October 9th is
Messenger Appreciation Day
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. In 1997 Toronto joined San Francisco in celebrating
Messenger Appreciation Day with a joint
proclamation
from the City of Toronto and Metro Toronto.
10-9 Day has been proclamied or recognized by Calgary,
Chicago (proclamation), Edmonton, Portland,
SanFrancisco,
Toronto,
Montreal, Vancouver
, Houston and Washington
DC.
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
The United Nations
proclaimed
October 9 - "World Post Day"
More on 10-9 Day: Ask Your City to Proclaim
Messenger Appreciation Day
Portland's
2009 Proclamation
Toronto's
2009 Proclamation
Chicago's
2007 Proclamation
Toronto's
2007 Proclamation
Toronto's
2006 Proclamation
Toronto's
2004 Proclamation
Toronto's
2003 Proclamation
Toronto's
2002 Proclamation
Edmonton's
1999 Proclamation
SanFrancisco's
1998 Proclamation
Washington
DC's
1998 Proclamation
Vancouver's
1998 Proclamation
Calgary's
1998 Recognition
Toronto's 1997
Proclamation
North York's
1997 Proclamation
Hoof &
Cycle's Letter to
Toronto's Mayor and
Councillor's, 1997
Marilee
Montgomery's Letter to San
Francisco's
Mayor and reply, 1991
Articles on 10-9 Day:
Three
cheers for the courier: Messenger Appreciation Day is October 9th -
Examiner.com, October 7, 2009
City messengers are
on receiving end for a change - Chicago Sun-Times,
October 13, 2000
Bike
messengers gather to celebrate their solidarity- San
Francisco
Examiner, October 11, 2000
Bike
Messengers' Day -
San
Francisco Examiner, October 11, 2000
10-8
Day 1999 in San Francisco - Ignition 20, October 1999
SF's
10-9 Day (1998) - Cognition, November 1998
Toronto's
wild riders get a hearty 'thanks' - Toronto Star, Oct 10, 1998
Proclamation
Makes Bike Couriers' Day - Vancouver West Ender, Oct 08 1998
Couriers
Await 10-9 Day - Vancouver Sun, Oct 08 1998
Oat
Bars for Everyone! - Toronto Sun, Oct 07 1998
S.F.
Freewheelers Want to Join Union - SF Chronicle, Oct 7, 1998
Messenger
Appreciation Day - 10-9..10-9? - Mercury
Rising, October 1995
Messenger
Appreciation Day - Mess Press, Winter 1991
Support your
local bike messenger
Celebrate Messenger Appreciation Day
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com
