Cycle Messenger World Championship Dedicated to the memory of Tom McBride
Philadelphia, July 12, 2000 -- The Cycle Messenger World Championship,
a three day international cycling competition, has dedicated this year's
event to the memory of Thomas McBride.
Thomas McBride, a courier in Chicago, was killed on April 27, 1999.
According to witnesses, the driver of an SUV pulled over to let McBride
pass, then caught up to him and struck his bike from behind several times;
the final blow sent Thomas to the pavement. Carnell Fitzpatrick,
the driver of the SUV, then backed up and ran over him, then fled the scene.
Mr. Fitzpatrick turned himself in a few hours later after he noticed his
front license plate was knocked off. The police found the plate under
Thomas McBride's body.
The organizers of the CMWC would like to point out that strict laws
were placed into effect after a messenger struck a jaywalker in Boston,
MA. However, after Thomas McBride was struck and killed in Chicago,
no new laws relating to automobiles and bicycles came into effect.
In fact soon after the accident the Oprah Winfrey Show, which is based
in Chicago, asked visitors to its website if there should be a law making
it illegal for cyclists to ride on city streets.
The International Federation of Bike Messenger Associations (IFBMA),
on February 8, 1999, awarded Boston with the first ever "Hall of Shame
Award" as the world's worst city in which to work as a professional bike
messenger. The CMWC, a legitimate event now in it's eighth year,
was subsequently refused permits by the city of Boston and was eventually
moved to Philadelphia. This is the first time in the history of the
event that a city has refused to issue permits.
CMWC 2000 will attract couriers from around the globe to race for the
title of World's Fastest Messenger. Over 600 participants from more
than 20 nations are expected to compete in this year's event which will
take place over Labor Day weekend in Fairmount Park.
