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Some couriers work for courier companies on an open circuit with a radio or bleeper, rather like minicabs. Earnings depend on the volume of work and the size of the fleet, and up to a point the speed and street knowledge of the rider. With the greater distances covered in this sort of work, the
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and the fax machine in the mid-1980s, as well as the need for appropriate insurance and e-mail in the 1990s, saw an end to the high-earning boom years of the late 1970s and early 1980s for London's motorcycle couriers. However, in the congested cities and capitals of many developing countries,
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Some couriers are 'in-house' messengers working for news agencies for a set wage and on set hours, usually staying in the city centre and riding to and from the same places. Running expenses are much reduced, as is the unpredictable nature of the open circuit.
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when motorcycles were fitted with bulky mini-cab radios. Businesses were pleased with the results and the courier industry took off from the mid-1970s. Pioneers in London included Yellow
Express, GLH, Ambassador, Mercury Despatch,
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Most motorcycle couriers on the open circuit use machines no bigger than 600 cc, which are light and economical in town but adequate enough for occasional long-distance work.
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Motorcycle couriers are common in the major urban centres of Europe, South
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In London, radio controlled messengers became especially popular following the
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expenses in running the machine can account for at least 20% of earnings.
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Person who delivers parcels or messages on an engined two-wheeled vehicle
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and found employment difficult to come by. As a result, they purchased
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because the cost of car ownership is very high due to car taxes and a
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motorcycle couriers are as popular as ever for urban deliveries.
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At the end of the First World War in 1918, many
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Motorcycle couriers are especially common in countries like
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348:Certificate of Entitlement
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