Urban flow : bike messengers and the city / Jeffrey L. Kidder.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kidder, Jeffrey L. (Jeffrey Lowell), 1977-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bicycle messengers--United States--Social conditions.

Bicycle messengers.

Sociology, Urban--United States.

Sociology, Urban.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (252 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Ithaca [N.Y.] : ILR Press, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Bike messengers are familiar figures in the downtown cores of major cities. Tasked with delivering time-sensitive materials within, at most, a few hours-and sometimes in as little as fifteen minutes-these couriers ride in all types of weather, weave in and out of dense traffic, dodging (or sometimes failing to dodge) taxis and pedestrians alike in order to meet their clients' tight deadlines. Riding through midtown traffic at breakneck speeds is dangerous work, and most riders do it for very little pay and few benefits. As the courier industry has felt the pressures of first fax machines, then e-mails, and finally increased opportunities for electronic filing of legal "paperwork," many of those who remain in the business are devoted to their job. For these couriers, messengering is the foundation for an all-encompassing lifestyle, an essential part of their identity. In Urban Flow, Jeffrey L. Kidder (a sociologist who spent several years working as a bike messenger) introduces readers to this fascinating subculture, exploring its appeal as well as its uncertainties and dangers.Through interviews with and observation of messengers at work and play, Kidder shows how many become acclimated to the fast-paced, death-defying nature of the job, often continuing to ride with the same sense of purpose off the clock. In chaotic bike races called alleycats, messengers careen through the city in hopes of beating their peers to the finish line. Some messengers travel the world to take part in these events, and the top prizes are often little more than bragging rights. Taken together, the occupation and the messengers' after-hours pursuits highlight a creative subculture inextricably linked to the urban environment. The work of bike messengers is intense and physically difficult. It requires split-second reflexes, an intimate knowledge of street maps and traffic patterns, and a significant measure of courage in the face of both bodily harm and job insecurity. In Urban Flow, Kidder gives readers a rare opportunity to catch more than a fleeting glimpse of these habitués of city streets.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Lure of Delivery

1. The Job

2. The Lifestyle

3. Men's Work and Dirty Work

4. Playing in Traffic

5. The Deep Play of Alleycats

6. The Affective Appropriation of Space

7. The Meaning of Messenger Style

Conclusion: The Politics of Appropriation

Appendix A: Theoretical Outline

Appendix B: Expanded Discussion of Method

Notes

References

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9780801462924

0801462924

9780801462917

0801462916

OCLC:

757916985