Associated Press, 07/20/98
BOSTON (AP) - The city's efforts to put the brakes on bicycle couriers have received a favorable recommendation from a legislative committee.
The city has proposed regulations that would require messengers to have licenses, collision insurance, and helmets after a former school committee member was seriously injured by a bike courier.
Courier John Kenda told the Public Safety Committee on Monday that civility couldn't be legislated. He also suggested there was only anecdotal evidence of a problem.
He said the real problem lies with the few couriers - and many pedestrians - who ignore traffic laws.
``There are knuckleheads in this business as there are in any business,'' he said.
The bill was proposed after former School Committee Member William Spring was knocked down by a bike courier. Spring underwent six hours of brain surgery and spent six weeks in a coma after being hit by a bike messenger.
Spring asked the committee to ``bring some order'' to city streets.
``The doctors at the hospital told my wife that I looked like I'd been hit by a car doing 45 mph. What is needed is a change in attitude for bike messengers,'' he said.
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