Community Highlights: Meet Tyler Logel of Nashville Bike Guy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Logel. 

Tyler, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In February of 2020, I was the office manager for a roofing contractor. I had an apartment, a private office, my dream car; and then the pandemic hit. I won’t say that I lost it all because of COVID-19. The financial peril that ensued was my own, but the pandemic was definitely the spark. I spent most of the quarantine apart of a commune in North Nashville. When the quarantine lifted in May of 2020, I was in dire need of money. I moved down to New Orleans to stay with my Uncle Jeremy and that’s where I found work as a bike courier. 

My uncle had been delivering food on a bike in New Orleans for years, he taught me everything I needed to know. After a few months, I decided this was the best job I’d ever had. In September of 2020, I moved to Nashville hoping there would be a lot more opportunities for a bike courier. I lived in the Music City Hostel downtown for 4 months, it was the perfect location for courier work and exploring Nashville. Much to my surprise, there were only a few bike couriers in Nashville and even fewer opportunities in that line of work. 

After several months of delivering in Downtown and Midtown, I started to realize that I was serving a niche market for a specific area. Most of my customers and businesses were regulars, I was the hyperlocal delivery guy on a bike. I wanted to show more people that this was an efficient and eco-friendly way to serve Nashville, not to mention super fun, so I started Nashville Bike Guy. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would definitely say it’s been an uphill battle- literally. I was never athletic growing up, so this career has been a weird lifestyle change. It gets easier and easier every ride, but there’s always going to be physical challenges to face. Nashville has a lot of hills, strong winds, and pretty rough roads. It’s not always easy on the knees, but it’s a living that makes me live longer. I will say one thing, it feels a lot better than working in an office. 

Another obstacle has been poor bicycle infrastructure. Al be it; the Greenway System is prominent throughout the city, its maintenance, construction, and enforcement is a far cry from perfect. The promises made by the city to provide more bike lanes and pedestrian walkways have been ignored. Just drive downtown and you’ll see the mess of traffic between pedestrians and cars. It’s pretty dangerous to ride a bike downtown, trust me I’m dodging cars all day. I think this is one of the main reasons Nashville residents don’t use bicycle transport as much as other major cities. 

We’ve been impressed with Nashville Bike Guy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
After a year of being a bike courier, I had delivered for UberEats, Postmates, DoorDash, and Jimmy John’s. I wanted to support small businesses and show people the feasibility of bike delivery, so I started Nashville Bike Guy. At first, I just wanted to promote an eco-friendly career option, but it dawned on me that I could create hyper-local connections that could lead to more work for bike couriers in Nashville. My mission is to inspire more people to utilize bicycle transit, not only to travel but to transport as well. I hope that more restaurants, businesses, and distributors see the advantages of bicycle couriers like other major cities do. 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Sometimes my job can feel like a gamble. I’m reliant on independent gigs, delivery contracts sent from restaurants through third-party apps. It’s hard to tell people what I earn because it changes every day. I’ve learned how to utilize the app systems and make connections to increase my deliveries throughout the week, but there’s always a chance I’ll go without much work some days. It’s kinda cool though, my income is a roll of a dice and the rotation of a pedal. 

I’d say on average I have about 10-15 close collisions with a car every week. Most drivers are courteous, but it’s not uncommon for a driver to let out some road rage, pull out into the bike lane, or even run me off the road. My reflexes since becoming a courier have improved tenfold, I guess to compensate for the weaving and dodging I do all day. I also take a lot of moments throughout the day to pray and show some gratitude for those moments of grace on the road. I didn’t believe in luck before, but now I rely on it to survive. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillebikeguy/

Image Credits
Josh McClary