Bike messengers in Farragut Square have been a topic of discussion on DCWatch’s discussion newsletter themail.

The exchange began when a subscriber wrote in the Aug. 11 edition that he had watched three undercover DC police arrest a group of young men with bikes in Farragut Square, a known hangout for the messengers:

They handcuffed two of the young men and took them away. I realized this was happening because one of the policemen stood in the restaurant where I was having dinner and watched the bicycle messengers with binoculars while reporting their actions to someone else via cell phone. I thought at the time there was a drug bust coming down and I was surprised to find out that it was all about drinking beer in the park. …

That post resulted in the following reply, in the Aug. 18 newsletter:

I, for one, am actually glad to hear that the DC police are doing something about the bike messengers [in Farragut Square] …

In the mornings, the place is usually trashed. There are empty beer cans and bottles scattered throughout the grounds, and several times I have seen bike parts (chains, tires) and even an entire bike frame hanging from tree branches. The grass, until it was recently replaced, was always more dirt than plant because of its constant use as a test course for bike messenger riding tricks. In the evenings, the bike messengers are obviously not trying to make any friends. I have been insulted and cursed at, all for having the apparent audacity to ask bike messengers to move their rides out of the walking paths. …