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Philly’s bike messengers are on call and on the move

They race through shifting dispatches, tight deadlines, and city traffic while pushing to reclaim streets and make cycling safer
Bike courier Brian Campbell, 31, rides down a bike lane along the Delaware River during his morning shift on Friday, July 31, 2026, in Philadelphia. Campbell often starts his morning shift picking up packages from the Time Cycle building, which is located beneath the Ben Franklin Bridge, and delivers them around the Old City area first before heading uptown. “It’s funny how the days just fly by,” Campbell said.Read moreAidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

In a world of autonomous food delivery robots and Amazon Prime, Philadelphians might be surprised to find bike messengers zooming across Center City streets, if they even know what one is. But what distinguishes the messengers from other cyclists and delivery drivers is not just the comically large bags they carry and the decked-out single-speed bikes they ride, but their ability to strategically and efficiently navigate the city. While most people rely on Google Maps, full-time bike messengers Brian Campbell, 31, and Orchid Newberger, 29, spend all day hustling through busy streets and traffic-filled intersections with addresses in hand and routes in mind. While Campbell starts his mornings in Old City delivering paystubs, Newberger finds herself riding between South Street and Spring Garden; they end up meeting at the 1700 Market plaza to catch up, smoke cigarettes, and play scratch-off tickets. They are expected to deliver legal documents for lawyers, safely transport medical samples for hospitals, and even serve people subpoenas, all while dodging motor vehicles and e-bikes. Although each dispatch could lead to a potential injury, what makes the job worth it is the freedom that the ride brings.“I’m as free as the breeze and I ride where I please,” Campbell said.