Roadkill - A Publication for New York City Bike Messengers
By Margaret Duggan
June 1995 Issue #3
On August 25, 1994, her brother, James, a messenger for ElizabethArden, was killed at 33rd and Lexington.
This weekend marks one year since I've seen my brother alive. Littledid I know a year ago that I would be sitting at the computer writing aboutmy dead brother. It feels so strange to be an only child now. It was alwaysjust the two of us. I was the big sister always looking out for my littlebrother. We were almost 7 years apart in age. Growing up we were oftenrivals. There was such a big age difference that I sometimes felt likehis second mother. I was happy that as the years were going by that wewere growing closer and the age did not seem to matter so much anymore,so I thought.
Unlike myself, James did not love school. He wanted to be rich and famouslike a movie star or baseball player. He spent much of his time tryingto make money and get in shape. He believed that what you put into yourbody reflected the outside appearance. He was always seeking perfectionin looks. He wanted to be a famous model/actor and move to a tropical climate.
I remember the day he told me that he got a job as a bike courier. Hewas so happy because he would make money, he would be outside in the sunshine,and be keeping in great shape. At the time I thought it was a great ideatoo. We are both avid cyclists and I thought it was a perfect way to hisgoal.
Being "the mother" I always was, I told him to buy a helmet.He always used to tease me when I wore mine. He used to call me an "egghead". However, shortly after he started battling the streets of NewYork, he set aside his pride and bought a helmet. He loved life too muchto take it for granted. However, one can't live in a plastic bubble. I'mglad he was enjoying the beautiful outdoors, not stuck behind some gloomyoffice desk. He was free... he was happy.
I remember the last time I spoke with him the night before he was killed.He had just received 500 photos he was going to use for marketing himselfas a model. He said, "Marg... You won't believe how great these picturesturned out, they're awesome, my eyes look like they are jumping off thepage. I know I'll finally get some good work with these!"
The next day I found out that my only sibling was killed in a bike accident.August 25th, 1994 was a bright sunny afternoon when he was working as acourier and was crushed between two trucks on the corner of Lexington and34th streets in New York City.
The day after James died, my mom got a call that he landed a part inthe motion picture Batman III. Just a day too late for him to know he finallymade it. I was and still am devastated by this tragic loss. James was only23 years old. My family will never be the same without him. He was morethan another New York City statistic... HE WAS MY BABY BROTHER!
Messenger Killed - First One to Die This Year (1995)
Marco Arreaga, after apparently running a red light at 25th Street,was hit and killed by a sanitation truck crossing Eighth Ave. early inthe morning on April 26 (1995). He was 28 years old.
According to relatives, Marco worked two jobs, one as a messenger, andthe other as a cook at Josephine's on the Upper West Side. They were unsureof what courier service he worked for.
"Too many guys are dying for nothing," said Alex Williamsat a rally commemorating Arreaga's death. "These companies are gettingrich and all we're doing is getting killed. We need to organize."
Roadkill is about what we have to deal with as messengersin New York City. You have something to say? Send any articles, artwork,photographs, opinions, anecdotes, or ideas to: Roadkill, c/o Justice forMessengers, P.O. Box 2410, NY, NY, 10036
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