony or other serious convictions.
Doordash will not check your employment, education or your experience working as a bike courier. However, they will check your criminal background history.
When delivering, you should also ensure that the orders are not damaged or affected by harsh weather conditions. This includes taking extra measures and more care.
You cannot use the Doordash insulated bag as it is not made to be used by bike. While making deliveries by bike, you have to equip yourself with the right equipment. This includes a phone mount and an insulated delivery backpack.
I will always remember my first order, and not as a positive experience.
The first evening I went out with a smallest and lightest bag: “Why do I have to overload my back?”, I say. So, I arrive in front of the pizzeria, still not knowing how to use the dasher app correctly and what to do exactly.
Once in the place, they gave me the pizzas, I tried to put them in my backpack but they didn't go in! I panicked a bit. I checked where I had to do the delivery. Fortunately, it was relatively close. I jump on my bike and carry the four pizza boxes by hand.
Despite this unlucky first day for me, I still retain lots of good moments as a bike courier for Doordash.
You need good physical stamina for every bicycle courier job.
Being physically fit and being able to face unforeseen situations are great assets to becoming a successful Doordash bike courier. Achieving as a bike courier and going beyond general expectations require many skills, such as having extensive knowledge on road safety and regulations and being able to manage time wisely on top of maintaining good communication and problem-solving skills.
When it comes to bike requirements, Doordash is one of the more lax companies out there. You can use just about any bike you wish, such as an e-bike, a mountain bike, a pedal assist bike or a normal bicycle.
To summarize, here are all of the Doordash vehicle and driver requirements for bike delivery:
👀 Related Article: Best Electric Bike Rental for Delivery
Electric scooters are allowed to reach a speed of 15 mph on New York City streets, making them a practical mode of transportation. Companies like Doordash search for bike-riding delivery workers all the time.
Because of their speed and ease to ride, electric bikes are more convenient for delivery jobs. Using an electric bicycle you can allow you to complete more deliveries and make more money.
As a reminder, Dashers are independent contractors. Earnings vary depending on the number of completed deliveries, the miles you ride and your availability of work.
Admittedly, an experienced bike courier can earn from $15 to $50 per hour while working during peak pay and providing excellent customer services.
Good Dashers are always rewarded with tips. Being nice and offering good services will often ensure you get more tips.
Very similarly to other delivery gigs, this job comes with benefits.
The Doordash bike application is online. If you have the requirements, you can apply to become a bike Dasher.
Doordash doesn’t list in their website the list of the cities where you can Doordash with a bicycle.
Start your Doordash bike sign up. If the option is available in your market, you will be able to choose “bike” under the vehicle types in your city.
In New York City, Doordash started a program called DashCorps. Bicycle messengers will work out of a NYC DashMart location (Manhattan and Brooklyn are the locations available).
E-Bike couriers for the DashCorps program are not independent contractors but W2 employees. You get a guaranteed pay of $15 per hour plus 100% customer tips. Additionally, if you work more than 30+ hours per week, you will also have access to healthcare benefits (e.g., medical, dental, vision).
Doordash will provide for you an e-bike in partnership with Zoomo. This way you don’t even have to buy a bike for yourself. If you are accepted in the program, you may NOT continue to dash. However, you can Uber Eats on a bike.
All deliveries are within 1-2 miles from the DashMart. In between orders and to complete your number of working hours, you may be asked to help with warehouse duties such as light cleaning, stocking or picking.
According to the NYC regulations, you must show proof that you have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to work with the DashCorps.
If you are interested in joining DashCorps, fill out the application form. Doordash will contact you to schedule a two hour interview and then, if accepted, you will be able to start working and delivering.
Doordash is one of the delivery apps that pays you to bike! Doordash bike delivery is an easy way to earn extra cash riding in your spare time. Keep in mind that the bicycle delivery option is not allowed in all cities where the San Francisco headquartered company is available. However, if you’re based in a big city and want to make money delivering with a bike, being a Doordash bike courier could be just the opportunity you’re seeking. Not only will you be saving money on gas, auto insurance, and other car maintenance, but as we have also seen recently with the COVID pandemic, you will avoid having passengers in your car and therefore coming into contact with the virus. If you like being outside in fresh air, exploring cities and delivering, this is the right job for you.
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