While many food delivery riders rely on motorcycles, 44-year-old Nur Rahimah Alia Salehuddin gets around by bicycle or on foot to earn a living and raise her nine-year-old child.
The single mother, who is autistic and has a physical disability, has been delivering food since 2020 after struggling to secure a permanent job. Despite sometimes walking up to 20km to complete deliveries, she continues working to make ends meet.
Her situation became even more difficult recently when her folding bicycle was stolen near Surian MRT station, forcing her to return to making deliveries on foot. She said the bicycle had been locked up, but the lock was cut and only the chain was left behind.
Walking up to 20km just to earn a living
Nur Rahimah said she is grateful whenever she gets even two to three hours of delivery work, as orders have become less frequent. Without a bicycle, she also has to carry both her personal belongings and food delivery bag while walking between locations.
Before becoming a delivery rider, she had experience in information technology and software testing, working at several technology companies. However, she left her job in 2018 to care for her ailing mother, who passed away in 2020, and later struggled to find permanent employment again.
She said some employers had rejected her applications, with some considering her overqualified, while she also felt her disability might have affected her chances of securing a job.
Nur Rahimah was diagnosed with autism while pursuing her diploma. She explained that she sometimes finds it difficult to understand jokes, sarcasm or indirect communication in the workplace. After her marriage ended in 2018, she became responsible for raising her child, with her younger sibling also helping to support the family financially.
Despite the challenges, she hopes to find a permanent job that matches her skills and qualifications. She is particularly interested in becoming an English tutor, having helped classmates who struggled with the subject during her university days.
For now, she continues delivering food on foot or by bicycle whenever possible, determined to provide for her child while searching for a more stable source of income.
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