by Herald staff and wire services
Boston Herald, January 6, 1999
See note below for missing facts
A Lowell man remained in serious condition yesterday at MassachusettsGeneral Hospital, a day after he was struck by a bicyclist in downtownBoston.
John Falante, 54, was injured on Monday, the first business day aftera new law regulating the city's bicycle couriers went into effect.
The cyclist, Darrin Linder of Boston, was an employee of Brookline-basedBoston Express Delivery Services. He was not injured.
Linder, 23, told police that he had recently dropped off a company vanand was riding his own bicycle at the time of the accident, said policespokeswoman Detective Sgt. Margot Hill.
Hill said Boston Express Delivery Services was not properly licensedto operate in Boston, and has so far been fined $500 - or $100 for eachday since Jan. 1.
Police said they are unsure if Linder will be fined in connection withthe accident because they do not know if he was working as a courier atthe time.
Boston Express advertises its use of bike couriers. Company officialsrefused comment yesterday.
The tough new legislation requires bicycle couriers to have licenses,identification numbers, license plates and $200,000 insurance coverage.City officials pushed for the law after a courier hit and severely injuredschool committee member William Spring.
Since much of the reporting in this accident isselective when it comes to the facts, Messengerville has includedsome. These types of serious accidents involving bike couriers are extremelyrare. The Gladstone/Spring accident occurred when a pedestrian (Spring)ran across the street against a red light and collided with the cyclist(Gladstone) who was proceeding through a green light.
The bicycle messenger ordinance in effect at the time already requiredbicycle couriers to have licenses, wear visible identification numbers,and have license plates on their bikes. It also required messenger companiesto register with the city. Much to the dismay of the anti-bike types, theonly new requirement is insurance. Automobile couriers face no similarrequirements.
Since the accident took place at an intersection crosswalk Gladstonewas ticketed because, under the law vehicles must yield to pedestriansin the crosswalk - even if the pedestrian is jaywalking. The fines he receivedwere: "$100 for not wearing the vest required under a city ordinance;$100 for not being licensed, and $20 under the state law mandating deferenceto pedestrians in crosswalks. In other words $200 for bureaucratic violationsand $20 for traffic violations.
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