The average person might think they’ll get their food faster from a delivery driver in a car than a bike, but if you’re in a big city, the reality is the opposite. Studies show that bicycle and scooter drivers make more money at their job because they get to skip the heavy traffic and deliver their goods faster than all other transportation methods.
The downside? The job of a working cyclist is extremely dangerous, with some statistics showing up to 62% of bike delivery drivers reporting involvement in a car accident. The danger increases significantly in rainy or snowy weather when visibility is low and roads are treacherous.
And let’s not forget to mention the problem of soggy food and drinks delivered to the customer. When that happens, your ratings — and your tips — go down.
While you can’t predict and prevent every possibility, following these tips can increase your rainy-day biking delivery safety and services.
1. Stick to Familiar Streets
You’re tempted to take shortcuts when it’s raining and look for places with overheads to avoid the weather. But if you’re unfamiliar with those streets, getting lost or running into unexpected obstacles, like potholes and dead ends, is easier.
When it’s raining, you tend to keep your head down instead of looking in front of you. This is always dangerous on a bike, but it’s a little easier on familiar streets. You know where the street lights and crosswalks are and are more likely to remember those big potholes and high-traffic areas.
2. Dress Appropriately
Your current gig job working for one of the many delivery services available has many benefits, such as time freedom and a larger potential income. But all of those advantages hinge on you being healthy enough to work.
To that end, when the forecast (or the sky) calls for rainy weather, be sure to dress appropriately before you leave the house. As a bike rider, this can be a bit of a challenge as your transportation requires a level of comfort and efficiency. A long raincoat can get caught in the pedals and spokes so wear a vessi waterproof sneakers
Clothes Make the Delivery Person
Look for a windbreaker or raincoat that repels water but doesn’t have unnecessary heavy material to bog you down. A water-resistant cycling jacket works well for light rains, but get a waterproof coat or shell if your area tends to get full-on downpours. These have high collars to deter rain from sliding down your back. They have a reflective design to help you stay extra visible.
Don’t forget about your feet and hands. Slippery extremities can cause your hands and feet to slide off the handles and pedals. Waterproof gloves and sneakers with solid tread are best for biking in the rain.
Moving on to your general outfit, opt for comfortable, breathable nylon, spandex, or polyester shirts, as these dry fast. Jeans get heavy and constrictive when they’re wet. Consider wearing water-repellant merino wool under your clothes as a base layer, and swap the jeans for those fast-drying, breathable materials. Top your outfit off with a hole-less brimmed hat to keep the water out of your eyes.
3. Get Rain-Friendly Gear
As you’re shopping for your initial biking gear, look for easily transportable, weatherproof, or water-resistant items. For instance, a typical umbrella isn’t easy to carry on a bike. Instead, invest in a foldable umbrella that tucks into your delivery basket. Keep it there, no matter the weather, so you can grab it in a pinch.
Biking gear should always include helmets. It’s a safety precaution that could save your life, but it may also be the law where you’re delivering. Embrace this necessary expense as one that can keep you a bit dryer and help you see better when it’s raining.
You’ll need to use your phone as a GPS device for many of your deliveries, but holding it in your hand is inherently perilous. When you shop for a phone holder, look for the matching waterproof case that goes along with it.
Finally, get a water-repellant, insulated food delivery backpack. These stand upright and can be worn over your shoulders. They’re helpful even if you have a built-in bike basket. The extra layers of material keep your goods dry and cushioned and let you take on larger orders.
Conclusion
Working as a biking deliverer gives you plenty of advantages over your vehicle-driving colleagues. You can get places faster than they can, you don’t need to deal with heavy traffic, and maintaining your transportation is significantly cheaper. But with those pros comes the con of managing your job no matter what the weather is like. Following these tips, along with the usual road rules, will guarantee you a better chance of safer, more efficient deliveries when it’s raining.
