New rules in NY?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W5nWJKHvS4

So... they must wear helmets all the time, fit brakes and wear reflectors on both person and bike.

Fun.

But it's a bill right... not actually law yet, just a proposal and time for those guys to mobilise.

yeah, when i get out there this better be defeated, or im gonna get nicked faster.... well faster then last time i got nicked for rideing my bike.

i think, of all the 'genres' of people that ride bikes, cycle couriers need helmets the most.

Am I wrong in thinking that most messengers are free lance for the company they drop for and so as self employed will have to provide these things themselves? I guess maybe delivery guys aren't freelance.

The video said that the company that employs them must provide them. I think that would be the one that hands out the actual jobs, so unless you're your own controller you wouldn't have to foot the bill.

A lot of messengers here are self-employed and contract their services to the company. So the messenger company might not be their employer.

if you had to provide your bag and radio, you will probly have to provide your helmet and other stuff. helmets you will probly have to provide for your slef even if the comp did the radio. just seems like one of those things.

whats the NYC fixi site again... i need to start 'meeting' people out there.

its the LAW dude

lpg i think, of all the 'genres' of people that ride bikes, cycle couriers need helmets the most.

Yeah right. Based on what evidence? Loth as I am to even dignify this attempt to start a h*lm*t thread....

Number of messengers killed in London: 7

Number of messengers killed in London by lorries: 7

Knucklehead Am I wrong in thinking that most messengers are free lance for the company they drop for and so as self employed will have to provide these things themselves?

The law in the US is different to here. Most states (inc NYC) oblige courier cos to pay working mans comp, which provides for basic benefits in the event of work-related injury illness.

Here in the UK, despite conditions that amount to an employer-employee relationship (companies determine hours, rates of pay, insist on exclusivity ie riders can only work for 1 company at a time), the riders are still classified as self-employed subs. The companies can therefore charge for radio, pda, uniform and evade resp for bike, any other equipment and crucially holiday and sick pay.

This in an industry in which a Harvard Medical School study discovered rates of work-related injury 3 times the rate of the next most hazardous occupation in the US (meat-packing).

Buffalo Bill [quote]lpg i think, of all the 'genres' of people that ride bikes, cycle couriers need helmets the most.

Yeah right. Based on what evidence? Loth as I am to even dignify this attempt to start a h*lm*t thread....

Number of messengers killed in London: 7

Number of messengers killed in London by lorries: 7[/quote]

But Bill, really... were any of the 7 wearing helmets? ;)

I'm shitting ya, no response needed... this debate is dumb even if jokes are involved.

More info from a messenger perspective here:
http://www.nybma.com/

Couldn't find it mentioned on there.... do they have a forum aside from fixed.gr/nyc ?

Based on no evidence, only personal observation

Oh, one of those studies ;)

I wear a h_lm_t. Just for the record.

velocity boy Couldn't find it mentioned on there.... do they have a forum aside from fixed.gr/nyc ?

Hit page down button a couple of times...

Cool, thanks... missed it :)

a helmet ain't going to save you if a lorry runs over ya

I don't ride under lorries. I do headbutt things though. :)

luckily headbutted the mini cab the other day, it ran over my elbow instead..

the-smiling-buddha a helmet ain't going to save you if a lorry runs over ya
well apparently it does actually ;) article

Jos [quote]the-smiling-buddha a helmet ain't going to save you if a lorry runs over ya
well apparently it does actually ;) article[/quote]

lucky it ran over his head then although it is a good idea to learn how to emergency brake without allowing your bike to flip you into the path of on-coming vehicles