A soaring demand for food delivered fast has spawned small armies of couriers — and increasing alarm — in big cities where scooters, motorcycles and mopeds zip in and out of traffic and hop onto pedestrian-filled sidewalks as their drivers race to drop off salads and sandwiches.
A delivery driver on a scooter rides the pedestrian crosswalk through traffic on a delivery in the Seaport District, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Boston. A soaring demand for food delivered fast has spawned small armies of couriers in a growing number of cities where delivery scooters, motorcycles and mopeds zip in and out of traffic and hop onto sidewalks alongside startled pedestrians racing to drop off salads and sandwiches.
The letter alleged that some drivers were operating unregistered vehicles and breaking traffic laws, and warned of an imminent crackdown on the vehicles. It also demanded that the companies explain how they can ensure their drivers are operating safely. The Massachusetts State Police said they identified dozens of mopeds and scooters that were improperly registered or being operated by unlicensed drivers.
The drivers, many of them immigrants from Latin American countries but also from West Africa and South Asia, say they are just trying to earn a living and are providing a service that gets customers their food fast. “We have to respect the law,” he said, speaking in Spanish. “We are going to respect the law so that they let us work here.”
“This is a problem that started because the companies force you to complete the deliveries from far distances,” he said in a telephone interview Friday. Medina started out delivering food on a bicycle, switched to an electric bike, and now is using a moped to make the longer trips.Among those advocating for tougher enforcement in Boston is City Councilor Edward Flynn, who said on Facebook that it “can no longer be the Wild West on the streets of Boston.
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