Do you need to send documents or parcels quickly to another office? Small packages that can take days via courier can be delivered within hours by a bike messenger. Before entrusting your important delivery to a teen on two wheels, know how to hire a bike messenger to avoid being scammed.

While hiring a bike messenger directly can save you money, it is always best to deal with a bicycle messenger service. The New York Bike Messenger Association website has a list of reliable messenger services within the state. National courier companies like A1 Express provides bike messenger services in metropolitan areas in Washington DC, Miami, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle and Houston. Go to their website to get a free quote.

You can also ask for recommendations from your next-door neighbor who uses a bike messenger service. Before hiring a bike messenger service, check their track record for accident- and theft-related lawsuits.