Philadelphia Bike Messenger Assoc. Press Release Nov. 2009
Posted: November 29th, 2009 | Author: sterlingcouriers | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bike, DiCicco, Kenney, Messenger, Philadelphia | 3 Comments »Philadelphia Bike Messenger Association
Press Release
November 2009
The Philadelphia Bike Messenger Association (PBMA) would like to declare our stance on new cycling legislation proposed by councilmen DiCicco and Kenney and respond to the rise of an anti-cycling climate in our city.
We do not oppose the enforcement of existing laws regarding bicycle riding, but believe that equal and consistent enforcement amongst cyclists, pedestrians and motorists is key. Consistent enforcement of traffic violations would improve the lives of everyone in this city no matter what their mode of travel might be. It is our membership’s consensus that the proposed laws put forth by Councilman DiCicco and Councilman Kenney would be specifically harmful to bicycle messengers. No working bike messenger in this city could afford a $1,000 fine or possible confiscation of a work bike deemed “brakeless” according to the proposed laws. The PBMA does not think that a registration program is feasible in a city under so much budget distress and would rather see resources allocated to better causes.
The idea that Philadelphia bike messengers are dangerous is an unfortunate perception amongst motorists and pedestrians. We are often mistaken for dangerous cyclists, as people believe that anyone with a bag and a bike is working as a bicycle messenger. Hazardous cycling makes a professional messenger as concerned as any motorist alongside of them in traffic. It is also apparent to our membership that anti-cycling sentiment continues to grow rapidly in Philadelphia. Recently a co-worker was intentionally targeted by an angry motorist and was the victim of a hit and run. Aggression from motorists in the form of verbal threats or their leaving the scene of an accident is commonplace in our workday and sadly increasing in frequency for other city cyclists as well. It is our hope that we can change the views of the public and see Philadelphia become the bicycling friendly city it can be.
In the coming months the PBMA will work towards improving our working conditions that not only benefit us but other city cyclists, pedestrians and motorists in Philadelphia.
www.phillybma.org
phillybma@gmail.com
The point of the traffic laws is that no one should get hurt. Everyone has to do their part in this. A bicycle can be fitted with a front brake at a modest cost. Having a front brake reduces the distance required to stop in an emergency by about half. There is no way to know that you will never have an emergency where quicker stopping could keep someone from being hurt (maybe yourself); such situations are not that rare. How can you justify not having a front brake on a bike?
Another employee association in the city represents taxi cabs. Comparisons are often drawn between this lot and bike messengers; one being the time-sensitive nature of the job. Getting from point A to B quickly and SAFELY as many times in a day as possible is key to success and revenue, right? Taxi cabs are registered and their exterior indicates their company- Old City, Quaker, etc. Why not do the same for messengers? If you work for company X, you wear a red shirt, company Y, a blue shirt, with an ID tag so that in the event of an accident, you can be identified. If there are “rogue” elements within the business, those that flout the laws and besmirch the good name of messengers in general, (just as with cab-drivers) wouldn’t you want them identified? Fining the specific BM service would result in more industry self-policing with those costly repeat offenders getting fired, thus rooting out the bad apples that spoil the bunch.
Can someone explain what kind of regulation currently exists within the BM industry in Philly? I don’t think general registration will be helpful at all but industry regulations are to be expected.
Sympathy to the messenger, family, and other cyclists and drivers.