This year, New York City is the scene for the 13th Annual Cycle Messenger World Championships. The events are taking place across NYC and Jersey City, and the events include challenges like picking up "items such as hay balls, bricks, long tubes, pieces of carpet, traffic pylons etc" in the cargo race or seeing who has the best tattoos. And not so coincidentally, the "Tribes of New York" that the NY Times profiled today are bike messengers.
Coors tried to use bike messengers for their billboards, but the creative might have been missing critical, authentic elements.




and I'm sure they'll be obeying all traffic rules, and not menacing any pedestrians by barreling through red lights, crowded pedestrian filled intersections and going the wrong way down streets.
At least they won't be using gas and spewing exhaust out their tailpipes, or clogging up the roadways with big boxy machines, or honking their horns while I'm trying to sleep, or substantially reducing the quality of life of New Yorkers in the myriad of ways that trucks and automobiles do. Let's not forget that cars hurt or kill pedestrians more than bikes. The messengers also, probably, won't be using the subway much, which, due to the MTA's particular financial problems and subsidies, would cost New Yorkers. In fact, they'll probably be getting around in the most efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly way available to anyone in this city.
right, because nothing says pollution, horn honking and reducing the quality of life like walking. walking is a cancer to society! everybody get on bikes!!!
Here are a few pictures from the final races: http://highinfrequency.com/2005/07/05/cycle-messenger-world-championships/