Philadelphia Messengers Take On City's Hysterical Crack-down
Philadelphia Messengers Take On City's Hysterical Crack-down
by Mykke Holcomb
Within the last few months, two pedestrians in Philadelphia were hit and killed by cyclists who were never identified. In a city wrought with social tension and a less-than-friendly attitude toward cyclists, local politicians and the press easily managed to whip up public hysteria and initiate a repressive anti-bike campaign. New traffic enforcement legislation, proposed by City Councilmen DiCicco and Kelley, would disproportionately affect working messengers, including requiring cyclists over age 12 to register and adorn a license plate on their bikes under penalty of fines and confiscation, and stiff fines of $1000 for riding a brakeless track bike. And amidst the blind rage being directed toward cyclists, veteran messenger Rachel Fletcher was hospitalized after a severe hit-and-run when riding home one night. After a significant period of inactivity, the Philadelphia Bike Messenger Association reared its head again to take a stand.
The PBMA and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) have a history of collaboration in organizing around workplace issues. In 2007, the two worked together to defeat unreasonable uniform policies at the courier service Intercept. Wobblies have maintained an active presence in Philly's messenger industry since. This is an interview I conducted with Philadelphia messenger, PBMA organizer, and former co-worker and co-organizer of mine, Jorge Brito.
Me: Okay, let's start this way: who are you, how long have you been messengering?
jorge: Jorge Brito. I first messengered in Richmond, VA in 2001 or 2002, then in Philly for the past three-and-a-half years.
me: And in your time in Philly you've been very central to the Philadelphia Bike Messengers Association (PBMA), from what I've seen. Tell me briefly the history of this organization, what brought it about, and what got it started again recently after a long lull in activity.
jorge: Well much like the messenger industry it is transient. People come and go so when there are some motivated people around, things get done. The PBMA got a big push when the Worlds [Cycle Messenger World Championships] happened here about ten years ago or so. Then another jolt of energy when the nacccs happened a few years ago.. so these big events got energy into organizing. for me and the group of people involved now we focus on not just the social aspects like races and other events but working on work place issues as well.
me: And the PBMA has had some success in workplace organizing it seems. Can you tell me about some of the issues y'all are responding to now?
jorge: Well a couple years ago a certain company was shorting workers on pay and trying to force them to wear "uniforms". We helped squash that. The big issues though that we are rallying around is proposed bike legislation by [Philadelphia City] Councilman DiCicco and Councilman Kenney. Crazy fine hikes, bike confiscation, and license plates [on bikes], to start off. We held a demonstration, got tons of press and scared them into working with us. We have a healthy relationship with the Philadelphia Bike Coalition and a lot of bike shops are on board. It all kind of snow balled. The catalyst was a veteran Philly courier getting into a really nasty hit and run. We said "why are you attacking bikers when equal enforcement is the real issue?". It all stems from two pedestrians getting killed by reckless bikers. From then on it was war on bikes in Philly and these councilmen over reacted. Their legislation is dead for the most part. We are involved in the process though.
me: It seems the incident with the two pedestrians was used by the press and city council to create something of a hysteria and initiate a crack down on cyclists, including working messengers. And part of result, again from my own observation, has been the type of violence against cyclists that Rachel experienced. What seems to be the general sentiment among messengers regarding these reactionary proposed ordinances?
jorge: Well, in all honesty we thought it would blow over. The "ticketing crackdown" was a joke to us. For us, it is a sad reality that we live in a very violent city where being on a bike makes you a target in a way. We took this whipped up hysteria to turn the tables and throw a lot of it back in the press and council's face. They pushed and we pushed back.
me: And with some success. You've mentioned that the PBMA now has a working relationship with the Philadelphia Bike Coalition. Representatives from both organizations have met with these particular council members to talk about the issues and the ordinances. What do you hope to achieve on behalf of messengers through this dialogue? Would you say the PBMA has a "stance" on the issue?
jorge: We understand that right now we do not have the type of connections or leverage in the city government. They (the Philadelphia Bike Coalition) do. We explained to them that we have the grass roots power to get people to mobilize and meet in one spot. They have the ability to get us into city meetings, which they have. If you asked me if couriers would be sitting with city officials in closed door meetings when all this started i would have laughed. Now that this is happening we just see it as us growing in a way. Our stance is that they should be enforcing the laws that already exist for bikes, cars and pedestrians. Why focus on changing laws that are pushed aside already? Also, a lot of these proposed laws are so extreme that if passed in any way would disproportionately affect us. We are on our bikes 40 plus hours a week so the idea of a 1000 dollar ticket for a "brakeless" bike is absurd.
me: For sure. You've said that the PBMA's response has generally been equal enforcement of existing traffic laws for everyone on the road, but i still can't help but worry that if there was actually follow-through on this from the city and the police department, messengers would still be screwed. For example, when I'm working, running lights is crucial to working efficiently, especially when volume is reflected in your paycheck. I feel I do this safely because my visibility on a bike is much greater than a motorist's. Once in a while when someone sees me do this, at no physical risk to anyone, and bark indignantly at me to "obey the same traffic laws", I retort with something like "how about YOU pay my rent!" So, if it was desirable, do you think that there could possibly be an alternative remedy for messengers? If so, what might this look like? Would it come from above, from the city's administration, or below, from messengers and others at the brunt of enforcement and crack-down campaigns?
jorge: Well, we push for the idea of "rolling reds" for stops or red lights. I am no city planner or official but in my personal opinion a little bit of enforcement of traffic laws here would be appreciated. It is chaos here in Philly and anyone who rides here knows it. All in all there needs to be a cultural change in the way people see bikes as a viable way of transportation. We have newspaper columnists shouting down cycling and we are going through what i like to call "growing pains".
me: Sure. Well I think you guys are blazing ahead toward that cultural change. The worst response would probably have been to take it and do nothing. So congratulations on success so far! In closing, I'd like to ask you what you think, or hope, will be the future of the PBMA. What other kinds of things affecting messengers could it address? What are some things you'd like to see organizations like the PBMA change in the industry in the next few years?
jorge: Uh oh. Well first and foremost it would be great to tighten up our ship in a sense and get non profit status. The industry here has everyone [classified] as independent contractors. This leads to a lot of competition amongst each other and in turn pushes the high turn over. If some of this could change we could really see some positive changes in the work place and gain more respect. All this in addition to serving the social functions couriers need. You work hard, you want to race, party etc. The more cities get organized the better. The more we network, help each other out and know we are not alone the stronger the industry gets for us as a workforce. One of the best things that happened was Rachel getting a get-well card from the Chicago Couriers Union. Shit, 50 some strangers signing a card is something that doesn't happen in many types of working peoples world.
me: That's a great example of the solidarity needed in the industry to improve our conditions. The work you guys are doing is one more compelling example of the fruits of collective action. And as this interview is being conducted for both BMA and IWW publications, i hope that the collaborative efforts of both will continue and strengthen. As for Rachel, I wish her the best, though it seems she's better and going back at it full force! Thanks a lot for your time
Jorge. Keep it up!
jorge: Coolin, gonna get the sauna in our psuedo squat house going, crack open some Yuenglings and relax. It is 20 degrees out and snowing so gotta rest my sore knee and recently broken clavicle. You gotta rest up for Monday to do it all over again. Ciao baby.