JULIETTE BRULEY.
A BIKE MESSENGER IN PARIS
Café du Cycliste athlete Juliette Bruley was, in her own words, “born on a bike”. Now, she’s taking to the streets of Paris as a bike messenger.
What’s your favourite thing about your job? And what do you like least?
I love everything about it, and in Paris, it’s a job that allows me to discover lots of places and neighborhoods I wouldn’t otherwise necessarily visit. The worst part is dealing with drivers’ anger toward cyclists. For me, the biggest daily challenge – and this is very personal – is the cold. Spending all day on the bike when it’s 0°C is a real challenge for me.
Tell us about your bike.
I love my bike, it’s my baby! It’s a cargo bike, specifically an Omnium, which allows me to carry heavy loads. As for the gears, you just need to be able to spin, so you can go anywhere. The most important things are the brakes and tyres. Sometimes the bike is heavily loaded, so the brakes have to keep you on the road. The tyres also get put through their paces by life in Paris.
What do you think of the cycling infrastructure in Paris for couriers?
Speaking as a Parisian, rather than just as a courier, I’d say that all the infrastructure they put in post Covid has allowed a lot of people to take up cycling – it’s a pretty positive thing! There will always be areas for improvement, but I’m focusing on the positive. And it may be radical, but what about trying out a car-free Paris?!
