After just two episodes, the Travel Channel has confirmed that bike messenger reality show Triple Rush is “temporarily not on air,” which sounds a lot like a euphemism for it was canceled. We contacted them and are awaiting an official statement, but for now feel free to speculate wildly on Twitter where the backlash and outpouring of support has already begun. Or you can write them here.
Since the advent of the fax machine, every few years, someone postulates about the kind of technology that will render bike messengers obsolete… to no avail. Like an endangered species that refuses to die, nothing can really kill them off and ironically, certain human advancements are ensuring their survival. Take video data for example. It’s still a lot easier to have terabytes sent over via bike than the internet. Read more »
Last week, we took a look at the trailer for Triple Rush, a reality show of sorts about NYC bike messengers and now here’s actual footage from the series that’s set to debut on the Travel Channel tomorrow night. Watch Quik Trak courier Nick pander to the camera and take an awfully long time to complete what is a relatively short run.
Late last year, ANIMAL exclusively reported on the Travel Channel filming a bike messenger TV series and we can now give you a first look at Triple Rush, which premiers April 14th at 10PM. Read more »
Today we learned that New York City’s fast paced, traffic weaving bike messengers will be the subject of a new “docu-reality” on the Travel Channel. Premium Rush stunt double and bike messenger Austin Horse tells us he is consulting for the show which took a very “egalitarian” approach to choosing couriers, so don’t expect to see the usual suspects or any dumb White Rapper-style competitions. It’s set to premiere sometime in March 2011. (Photo: braesikalla)
I’m not not sure why the New York Times or Gothamist calls these NYC couriers who appeared on Judge Judy as “hipster bike messengers,” but since they’re relatively young, have tattoos, and a fixed gear bike is involved, it must have been too hard to resist. Read more »
While out brunching in the East Village, a few bike messengers caught a thief trying to steal one of their rides. After batting him around a bit, one of the messengers began videotaping as they beat him over and over with the message, “Don’t steal bikes, bro!” The camera man’s footage and firsthand account of the bike thief beatdown is below. Read more »
When all is said and done, there’s really nothing that cool about being a bike messenger anymore, but today’s marketing savvy package jockey’s have done a great job perpetuating the myth. They’ve even convinced 42 Below vodka, a natural fit for cycling, to support their fiercely independent, anti-corporate Gold Sprints event. Watch their video! |YouTube|
Although he can haul 200 pounds of crap on his specially equipped cargo bike and business might be up 20%, chances are Hoardi Depalm, owner of Checkered Courier, is still as miserable as ever. If Mike Dee is the world’s angriest messenger, Hoadari isn’t far behind. You almost can’t blame him either. Riding around all day on a big ol’ goofy bike through grueling traffic on someone else’s time schedule like a package jockey can be daunting for anyone. And it’s also probably the #1 reason why a scowl is permanently etched onto his face. |NYT|
Photo: John Marshall Mantel for The New York Times
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