Motorcycle Courier

At the end of the First World War in 1918, many British Army motorcycle despatch riders of the Royal Corps of Signals were demobilized and found employment difficult to come by. As a result, they purchased military surplus motorcycles, and began couriering in central London. Traffic at that time moved at about 8 miles per hour.

Image: Courier motorcyclist delivering blood.

Radio controlled couriers came about during the 1971 Royal Mail dispute (strike) when motorcycles were fitted with radios similar to those that equipped mini-cabs. London businesses were pleased with the results and the courier industry took off. Pioneers included Mercury Despatch, Addison Lee and City of London Courier Company. Popular machines for despatch & courier work included: the Yamaha XT 500 Trials, the Honda CX 500, Honda RS 250, Kawasaki GT550,the Kawasaki GPZ 250/305 and many more, four-stroke singles and twins being the most durable & economical to run. The advent of the facsimile machine in the 80's, and electronic mail in the 90's saw a significant decrease in the volume of work for London's motorcycle couriers.

Today

Small companies have been bought out by larger ones, and many have diversified into executive/private-hire/chauffeur/passenger operations. Motorcycle couriers have to compete with cycle couriers for the same work, and rates have stagnated. Many riders have left the courier industry altogether. Some have since become paparazzi and value the mobility of a motorcycle; their street knowledge of London is also useful.

Increasing traffic congestion and rising fuel costs make motorcycle couriers an attractive option for the movement of small packages and high priority consignments. According to a report referenced by the London congestion charge, the introduction of this tariff has led to an "increased use of motorbikes.

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