The 5 Best Bike Delivery Jobs to Make Money with Your Bike

Food delivery services have exploded in popularity, becoming a go-to option for freelancers, students, and anyone seeking flexible side gigs. The great news? You don’t always need a car to join the action! Bike delivery jobs are a fantastic way to earn extra income, get exercise, and enjoy the outdoors – all while setting your own hours.

Is it really possible to be a delivery driver for popular platforms like Grubhub or DoorDash using only a bicycle?

Absolutely! While car delivery is common, many delivery apps are increasingly embracing bike deliveries, especially in densely populated urban areas. Whether you’re using a standard bicycle, e-bike, scooter, or moped, numerous opportunities exist to earn part-time or even full-time income on two wheels.

Ready to ditch the car and explore the world of bike delivery? This guide will break down the top 5 bike delivery job apps, detailing what each job entails, realistic earning potential, and key considerations for bike couriers. Let’s get rolling!

1. DoorDash: The Widest Reach for Bike Dashers

From the bustling streets of NYC to sunny LA, DoorDash is a major player in the delivery market that actively welcomes bike riders in numerous metro cities across the United States. In some locations, they even allow deliveries on foot!

The official term for a DoorDash delivery driver is “Dasher.” As a Dasher, you’ll use the DoorDash app to log in, view available orders nearby, and select the deliveries you want to accept. Orders typically come from local restaurants, but in certain cities, you might also deliver from convenience stores, pharmacies, and select retail stores.

Pros for Bike Deliverers:

• Wide Availability: DoorDash generally offers bike delivery in more cities than some competitors, increasing your chances of finding opportunities in your area.
• Flexibility: Be your own boss – set your own hours and work when it suits you.
• Variety of Orders: Deliver from restaurants, grocery stores, and more (depending on location).

Cons for Bike Deliverers:

• Earnings Variability: While DoorDash advertises potential earnings of up to $25 per hour, most bike dashers report earning between $15 and $25 per hour on average, according to driver forums and reports. Your actual earnings depend heavily on location, time of day, order volume, distance, and customer tips.
• Limited Delivery Radius: Bike deliveries are naturally restricted to a smaller radius compared to car deliveries. This means you might receive fewer order requests or shorter distance orders.
• Physical Demands: Bike delivery can be physically demanding, especially in hilly areas or during inclement weather.

Earning Potential: DoorDash guarantees a base pay for each order, ranging from approximately $2 to $10. You keep 100% of customer tips on top of this base pay. You can increase your average hourly earnings by strategically delivering during peak hours, typically lunchtime (10 am to 1 pm) and dinnertime (5 pm to 9 pm).

Is Bike Delivery Available in Your City? Bike deliveries are not available in all DoorDash locations. To check if it’s an option in your city, sign up as a Dasher in your city and explore the vehicle options during the application process.

Ready to Get Started with DoorDash Bike Delivery? Visit DoorDash Dasher Central to learn more and sign up.

Related: How to Find DoorDash Pay Stubs (+ Other Tax-time Questions Answered)

2. Caviar: Upscale Deliveries, Premium Tips (Potentially)

DoorDash acquired Caviar in 2019, but it continues to operate as a distinct service, at least for now. When you sign up to deliver with Caviar, you are technically becoming a Dasher, but Caviar often partners with more upscale restaurants than the typical fast-food and pizza places you see on DoorDash.

Why Caviar is Interesting for Bike Couriers:

• Higher-End Restaurants: Caviar focuses on partnering with higher-quality, often more expensive restaurants in select cities.
• Potential for Larger Tips: Upscale restaurants often attract customers who are more inclined to tip generously, potentially boosting your earnings per delivery.
• Exclusivity (in Some Markets): In certain cities, some high-end restaurants exclusively partner with Caviar, giving you access to deliveries you might not find on other platforms.

Considerations for Bike Couriers:

• Limited Availability: Caviar operates in fewer cities than DoorDash, so bike delivery options may be more geographically restricted. Check if Caviar operates in your metro area and offers bike delivery.
• Order Distance: Upscale restaurants may be located further apart, potentially leading to longer bike trips between pickups and drop-offs.

Earning Potential: Similar to DoorDash, your Caviar earnings depend on base pay, distance, time, and tips. The potential for higher tips from more affluent customers is the key differentiator.

How to Sign Up: Sign up to deliver with Caviar , and in many cases, you’ll be eligible to deliver for both Caviar and DoorDash simultaneously, maximizing your order opportunities.

3. Uber Eats: Ride for Uber Without Car Requirements

Want to earn with Uber but your car doesn’t meet Uber’s strict vehicle requirements ? Uber Eats provides a great alternative, allowing bike deliveries in numerous major metro areas, including:

• San Francisco
• Washington D.C.
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• Houston
• Seattle
• Dallas

Note: The availability of bike deliveries can change, so always confirm if it’s an option in your specific city by signing up to deliver with Uber Eats.

Getting Started as an Uber Eats Bike Courier:

Like becoming a Rideshare driver with Uber , you’ll need to sign up and pass a background check for Uber Eats. However, a significant advantage for bike couriers is that you don’t need a driver’s license, car insurance, or vehicle registration! As long as you are at least 18 years old, you generally only need a government-issued ID and a social security number to sign up.

How Uber Eats Bike Delivery Works: Similar to other apps, Uber Eats sends notifications when new orders become available. You’ll see the base pay (calculated based on time, distance, and estimated effort) and the delivery destination. You have the freedom to accept or decline orders, allowing you to control how far and how long you bike.

Maximize Your Uber Eats Earnings: Like other delivery apps, you can make more money on Uber Eats by delivering during peak demand times. Lunchtime (11 am to 2 pm) and dinnertime (5 pm to 9:30 pm) are typically the busiest, with weekends generally being the highest-earning days.

4. Instacart: Grocery Delivery by Bike (Limited, but Possible)

While often associated with car delivery, Instacart , primarily a grocery delivery service, also offers opportunities for bike delivery, though it’s more nuanced than meal delivery apps. Instacart involves shopping for and delivering groceries and items from retail stores like Target.

Instacart Full-Service Shoppers vs. In-Store Shoppers:

• Full-Service Shoppers: These are the traditional Instacart drivers who shop and deliver orders. Bike delivery is possible for some full-service shopper orders, particularly smaller grocery runs or deliveries from local markets within a limited radius. You select the orders you want, and you can assess the order size and distance to determine if it’s manageable by bike.
• In-Store Shoppers: If bike delivery isn’t viable in your area, or if you prefer not to deliver by bike, consider becoming an Instacart in-store shopper. In-store shoppers work inside grocery stores, fulfilling and packing orders for customers to pick up or for other drivers to deliver.

Pros of Instacart In-Store Shopper (for Bikers):

• Consistent Hourly Pay: In-store shoppers earn a reliable hourly wage. According to Glassdoor data , Instacart in-store shoppers average around $13 per hour , with some earning up to $24 per hour.
• No Vehicle Required: In-store shopper roles eliminate the need for a bike or car.
• Less Physically Demanding (than bike delivery): Primarily involves walking and standing within a store.

Considerations for Bike Delivery with Instacart (Full-Service):

• Order Size Limitations: Large grocery orders are obviously unsuitable for bike delivery. You’ll need to be selective and only accept smaller orders.
• Carrying Capacity: Consider the carrying capacity of your bike and any bags or equipment you use.
• Distance: Grocery deliveries may sometimes involve longer distances than restaurant deliveries.

Explore Instacart Options: Visit the Instacart Shoppers website to explore both full-service shopper and in-store shopper opportunities in your area.

Suggested reading: Freelance Payment Methods: A Breakdown for Freelancers, Contractors, and the Self-Employed

5. GrubHub: Flexible Schedules, Major City Focus

GrubHub , like other major food delivery apps, offers the appealing perk of a flexible schedule. You can work when you want, where you want, fitting deliveries around your life.

GrubHub Bike Delivery Landscape:

• Limited Bike Courier Cities: GrubHub primarily permits bike couriers in major, densely populated cities like NYC and San Francisco. This is a key limitation of working for GrubHub as a biker . However, if you have a motorcycle or scooter, you can deliver in any city where GrubHub operates.
• Standard Delivery Model: GrubHub operates similarly to other food delivery apps. You accept order requests, pick up meals from restaurants, and deliver them to customers.

Earning Structure:

GrubHub drivers are paid based on:

• Mileage: Distance traveled for each order.
• Time: Time spent traveling to the restaurant and to the customer.
• Customer Tips: You keep 100% of tips.

Earnings are not guaranteed and fluctuate based on when, where, and how often you work. Average driver earnings are reported to be in the range of $12 to $15 per hour , according to GoBankingRates. To maximize your GrubHub income , focus on working during peak hours and providing excellent customer service to encourage better tips.

Check GrubHub Bike Delivery Availability: Visit the GrubHub driver sign-up page to see if bike delivery is offered in your city.

6. GoPuff: Convenience & Speedy Deliveries from Fulfillment Centers

GoPuff is a unique delivery service that differs from typical meal delivery platforms. GoPuff stocks its own micro-fulfillment centers with a wide range of products, including snacks, drinks, household essentials, OTC medications, and even beer and wine (where permitted).

How GoPuff Works for Delivery Partners:

• Fulfillment Center Pickups: As a GoPuff delivery partner, you’ll pick up orders directly from a local GoPuff fulfillment center, rather than traveling to restaurants or stores.
• Fast & Efficient Deliveries: This streamlined process eliminates time-consuming stops, allowing for quicker and more efficient deliveries.
• Commission + Tips: GoPuff delivery partners earn a commission on each order, plus customer tips.

Bike Delivery with GoPuff: GoPuff’s website doesn’t explicitly mention bike delivery, but it’s worth checking if it’s an option in your city, especially in dense urban areas where short-distance deliveries from fulfillment centers would be feasible by bike.

Explore GoPuff Delivery Partner Opportunities: Sign up as a GoPuff delivery partner to inquire about bike delivery availability in your town.

🚀 Supercharge Your Earnings: Deliver for Two Bike Delivery Jobs Simultaneously

One of the biggest advantages of being an independent contractor is the unparalleled flexibility. You control your schedule, working when you want and taking breaks when you need them. This freedom also extends to how you maximize your earning potential.

The Power of Dual-Apping: A savvy strategy to boost your hourly income is to deliver for two apps at the same time. There will inevitably be periods when order requests are slow on a single app. By logging into two apps concurrently, you can seamlessly switch between them, ensuring you always have delivery opportunities. When one app is quiet, you can quickly grab an order from the other.

How to Juggle Two Delivery Apps (Successfully):

1. Know the App Rules: Before using multiple apps, carefully review the terms of service for each app. Understand their policies on pausing requests or logging off, as these actions can sometimes affect your ability to log back in or receive future orders.
2. Master One App First: It’s highly recommended to gain experience and confidence with one delivery app before attempting to manage two simultaneously. Juggling apps without prior experience can lead to errors and negatively impact customer ratings.
3. Pause or Log Off Strategically: When you accept an order on App A, immediately pause requests or log off from App B. Attempting to fulfill orders for two different services at the same time is a recipe for disaster, likely resulting in negative customer ratings and potential penalties from the apps (including account suspension).
4. Prioritize Customer Experience: Always prioritize timely and accurate deliveries for each order. Rushing or getting orders mixed up while trying to manage two apps can damage your reputation and future earning potential.

Important Note: While “dual-apping” can increase earnings, it requires careful planning and execution. Start with one app, learn the ropes, and then cautiously introduce a second app to maximize your income without compromising customer service.

🚲 Top Tips for Landing Bike Delivery Jobs & Maximizing Your Income

Forget scouring job boards! Finding bike delivery gigs is straightforward: apply directly through the company’s website or app. Once approved, simply log in when you’re ready to deliver and check for available requests in your area.

Key Strategies for Bike Delivery Success:

• Apply to Multiple Apps: To increase your chances of getting accepted and having consistent delivery opportunities, apply to several apps simultaneously. Working for multiple platforms provides more flexibility and income potential.
• Focus on Peak Hours: Deliver during peak demand times (lunch and dinner rushes, weekends) to maximize order volume and earnings.
• Excellent Customer Service: Provide friendly and efficient service to boost customer tips and ratings. Positive ratings can lead to preferential order assignments on some platforms.
• Know Your City: Familiarize yourself with the best routes, traffic patterns, and bike-friendly areas in your city to optimize delivery times.
• Maintain Your Bike: Regularly maintain your bike to ensure it’s in good working order, minimizing breakdowns and delays.
• Gear Up: Invest in essential gear like a reliable bike lock, lights (for night deliveries), a phone mount, and weather-appropriate clothing. Consider insulated delivery bags to keep food at the right temperature.
• Track Your Earnings & Expenses: As an independent contractor, keep meticulous records of your income and expenses for tax purposes. Tools like accounting apps or spreadsheets can be helpful. For guidance on managing your freelance finances, explore resources on finance and legal help for freelancers .

You may also like: How to Start a Freelance Business: A Complete Guide for Beginners .

🏁 Conclusion: Bike Delivery Jobs – Your Flexible Path to Earning on Two Wheels

While you might not be able to deliver packages for Amazon Flex on a bike or become a rideshare driver without a car, the world of meal and grocery delivery apps opens up exciting income opportunities for cyclists. If you live in a city that embraces bike couriers, you can leverage your bicycle to earn flexible income, set your own hours, and enjoy the benefits of being an independent contractor.

Ready to turn your bike into an earning machine? Start applying to the delivery services available in your town today! The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can start pedaling your way to extra cash. Delivery drivers remain in high demand, but as more people join the gig economy, app platforms may eventually limit new driver onboarding. Act now to secure your spot!

Protect Your Freelance Business & Well-being: Don’t forget to prioritize your health and financial security as a bike delivery freelancer. By joining Selfgood , you gain access to crucial freelancer benefits, including affordable supplemental healthcare insurance, dental and vision plans (learn more about dental insurance options for the self-employed ), and resources to navigate the financial and legal aspects of freelance work. Explore affordable health insurance solutions for self-employed professionals to ensure you’re covered.