Boston Globe, January 30, 1989

EDITORIAL PAGE
 

The bicycle-courier business in Boston may not be freewheeling for long.If proposed city ordinances are passed, many messengers may find themselvesback to the basics -- delivering on foot.

Prompted by complaints from downtown workers and residents, mainly theelderly, city councilors have proposed two ordinances in an effort to cutdown on the number of problems between pedestrians and bicycle couriers.

Although concern for pedestrian safety is an important issue, the stepsbefore the City Council would not only punish careful couriers and limittheir business; they also would not get to the root of the problem -- lackof proper training and education.

One ordinance would prohibit bicyclists, skateboarders and roller skatersfrom Downtown Crossing. Skateboarding and roller-skating are forms of recreation,but biking is a means of living for many persons, including college students.Limiting their area of business could also limit their paychecks.

A second proposed ordinance would force messengers to obtain licensesfor their bikes as well as themselves. Unless all couriers are forced toget licensed, this measure would discriminate against those couriers whoprefer biking to walking -- an alternative form of messenger service thatis time- consuming and less profitable.

Another provision of this proposal -- to set fines ranging from $20to $100 for reckless operation of bikes or for failure to comply with theordinance -- makes more sense. Just as careless car drivers are fined forspeeding or foolish driving, so too should careless bike drivers be punished.

Nevertheless, the key to solving the cyclist-pedestrian dispute is bettertraining. Courier companies should train employees on proper bicycle operationand maintenance, on traffic laws, on the mores of Boston drivers and pedestrians,and on work hazards that may be encountered. Employers also should provideprotective equipment, such as padding and helmets.

Bike messengers have been an important part of Boston since the late1800s. To restrict and limit their business is not the answer. Safety educationis. Taking a step forward, not backward, would solve the problem.