WCVB, Boston (ABC Affiliate)
This Editorial aired May 4, 1998
Last fall, a bicycle courier in New York ran down and killed a pedestrianthere. Here in Boston, a School Committee member nearly lost his life whena bicycle courier mowed him down on Commonwealth Avenue. Mindful of thedangers, the Boston Police Department proposed strengthening our bicycleordinance. But despite some initial hand-wringing, that ordinance has yetto pass the City Council.
It needs approval there, and in the state legislature. The bill wouldimpose tougher requirements for bicycle couriers to identify themselves,--markings on their backs or backpacks, license plates on their bicycle seats,and the courier's license in an armband. Both messenger service and courierswould have to be insured. Fines for failure would be hiked, and, if warranted,the police commissioner could revoke courier licenses.
Police must act to penalize bicycle messengers who operate to endanger.But lawmakers should increase those penalties so they mean something. TheCity Council must recognize that a bicycle can be a deadly weapon whenits rider recklessly disregards public safety.
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