Messenger Memorial - Fast Eddie Williams

"Fast" Eddie Williams New York City, d. 25.August.2016

Fast Eddie Williams was a legendary bike messenger in New York City and around the world. He was a bike messenger since 1983, an activist, a photographer, and an art gallery owner. Fast Eddie was an inspiration and a mentor. In 2004 he published his book of photos called “Bike Messenger Life, New York City”

Fast Eddie Williams Memorial – Check out the wonderful pictures from Carlos’ site DIABLOTRONYC

A dear friend to all passed away yesterday. Very abrupt and unexpected. Someone who called me his brother, as I call you the same. If you didn’t know Eddie Williams by name, you knew him by sight. I mean, who could miss those dreads. Always had a bike, always with a bike, always at any bike related community, activist, event. Always for the people.

He always had something to say, a loveable smart aleck asshole, but our loveable asshole. He passed, peacefuly in his home, totally was not his time, but life can be cruel sometimes. At the moment trying to contact next of kin, I have talked to som, will post more info as I get. To know Eddie was to know he always had your back, no questions, to know Eddie was to know he was inclusive, to know Eddie was to know how much this community, especially the art, bike, photography meant to him, and you all to him. Simple. Feel free to hit me up if u need to talk, cause god knows i need it. When you have a moment give him a *moment of silence *

- Victor Ouma

Photo by Amy Bolger

This is so sad to hear. He was always super nice to me and I looked up to him when i was coming up. What a loss. I'm so sorry Victor. My condolences.
My last Fast Eddie memory was a while back i had come back to NYC for a visit and I ran into him then we rode back to his place for a copy of his book. He was smiles the whole time. My Yout!

- Richie Ditta

R.I.P. Eddie Williams AKA "Fast Eddie" We have lost a brother, friend, artist and a positive figure in the worldwide bicycle community. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to have included his photographs in the BFF art exhibition Joyride around the world. Eddie Williams had been a bike messenger in New York Since the early 1980's. Before the current fixed gear craze he and his friends were riding these practical bikes for their profession. He documented the city with his photographs which were published in two books Bike Messenger Life and Lost City. Riding in New York will not be the same without his smiling face and wave from down the street. Photograph: @harry_zernike @9wmag #fasteddie #messlife #bicyclefilmfestival #cycling #fixedgear #frejus #moulton

- Bicycle Film Festival

Chances are, you’ve never heard of Fast Eddie. He didn’t win any pro race, or invent a bicycle component, or write any tech articles. In the modern world, there wasn’t really a way to connect with Fast Eddie except in person, on the streets of New York City.

Fast Eddie was as much a bicycle messenger as he was a modern anthropologist. He’d document his world with either a video camera, or a 35mm film camera. Eddie was a tall man, but he had a way of falling into the crowd and capturing intimate moments with his lens.

I knew Eddie when I lived in NYC and he would always give me pointers on photography, or we’d talk about buildings. Eddie was always around and was always smiling.
If you’re unfamiliar with Eddie’s work, check out his book ‘Bike Messengers Life: New York City‘ – most shops in NYC probably have this in store. Here’s an older video project he made, showcasing the messenger scene in NYC during the 90’s.

- The Radivist

I awoke Sunday morning to the sad news that New York Bike Messenger Legend “Fast Eddie” Williams had passed away. Apparently, when Eddie didn’t show for work on Friday morning a coworker went to his apartment where he found Eddie had died during the night. Life is strange, death is even stranger. We all know it is inevitable, and yet when it happens we are so ill equipped to deal with it. We are shocked, stunned, we can’t believe it. Or is it just that we don’t want to believe it? Eddie had been a bike messenger in New York City since 1983, long before riding a fixed wheel, no brakes, track bike on city streets became a hipster fashion. In fact it was the bike messenger who started the craze.

- Dave Moulton (Read the rest on Dave Moulton’s Blog)

Fast Eddie in the media:

Unstoppable - New York Times, April 29, 2007
Bike Messengers: Beta Still Rules on the Street - The Brooklyn Rail, November 1, 2005
One Less Car: Bicycling and the Politics of Automobility - by Zack Furness