Oct 9th was..

via oldphotos.




via hyotypyora's flickr set.




photo credit: Ashley Gilbertson for the New York Times




via roxyerickson.



'In 1991, a mayoral proclamation decreed that October 9 of every year would be Messenger Appreciation Day in San Francisco. October 9 is "10-9" in radio code and means "Say again" or "What?" 10-9 Day is celebrated informally all over the world.'

'Let's congratulate all bike couriers on the benefits they bring to our cities:

+a solution to the problems of pollution, congestion and gridlock faced by large urban centres
+reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the downtown core
+take up less space on the road and do less damage to the roads than cars resulting in better conditions and streets for all road users
+increase the safety of pedestrians compared to cars. (studies show that pedestrians are "250 times as likely to be injured by a car, bus or taxi" than a bike.)
+aid charities
+draw tourists and international attention to cities through events and races
+provide a value added service that continuously improving firms seek out as a means to reduce costs and improve efficiency (crucial to the movement of important information)
+are ambassadors of goodwill for the city
+provide a link between many of urban homeless people and the rest of the downtown core
+year round cyclists who promote the bicycle as a viable form of transportation and economic development'

text lifted from messmedia.