Bike Shifting in Dinnur

Dinnur has many homes where somebody works nights: in a hospital, a call centre, security, or on a factory shift. For them, nine in the morning is the middle of the night. Their day starts in the afternoon. A move booked for nine in the morning means a crew, a carrier and a ramp clanging outside their window when they have slept two hours.

For the household goods, there are ways round it. For the bike alone, the simplest fix is to collect it later. Book the bike for the afternoon, after the sleeper has woken. They can even hand it over themselves, if it is their bike.

That brings one practical point to the fore: light. Our crew photographs the bike from every side before loading, and writes a condition note you sign. Photographs taken in strong daylight show scratches, dents and scuffs clearly. Photographs taken at dusk, or under a single tube light in a parking area, don't. A scratch that would be obvious at noon is invisible at half past six. If a question comes up later, a dim photograph is no help to either of us.

So pick an afternoon slot that leaves enough light. In Bangalore that usually means collecting by four or half past four, so the photos are done well before the light goes. In the monsoon months, when afternoons are often grey and wet, earlier is better.

Weekends offer another option. Many night workers have one or two nights off a week. A pickup on the afternoon after a night off, when the rider has slept normally, is the gentlest of all. Look at the roster and pick that day if you can.

Noise is worth a thought even in the afternoon. The ramp of a carrier clangs when it drops, and straps ratchet loudly. If the sleeper's room faces the street and they are still resting, ask the crew to lower the ramp gently; it can be done quietly with a little care.

If the only possible time is evening, we can work with it. The crew uses a strong torch, takes extra close up photos, and you check the note carefully. But daylight is better for everyone.

At delivery, the same applies. A bike that leaves in the afternoon and arrives after dark should be photographed again under the best light the new parking has, and the receiver should look it over properly the next morning. If the bike arrives in the evening, ask for the photos to be done under a good light, or look at it again in the morning and report anything within the agreed time.

How to plan a household move around somebody who sleeps by day is on the Dinnur packers page. Here, the bike gets its own place in that plan.

Night workers often charge their electric scooter during the day while they sleep. On collection day, start the charge early so it reaches the agreed transit level by the afternoon pickup. Tell us the maker and battery arrangement when booking. If the charger is in the rider's room, take it out the night before so nobody has to go in during their sleep.