= 6: =

eptember 26, 1990. This Week

TOP STORY ©

Continued from Page 1

Dynamics courier Tony Sikich, 20,
explained some of the courier com-
panies have regular contracts, which
mean regular runs for the riders. At
a designated time the couriers make
a pick-up or drop-off at the same time
each day..

Before noon, Loomis courier lan
Finch makes his contract run picking
up envelopes from five businesses on
Yates and Fort. As he weaves through
back alleys, he crouches low, slowing
as he approaches a blind corner.

By 12:20 Finch sits on his haunches
outside the Ministry of Tourism office
on Wharf Street checking his
manifest. The envelopes go into a
parcel he drops off at Air B.C. in time
for the 1:10 flight from the Inner Har-
bour to Vancouver.

Couriers carry more than just en-
velopes. Once a courier was asked to
transport a dead monkey, being
shipped to a laboratory for post mor-
tem. The courier company drew the
line at that.

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Oct. 4th

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Oct. 6th
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Oct. 24th
6:30 p.m.

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day.

Select Express courier Tolan
McNeil, 20, with a bike-chain

bracelet and a T-shirt with

slower traffic keep right
emblazoned in reverse letters,
sits beside the Royal Bank
building.

“‘T once carried five dozen bran
muffins and (another time) a
bouquet of flowers with hot dogs
hanging from them.

“T don’t like taking lab samples
marked toxic,” he added.

McNeil and the other couriers
enjoy the social aspect of their
job. Couriers often receive
friendly greetings when they
enter an office or wait for calls at

Fort and Douglas. While wait-:

ing for a run, Select courier Troy
Wells, 18, said, “If you like
people, you'll like the job.”
Other times the salutations
are not so pleasant. The couriers
can relate instances when
people yell abuse, spit at them or
try to grab them as they fly past.
They have their own peeves
with the driving and walking
public — drivers cutting them
off, pedestrians ignoring trafic

TRACK STANDING as he waits for a traffic light to change,
courier Scott Lynch watches cross traffic along Douglas
Sireet. Contending with rough roads, pedestrians,
drivers and other couriers is a regular part of a Couriers

ATTENTION
11-YEAR OLDS

CHILDREN’S
INTERNATIONAL
SUMMER VILLAGES
Invites 11-yr-olds to
apply for the stimulating
experience of attending
an International Village
in 1990

If your 11th birthday is between
Aug. 1, ‘90 and July 31, 91, and
you are a Canadian Citizen or
landed immigrant, and wish to
participate in a month of living
with children from other coun-
tries and cultures, come to the
VILLAGE information meeting
FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, ’90
7:00-8:45 p.m.

Spectrum Community School
Where application forms and
further information will be
available.

For information PHONE:
388-9000 (evenings)
or write:

CISV, Box 882
Victoria, BC. V8W 2R9

PHOTO BY CHUCK RUSSELL

signals, car doors opening unex-#
pectedly in front of them.

The couriers also recognize
some criticism is warranted. In §
fact it’s a topic of conversation.
Slack time, around noon and &
mid-afternoon, provides a §
chance to talk about bikes or a
bum rap.

Many of the couriers have had {
run-ins with the law. Someofthe §
riders have amassed fines up-&
wards of $300. Most are forrun- |
ning red lights, riding on the §
sidewalk or riding the wrong §
way down a one-way street. The ¥
fines cost them $50-75, the bet- §
ter part of a days wages. :

Cycle Express courier Scott §
Lynch, 19, said , “We break the
law, but we're not the only ones
breaking it. I got a ticket fore
running a red when I was &
making a left (turn), but 1g
couldn't go because of
pedestrians walking after the #
light had changed. £

“We have to drive accordingly,” §
Lynch added. :

Aside from the fines, the §
couriers encounter other expen- §
ses. Today, the majority ride §
mountain bikes, although some §
still prefer touring and racing §
bikes. Most ride top of the line
bikes — Fischer, Fion, §
Marinoni — many bought fog
the job. Equipped with lights for §
the winter months and otherg
gadgets, the bikes are worth?
$700-$2,000. There's also the
cost of Gortex gaiters and raing
gear, backpacks, bicycle locksi
and shoes. On top of that, the®
couriers are responsible for their§
own bike repairs, replacings
brakes, bent rims, tires andg
inner tubes. The victims of ¥
Victoria’s streets. And riding j
styles. :

Even with these costs of doing
business, the monetary rewards 4
keep some of the couriers in
business. But few couriers are us
it just for the money. Many of¢
them find the life exhilarating.

Continued on Page 3