On June 26 the following letter was faxed to the "Letters to the Editor" sections of the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald.
Dear Editor,
This correspondence is on behalf of the San Francisco Bike Messenger Association.It is well known that the use of automobiles in our country is the largest cause of air pollution and the increasing balance of trade debt as well as many other social and environmental problems.
Furthermore over 40,000 Americans are slaughtered each year by cars. Yet when one jaywalking man is injured by a Bicycle Messenger the media and local authorities--most of whom are car drivers-- of Boston respond with an anti-messenger campaign bordering on hysteria. In consideration of the fact that cyclists in general and messengers in particular must be accountable for one injury while auto drivers are excused for over 40,000 lives we the messengers of San Francisco can only infer that drivers think that we cyclists are potentially perfect. While car use slaughters thousands each year without controversy bicyclists are not expected to so much as injure anyone.
In short apparently drivers think that we are better than they are.
While we are greatly flattered and a few of us actually believe this we must in all seriousness decline the compliment. Even if this were true we do not believe we will be able to reach a perfect safety record with the legislation now on the Boston mayor's desk. With or without triangles, armbands are not brakes and unconstitutional restictions on our right to change employers will not steer our bikes any better.
Once again we appreciate the implication that we are near perfect beings and will try to live up to such expectations but we can only do so without unnecessary and anti-democratic legislation.
Sincerely, Howard A. Williams
President
San Francisco Bike Messenger Association
San Francisco, California
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