I personally was far too pampered to deliver newspapers as a kid, but many other people I know (like my wife Jeannette) did deliver newspapers growing up. Anecdotally, at least, newspaper deliverers are now mostly adults with cars, rather than kids on bikes.
Does anyone have any theories as to why? I can think of many possible explanations, but none of them ring true to me. One hypothesis is that it paid much worse 30 years ago relative to other jobs, so adults wouldn’t do it, only kids. I doubt that is true though. Is it that kids aren’t willing to get up early in the morning anymore? Or, maybe kids mostly do still deliver, but I don’t know many teenagers so I just don’t hear about it?
Maybe blog readers have better answers.
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I would imagine that parental worries about their childrens’ safety are a major reason. Newspaper distributors also might be concerned about liability issues.
I would imagine that parental worries about their childrens’ safety are a major reason. Newspaper distributors also might be concerned about liability issues.
My guess is that newspapers now have longer and longer routes and less and less delivery personnel. A kid on a bike can’t possibly deliver 100s of papers.
My guess is that newspapers now have longer and longer routes and less and less delivery personnel. A kid on a bike can’t possibly deliver 100s of papers.
I wonder how many sindewalk-less subdivisions there were 30 years ago. From what I can tell, the suburban digs around here would be pretty intimidating terrain for a kid on a bike, regardless of how long the route is.
How is it that kids too young to have *real* jobs were ever able to be hired to deliver newspapers? Seems inherently more dangerous than bagging groceries.
I wonder how many sindewalk-less subdivisions there were 30 years ago. From what I can tell, the suburban digs around here would be pretty intimidating terrain for a kid on a bike, regardless of how long the route is.
How is it that kids too young to have *real* jobs were ever able to be hired to deliver newspapers? Seems inherently more dangerous than bagging groceries.
The delivery in my neighborhood is done my a trio in a car – a driver, and a left side of the street person and a right side of the street person. They are incredibly efficient. Here in highly literate Seattle I bet at least 50%+ of the homes get a newspaper still. A kid on a bike couldn’t possibly do it as efficiently.
The delivery in my neighborhood is done my a trio in a car – a driver, and a left side of the street person and a right side of the street person. They are incredibly efficient. Here in highly literate Seattle I bet at least 50%+ of the homes get a newspaper still. A kid on a bike couldn’t possibly do it as efficiently.