Safety, identity, and inequity at the last mile

Abstract

The expansion of the gig economy has led to a growing number of urban workers engaged in app-based food delivery. This sector, often seen as flexible, conceals complex occupational, legal, and psychosocial risks. Recent evidence suggests that delivery riders’ safety is shaped not only by infrastructure or individual behavior, but also by precarious work conditions, limited legal protections, and forms of social exclusion that remain largely unaddressed. Aim This qualitative study examined how safety, identity, and equity are experienced and negotiated in app-based bicycle delivery in Spain, with attention to algorithmic timing, organizational rules, and street-level conditions. Methods Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with food delivery riders (mostly migrant men) in urban areas of Spain. A reflexive thematic analysis (inductive) was applied, with attention to patterns, contrasts across cases, and speech insights suggesting broader socio-labor dynamics. Results Three core themes were identified: (1) persistent exposure to traffic and environmental hazards, often aggravated by digital pressures and limited enforcement of safety regulations; (2) a fragmented social identity, with riders feeling excluded from both formal labor structures and mainstream cycling culture; and (3) strong perceptions of systemic inequity, including legal precarity, economic fragility, and marginalization in public and policy narratives, which may influence how riders manage risk in practice (e.g., rule compliance, incident reporting) and, in turn, safety outcomes. Conclusion The findings highlight the vulnerabilities of bicycle food delivery riders and suggest the need to rethink how safety, labor protections, and urban inclusion are framed and implemented in this sector.