‘I’m very scared’: New Orleans DoorDasher makes deliveries on e-bike that tops at 25 mph. Then the app sends her on the highway
DoorDash, a food delivery platform, allows its Dashers to deliver food in more than just one way. In 2019, the platform started initial tests of bike dashing. Then, in 2022, cities across the United States got introduced to their first taste of two-wheeled travel.
Many users have real complaints about how biking actually pans out when delivering DoorDash orders, though. For one, DoorDashers have issued complaints about getting routed on highways. TikToker Unusual Elevation (@novho_vino) noticed the issue in New Orleans, when a delivery routed her on a direct highway that would be perilous to traverse.
She described the situation in a TikTok that has over 3.4 million views, saying, ”I’ve had this problem ever since I signed up for DoorDash with using an e-bike.”
Many TikTok commenters shared similar experiences, although a majority of Unusual Elevation’s viewers told her to get over the issue and simply bike on the highway.
Unusual Elevation struggles on the highway
Unusual Elevation, a TikTok content creator who primarily focuses on DoorDash-related content, posted a clip from a recent DoorDash trip that made her feel unsafe. DoorDash’s bike-dashing system routed her to travel on a highway.
In her video, she said, “ I was wondering if DoorDash support could contact me because I tried to get a, I followed the route that they gave me on an e-bike, and it’s on the highway… I’m very scared because I can’t get in the traffic, or I might get hit and I don’t know how to get off of the highway.”
She also added that she was having trouble figuring out how to safely navigate away from the busy area. In her post, the TikToker is clearly next to the road’s entrance. She shows that there’s a stream of cars coming in either direction, which could make it risky to travel.
She added, “I expressed my concern of them sending dashers on an e-bike on dangerous routes that could get them killed. The reason why I cannot get in traffic is because it’s 60 to 70 miles an hour… This e-bike only goes 25, so the likelihood of me getting hit or killed.”
Bike-dashing—is DoorDash’s routing advisable?
Unusual Elevation E-bike accidents aren’t necessarily uncommon, with accidents happening frequently, even on less dangerous roads. Highways pose a special risk for bikers. They don’t generally have bike lanes or any safety measures in place for cyclists.
New Orleans has had multiple pedestrian or cyclist deaths in 2026, with one happening just days after Unusual Elevation’s post. A 62-year-old cyclist died after being struck in the Treme neighborhood while trying to cross a multi-lane roadway.
From 2017-2021, New Orleans had the highest level of bicyclist fatalities out of major metro areas in the United States, according to the League of American Bicyclists. In 2025, New Orleans was the 12th most dangerous city for cyclists and pedestrians according to Wagner-Reese. Additionally, nearly 1,000 cyclists die every year from fatal crashes.
Commenters tell Unusual Elevation to just take the highway
Despite reports of cycling and e-bike-related fatalities across the country, commenters urged Unusual Elevation to just take the route. They even drew diagrams highlighting where she should ride on the highway to avoid any particular tragedies.
Multiple commenters had criticisms for her, including the fact that she posted a request for support, calling out DoorDash on TikTok instead of just reporting the issue to the app. Additionally, Unusual Elevation’s predicament, according to commenters, showed “a lack of critical thinking.”
“Girl you’re fine. you have plenty of room,” one TikToker responded.
Another mentioned that she could take the initiative and reroute herself using maps instead of following DoorDash’s protocols. They pointed out the “avoid highways” feature on her phone, offering it as an alternative for future trips.
@novho_vino #doordash Trying to kill ebikers with highway routes #help ♬ original sound – Universal Elevation
The Mary Sue reached out to DoorDash via email and Unusual Elevation via TikTok direct message.
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