A side gig can be an effective way to make money if you have free time or the proper equipment. For example, there are several ways you can make money with your bike, scooter, or motorcycle.
You might consider these income ideas since they require minimal skill. They can also be excellent options if you enjoy being outside or live in a bike-friendly metro area.
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How to Make Money With Your Bike or Scooter
If you don’t mind spending time on your bicycle, there are many opportunities to supplement your income. Here are the top choices to make money with your bike.
1. Deliver Meals for DoorDash
Making food deliveries is an excellent way to earn cash with your bike or scooter. DoorDash is a popular platform that lets you make deliveries from local restaurants to customers.
As a Dasher, you get to create your own schedule and receive weekly payments. Dasher compensation varies depending on things like tips and items delivered.
This app is available in 6,000+ towns across the nation, but not every city allows bikes or scooters.
If you reside in a city that allows Dashers to deliver food via bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle, bike delivery can be an option.
It’s also possible to deliver via foot in some locations. Read our guide on other apps that pay you to walk to identify additional opportunities.
You must be 18 years old to get started, so it can be one of the better summer jobs for college students.
After joining, you can start delivering in as little as a week after passing a background check.
Dashers need a smartphone, an insulated bag (provided by the company), and a bike or scooter to start.
Uber Eats works similarly and is available in over 6,000 cities and 60+ countries worldwide.
Read our driving for DoorDash review to learn more.
2. Deliver for Instacart
If you don’t mind shopping, it is possible to deliver groceries for Instacart via bike or motorcycle.
As an Instacart Shopper, you set your delivery schedule, shop for the order, and deliver it to the customer. You need to be selective so that you don’t choose bulky orders that require a car to deliver.
The Shopper app lets you preview the order size before you accept or reject it.
Like other delivery apps, must be at least 18 years old, capable of lifting up to 40 pounds and own a smartphone to work for Instacart.
Earnings depend on order size, but it’s possible to earn up to $20 an hour making deliveries for the company.
Read our guide on how to become an Instacart Shopper to learn more.
3. Get Paid to Bike to Work
It sounds crazy, but you can get paid to ride a bike to work through the Bicycle Commuter Act.
This Act allows you to receive a tax credit for commuting by bike to work. You can receive up to $53 per month as a reimbursement. What this means is that it is a pre-tax benefit.
If you like to bike to work, speak with your Group Benefits area to learn how to take advantage of this benefit.
In addition to the potential tax savings, you also avoid transportation expenses such as gas, parking fees, and public transit fares. Read our guide on ways to get free gas to lower your fuel expenses.
Additionally, you can pair this with a fitness app that will pay you to workout to earn more.
4. Start a Bike Blog or YouTube Channel
If you’re creative, starting a blog or YouTube channel can be a fun way to make money biking. It does take time to build a stream of income, but it can be quite lucrative.
While you won’t earn cash immediately like you will with a delivery service, you can earn recurring income with these possibilities:
- Earn affiliate income by recommending products and services
- Display ads
- Promote sponsored products
Your income potential increases as your audience grows.
In addition to earning some extra cash, you can help people learn more about biking in your area or general information about riding bikes.
5. Lead Bike Tours
If you want to get paid to ride bikes and live in a warmer area or the weather permits, leading bike tours is a fun way to supplement your income.
This opportunity is a terrific way to make money with your bike and help people at the same time.
Many people love enjoying the outdoors and exploring. If you live in a major tourist area, this is an excellent way to make extra money during the summer.
Read our guide on how to make extra money this summer if you’re looking for other similar ways to earn cash.
See if there is an existing bike tour company in your area. Otherwise, this may be a fun side business you can start.
You can advertise being a bike tour guide on these platforms to reach locals and tourists:
- Airbnb Experiences
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craigslist
Depending on where you live, there may be a lot of ways to monetize this opportunity. Historical or architectural tours are an excellent place to start.
6. Be a Bike Messenger
Bike messenger jobs let you deliver items to customers on their behalf. You may find yourself delivering something as small as a piece of mail or an important package.
Traffic jams make it harder for delivery drivers traveling by car to drop off items quickly, so using a bike is a convenient way to solve this problem.
A big city typically has a courier service that hires messengers. These courier jobs can usually involve delivering items like legal documents to individuals.
If you have the time and don’t mind the fast-paced nature, being a bike courier can be a great way to make money riding your bike for short distances.
You can also get paid to ride a scooter if you’re willing to drive a longer distance. Being familiar with shortcuts and back roads can be helpful to avoid traffic jams and consistently make fast deliveries.
7. Rent Out Your Bike
You don’t always have to ride your bike to make money on the side. If you have a bike that you don’t regularly use, you can also list it on Spinlister to earn cash.
It doesn’t cost anything to list your bike on the platform. You only get charged when someone rents out the bike. At that time, the company keeps 17.5 percent of the total rental cost.
You are in charge of who you rent your bike out to. However, the more you make the bike available, the more you earn.
The standard rates for bike rentals are $7 per hour, $20 per day, and $100 per week. You can go above or below those numbers, but those ranges have worked for previous users.
The platform states that you can earn up to $500 per month. The renter pays insurance costs when they rent your bike, and the platform covers all bikes worth up to $1,000.
8. Work as a Pedicab Driver
A bike taxi service is a legitimate way to make money in the gig economy, particularly in a larger city. You must be in good shape for this side hustle as the typical pedicab weighs 300 pounds plus the passenger weights.
See if there are pedicab companies in your city looking for a good cyclist to minimize your startup costs. Depending on the service, you may need to rent the bike taxi or share a portion of your fare sales.
Your city could also require you to be a licensed driver since you’re transporting people.
9. Advertise on Your Bike
If you constantly ride your bike in busy areas, you can partner with Ridevert to display ads on your bicycle.
This side hustle app tracks how many miles you ride each day to calculate your pay. It’s possible to earn up to $280 per month, according to the platform.
You must be at least 18 years old to join. After downloading the app, Ridevert analyzes your daily route and starts matching you with brands.
For example, you might make money advertising services that appeal to young adults if you’re near a university.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions about how to make money with your bike? Here are some common inquiries readers share with us.
Can you do Instacart with a bike?
Yes, it is possible to deliver small Instacart orders by bike in select cities. You may need to consider using a bike trailer to carry larger orders.
Other driver jobs like Uber Eats and DoorDash can be better for bike deliveries as the orders might be less bulky for meals and convenience store items.
Can you deliver for Amazon Flex on a bike?
It is not possible to make deliveries for Amazon Flex on a bike or scooter. The retail giant requires drivers to have a four-door vehicle with four wheels.
Read our guide on other apps like Amazon Flex for a suitable alternative.
How much can you earn as a bike courier?
According to ZipRecruiter, full-time courier jobs have an average salary of $32,005 per year. But, the pay range can be between $25,000 and $43,500.
Ultimately, your income potential also depends on where you live.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a fun way to earn extra money, you may not have to look much further than your bike.
There are plenty of options to choose from if you’re looking to supplement your income, and you’ll also save money.
Maintaining and repairing a bicycle is much more cost-effective than doing so with a car. Plus, you won’t have to worry about paying for gas.
Better yet, you get the fringe benefit of exercising.
Your location and weather may limit your ability to make money, but consider this a flexible or seasonal opportunity to diversify your income.
What’s your favorite side gig?
*Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.
*Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval
*Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply
*Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability
*Dash anytime: Subject to availability
Choncé is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), personal finance freelance writer, and blogger who focuses on helping others manage their money better in order to live a life with more possibilities and fewer limitations. Her work has been featured on Business Insider, LendingTree, Credit Sesame, and Barclaycard.
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