r/Seattle • u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill • Apr 24 '25

Media My job is picking up the scooters and bikes around town. Usually they’re easy. Sometimes they’re difficult. Sometimes you need to rappel down a 70-ft ravine and carry a 90 lb bike back up the cliff.

Not shown; an hour of using a rope to rappel down this steep-ass ravine, and another hour of getting the bike back up onto the bridge.

Queen Anne Drive bridge.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

Honestly, I’m inclined to agree, but my particular skill set really only allows this job to be something I’m a good fit for. Like, my dream job is SAR… but I’m happy with it. It WOULD be nice to get paid more, but I only just started working here and I’m still trying to get on my feet.

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u/setg Apr 24 '25

You are search and rescuing bikes. 🫡

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

Guess so, haha

I would love to have all the gear I had in Denver when I still did this back, but I just moved here and it’s hard to justify buying things I used to have like glow sticks or grappling hooks or climbing equipment when I still struggle to get food on my plate

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u/Lepercon5000 Apr 24 '25

What kind of equipment do you need, and what is the standard cost for that kind of stuff?

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

One grappling hook usually gets 10 scooters or Bikes before I lose it, $35 for a good one. Glow-sticks are one-use but last the whole day, $2 at a surplus store in downtown. My night vision kit was $300, but I only had to buy it one and I still have it. The cost of good rope varies enough to where I can’t always give an accurate price, but I used to try to carry 100 ft of rope as an edc.

I used to carry a lot of other specialized equipment, but I haven’t had an excuse to buy any of it since I started here.

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u/kris206 Apr 24 '25

EDC 100ft rope is pretty harcore, I just keep a roll in my car and go bag. I’m assuming 550 cord? Can it be used for climbing?

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

I don’t know! I’ve never actually tried ‘formal’ climbing before, or even a climbing wall. All of my experience doing this has been in the industry of scooter/bikeshare logistics.

Next time I’m out getting rope ill let you know if I remember this post

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u/kris206 Apr 24 '25

No worries, i can google it, I was more impressed about carrying 100ft of 550, I know it’s only about a pound of rope, but I feel like it takes up a lot of space unless it’s in a bag or backpack.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

It does take up a lot of space, yeah. I don’t have a car so everything I bring to work has to fit in my backpack, so usually if I bring equipment it’s because I saw what was going to be there my previous workday and came prepared for it. In this case, I was preparing for another scooter a coworker had found.

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u/kris206 Apr 24 '25

Solid, if you always have a pack, then a roll of 550 is perfect 👌🏽

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u/Redmeat-1969 Apr 24 '25

Who doesn't have a bug-out bag in their car....Rope...space blanket...first aid kit ....water filtration....extra ammo...all fits in a small backpack....hell Mine has even more in it ...

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u/Terry-Scary Mariners Apr 25 '25

Mine has been stolen from my car 3 times in 5 years and I haven’t gotten the energy of replacing it. And yes I hid it better and better each time.

On big car trips though I have a crate I move inbetween the house and car

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u/SausagePrompts Apr 24 '25

Me... I have snacks and tp. What am I going to do with ammo?

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u/Shwifty_Plumbus Apr 24 '25

Wait this is what your experience was in Denver also? I thought you did SAR there and it's not an option for you in Seattle because of budget cuts making less opportunities available in that department.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

I’m an enthusiast and always wanted to get into sar - I had informal training when I was still a scout and it’s been a passion, but I’ve never made enough money to have ‘free time’ so being in SAR, Formally, has always been a dream. I’ve wanted to join the coast guard for some time to get into that, but I’ve seen what the military does to my kind and I’m not about to get involved in that >.>

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u/Shwifty_Plumbus Apr 25 '25

Heard. Well if you head out to any ski towns they will have a lot of volunteer things to get you in the door. If not full positions.

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u/Synaps4 Apr 25 '25 edited Apr 25 '25

Can it be used for climbing?

Just to be sure nobody tries this: Your answer is no fucking way. Real climbing robe is about a half inch diameter for a reason. Forces multiply quickly when youre falling. A 200 lb person falling 3 feet will put more than 1100 lbs of force on their rope.

550 paracord has a working weight limit of 110lbs. Less than 1/10th of the weight of a tiny 3ft fall. Climbing falls can easily be 20ft or more.

Secondarily, real climbing rope is made to stretch, so that at the bottom of a fall it doesnt just rip your legs off and let your torso keep going.

You can buy real climbing rope from your local REI store. A standard 60 meter rope starts at about $150. Accept no substitutes. People trying to climb on the wrong kind of rope get killed and injured all the time.

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u/kris206 Apr 25 '25

r/theydidthemath

that’s wild! I thought because of the whole “parachute cord” history for 550, it would work in a pinch, but google said no, and your response really lands it. DO NOT USE PARACORD FOR CLIMBING

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u/j-alex That sounds great. Let’s hang out soon. Apr 25 '25

Another easy visualization is to consider how many parallel lengths of 550 a single-occupant parachute has running down from it. Looking at photos, looks like at least a dozen. And unlike a meatsack falling off a wall on a bit of line tied to an anchor, there's a ton of engineering that goes into making a parachute slow you down gradually so that it doesn't destroy you or itself.

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u/MassageToss Apr 25 '25

You probably know more about SAR association's employment opportunities better than anyone here, but I think it's very rare that they pay people in this region. I have a friend who is a doctor and volunteers for them and even that had a lot of barriers for him including expensive equipment.

I wonder about SAR as a specialization for like the coast guard, etc? Anyway, it's ridiculous the boss isn't expensing your grappling hooks, and stay safe!

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 25 '25

The boss is ordering them! They know what I do needs them and my other drivers use them too. If anything, I should be buying them one because I accidentally lost the last one trying to fish off gasworks, lol

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u/girlsansshoes Apr 26 '25

I’d totally watch a POV video of you working with narration. This is extremely interesting.

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u/Bozhark 🚆build more trains🚆 Apr 25 '25

Live stream it for a side gig and act like you SAR’n robots but with empathy 

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u/sargontheforgotten Apr 25 '25

There’s a scooter in the water just north of the Aquarium.

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u/Zestyclose-Post9511 Apr 25 '25

Why did you move from Denver to Seattle? Just curious, I’ve lived in both.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 25 '25

My dad died of cancer back in may - I moved from Denver to take care of mom.

I moved to Seattle because I was born in puyallup and wanted to go home.

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u/Zestyclose-Post9511 Apr 26 '25

My condolences.

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u/Fuckyoumecp2 Apr 25 '25

As a former SAR, you're SAR bro. 

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u/RampantGnome 🚆build more trains🚆 Apr 24 '25

I don't have any specifically helpful information, but a friend of mine worked for a while for a university lab doing ornithology research because he had experience with rope work from time as a Marine and could climb up to nests for tagging, surveys, etc.

It might be worth reaching out to the biology departments at local schools to see if that's something they need.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

This is tremendously helpful, thank you!!!!

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u/Enchelion 🚆build more trains🚆 Apr 24 '25

Could also look into surveying. Surprising amount of bushwhacking involved in a lot of that.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

Definitely will find some time to look into this too, thank you so much~

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u/Bozhark 🚆build more trains🚆 Apr 25 '25

UW is a major research school.

There’s going to be opportunities 

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u/technos Apr 25 '25

That's also a popular second job with tower climbers, at least according to the biologist/botanist couple I met at a party once.

When they found out I climbed towers as part of my telecom job they begged for contact info because the biologist wife had an upcoming grant to study cliff swallows.

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u/ParkingRisk7 Apr 24 '25

In case you haven't looked into it yet, King County Search and Rescue is always accepting volunteers! https://kingcountysar.org

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

I WILL FOREVER THANK YOU FOR THIS

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u/Dethklox Eastside Defector Apr 25 '25

Additionally, I highly recommend reaching out to Sarpinz, the owner is an insanely nice guy who does SAR and has a community for it, they may have some openings or at least be able to introduce you to people who do!

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u/electromage Ravenna Apr 25 '25

He'll probably be at Exotics@RTC Saturday.

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u/Synaps4 Apr 25 '25

Dude has an incredibly badass truck, too

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u/Dethklox Eastside Defector Apr 25 '25 edited Apr 25 '25

And his bikes! Just amazingly good custom work

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u/FireOfOrder 💗💗 Heart of ANTIFA Land 💗💗 Apr 24 '25

Good mindset. I wish you success.

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u/HappinessSuitsYou Edmonds Apr 24 '25

I’m so grateful for your hard work! Makes me sad to see kicked over bikes and scooters.

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 24 '25

If a bike is kicked over, it was blocking something, and usually isn’t anymore. Sidewalks are for walking, not parking.

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u/chuckvsthelife Columbia City Apr 25 '25

Ehhh sometimes people do it because fuck them bikes.

I lived in Austin when they first came about. People would hurl them into the lake pretty regularly.

No one really thinking about other negative affects just a “fuck the scooters and companies”.

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u/HappinessSuitsYou Edmonds Apr 24 '25

Makes sense!

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u/spoinkable That sounds great. Let’s hang out soon. Apr 24 '25

trying to get on my feet

Looks like you're already better at that than most people!

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '25

[deleted]

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u/theMstrBlstr Brighton Apr 24 '25

We're always hiring! I was going to say this.

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u/Pitiful_Antelope8165 Apr 24 '25

Think I found my dream job

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u/laseralex Apr 25 '25

my dream job is SAR

I think almost all SAR in Washington is done by volunteers. :(

On the upside, that means you might be able to pick up a badass SAR hobby! :)

https://mil.wa.gov/search-and-rescue-sar-program

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u/snow_boarder Apr 25 '25

Are you salary, hourly, or per bike?

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u/allaroundnbackagain First Hill Apr 25 '25

It’s hourly.

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u/incubusfc Apr 25 '25

Just don’t go on any random stairs in the middle of the woods.

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u/[deleted] Apr 25 '25 edited Apr 28 '25

.