New bike courier rules are proposed

By Anthony Flint,

Boston Globe, 01/17/98

Police Commissioner Paul F. Evans has proposed tough new regulations for bicycle couriers and messengers calling for more visible identification, stricter registration rules, and a requirement that all riders be fully insured.

The proposed rules, submitted to Mayor Thomas M. Menino, also stiffen penalties for violations. Made public on Thursday, the regulations are in the form of a home-rule petition because of changes in the authority of the Police Department, and require approval by the City Council and the state Legislature.

Calls for tougher bike courier regulations came after Boston School Committee member William Spring was struck by a bicycle messenger last October.

''We hope we can help the industry better regulate itself,'' said Carol Thompson, the neighborhood policing attorney for Area D, who helped author the legislation.

The proposed changes would give the police commissioner the power to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for commercial bike messenger vendors. Because state law says that anyone can ride a bike on a public way, such an addition of authority to the police commissioner requires passage in a home-rule petition.

The proposed changes would also require couriers to update their registrations when they move from agency to agency; that registration numbers be made visible on the rider's back with reflective material; that all bikes carry license plates; and that riders carry licenses in a transparent armband at all times.

Thompson said the more visible identification will help track down ''rogue messengers who run into people and then take off.'' She added that ''this shouldn't be misconstrued that every bike messenger violates the traffic laws, but there have obviously been incidents.''

The increased fines call for $100 for the first offense and $150 for the second. Subsequent offenses within one year would be $300 per violation.

Also, either riders or their agencies must have insurance, covering $50,000 in property damages and up to $100,000 for the injury or death of anyone involved in an accident.

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com