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Screwdriver Cyclist Arrested - Not a Courier
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Toronto police made an arrest in the case
of screwdiver cyclist. He was not a courier. The media reported the
arrest but failed to note their mistake in reporting the alleged
assailant as a courier.
The Toronto Bike Messenger Association(TOBMA) contacted police directly
shortly after news of the altercation broke. The police detective
responsible for the investigation informed the TOBMA that police did
not believe the cyclist to be a courier, they were not investigating
couriers, and they were not telling the media otherwise.
Despite the fact that the TOBMA contacted media outlets with this
information most continued to claim the cyclist was a courier.
Respected outlets such as the CBC and the Toronto Star checked the
story themselves and reported the correct facts.
The TOBMA is calling for media to correct their reporting errors.
Because of their irresponsible reporting the entire city of Toronto
still erroneously believes a courier stabbed a motorist. City
residents’ perceptions of bike messengers are heavily influenced by
media reports which are most often in error. Sometimes these
perceptions lead to calls for legislation affecting couriers.
In April 2006 a cyclist was killed on Avenue Road and some media
erroneously labeled him a courier. In 1999 a cyclist stuck and killed
an elderly lady on Bloor Street and some media reported him as a
courier. The police went so far as to issue a press release stating
that he was not a courier.
The TOBMA believes if the media incorrectly reports that a courier
committed a crime, they should also include the correction in their
follow up report.
See
also - Blame it on the bike messenger
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