“Whereas, bicycle messengers provide a value-added service that businesses seek out as a means to reduce costs and improve efficiency, crucial to the movement of important information…”
— Mayor Sam Adams, in a proclamation of 10-9 Day
Professional bike messengers around the country will recognize today as 10-9 Day, a.k.a. Messenger Appreciation Day.
October 9th has been a day of thanks for bike messengers since 1997, when Toronto joined San Francisco with a joint proclamation. Since then, 10/9 has been officially recognized in Calgary, Chicago, Edmonton, Montreal, Houston, Vancouver and Washington DC.
Now you can add Portland to that list.
Mayor Sam Adams has added his official seal to a proclamation declaring October 9th as Bicycle Messenger Appreciation Day. Here is the full proclamation:
Whereas, a solution to the problems of pollution, congestion and gridlock faced by large urban centers is needed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the downtown core; and
Whereas, bicycles 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; and
Whereas, Portland is recognized as the nation’s leader in bicycle commuting, featuring a robust bicycle industry and community; and
Whereas, bicycle messengers provide a value-added service that businesses seek out as a means to reduce costs and improve efficiency, crucial to the movement of important information; and,
Whereas, bicycle messengers are ambassadors of goodwill for the city; and
Whereas, bicycle messengers promote the bicycle as a viable form of transportation and economic development;
Now, therefore, I, Sam Adams, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim October 9th 2009 to be
International Bicycle Messenger Appreciation Day in Portland, and encourage all residents to observe this day.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance will serve free coffee and donuts to messengers from their office on NW 5th Avenue (between Everett and Davis) Friday morning.
Dee Branham, who works with the Magpie Messenger Collective says 10-9 Day in Portland will be celebrated this year with a party and raffle to help raise money for the Tokyo Bike Messenger Association. That group is in debt after putting on the Cycle Messenger World Championships back in September.
Portland has about 30-40 full-time bicycle messengers and a growing number of pedicabs and other cargo bike business operators.