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Ban on Bikes Could Bring More Mopeds
New York Times, August 27, 1987
When New York City officials announced a partial ban on bicycles in midtown
Manhattan that went into effect yesterday, some of the city's bike messengers
vowed to ignore the regulations, others planned alternative routes and still
others purchased motor bikes.
Many in the messenger industry say motorized delivery is an idea whose time
may have come.
The bicycle director of the Department of Transportation, George Apostolakos,
said that based on a random survey about 5 percent of the city's estimated
7,000 messengers have switched to motorbikes, also known as mopeds.
If the midtown bicycle regulations become permanent, there is "a significant
chance" that more messengers would follow, Mr. Apostolakos said.
The city's regulations, which are in effect for a 90-day trial period, ban
all bicyclists from Park, Madison and Fifth Avenues, from 31st Street to
59th Street, between 10 AM. and 4 PM on weekdays. The ban is intended to
reduce the number of pedestrian bicycle accidents in midtown.
The police will hand out warnings in the first week of enforcement. After
this week, summonses will be issued to violators, according to a spokesman
for the city's Department of Transportation, Victor Ross.
Officials of some messenger companies said mopeds would produce many of the
same safety and congestion problems as bicycles, and considerably more pollution.
The department of transportation and the police department will monitor moped
use. Sgt. Dwayne Montgomery of the Police Department Traffic Division, said
it is unlikely that they would improve street safety.
At Cycle services in Manhattan, only a few of the messengers have switched
to mopeds, which are not banned from midtown under the new bicycle regulations,
and are classified as limited-use motorcycles by the city. Julius Burns,
a company dispatcher, predicted a motorized future. "More or less. That's
the only option open to them, he said.
Most delivery services already have some messengers using mopeds, and a few
Manhattan companies. including Light Speed and Elite Courier Service, have
considered a complete conversion. All 29 messengers in the Hot Line Delivery
Service recently began using mopeds.
While many messengers feel the ban is unfair to them, and have protested
against it, others seem to have accepted the prohibition.
Mannilus Scott of Hot Line Delivery Service recently switched and said he
prefers the moped to a bicycle. "Its more relaxed." he said. "And it's faster
you. make more jobs"
Steve Travers, manager of Camrod Motors, a Manhattan motorcycle dealer, said
mopeds started selling briskly almost as soon as the regulations were proposed.
Mr. Travers said his store has sold nearly 200 mopeds in the last month -
about twice time the number of the same period a year ago.
Weighing about 135 pounds. a moped can reach speeds of up to 40 miles an
hour and get 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline. Anyone with a driver's license
can operate the vehicle
"'These messengers want their bikes fast,'' Mr. Travers said. "They're practically
begging us to hold them until they can come up with the money.'
At about $400, the mopeds cost slightly more than the most popular messenger
bicycles. which can cost from about $230 to $800.
Mr. Ross, the Transportation Department spokes rim an. said mopeds would
probably create more problems in traffic because the operators are less visible.
Concerning added pollution. Robert Wyatt. president of the Light Speed messenger
service, said, "It's going to be disgusting."
It may also be more congested. "There is no place to park in midtown," said
Nancy Cooper, president of the Association of Messenger Services. To obey
the regulations but avoid detours, Mr. Wyatt said, messengers "will be walking"
on the avenues at lunchtime. "You can barely walk," he said.
The number of moped s on a busy avenue in midtown may now range between 5
and 50 during a 12-hour period, Mr. Apostolakos said.
Despite the potential trend, many messengers would rather make their deliveries
on bicycles. "It's more physically satisfying," said Mr. Burns, the Cycle
Service dispatcher. "The pace of the city and the obstacles they face daily
- it's a high in a way. Your adrenalin is always pumping."
One messenger, Eric Edwards, said he already owns a motorcycle and will start
using it, reluctantly. "I want the exercise," he said. "That's why I'm on
a bike."
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