Growing together and drifting apart: on the emergence and fragility of social bonds among food delivery riders

Riemann, Mê-Linh

doi:10.5194/gh-81-709-2026

Articles | Volume 81, issue 4

https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-81-709-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Special issue:

Feminist perspectives on the platformisation of care work

https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-81-709-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 81, issue 4

Standard article

|

06 Nov 2026

Standard article |

| 06 Nov 2026

Growing together and drifting apart: on the emergence and fragility of social bonds among food delivery riders

Mê-Linh Riemann

Metrics will be available soon.

Latest update: 06 Nov 2026

Short summary

Research on platform labour often frames fragmentation as a key obstacle to solidarity and collective organising. While this literature has generated important insights into the complex conditions of workers’ resistance, less attention has been paid to the social significance of shared logistical spaces such as hubs and warehouses. This article addresses this gap by examining how social bonds among food delivery riders emerge, evolve and disintegrate in everyday work settings.