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A Thank You Note to Cyclists

By Hamutal Dotan

20110304cycling1.jpg
The note a cyclist was handed while stopped on College this week.


A couple of days ago on College Street, a Toronto man was doing what many of us do: riding his bike. It seemed like an ordinary day and an ordinary ride, but then—a twist. Here is what happened next, as reported by Tom Polarbear over on TorontoCranks:

[A]n older woman stepped out to the edge of the sidewalk and handed me an envelope, saying “Thank you for cycling today!” I thought it might be a flyer or something so I stuck it into my pocket and started through the now green light…
A bit further ahead I thought I’d make a U-turn and go back and see who she worked for, but she was gone.
When I got home I looked at the envelope. It’s hand lettered [and says] “Thank You ($ gift inside).”
I opened it and inside was a letter and a new $5.00 bill.

We spoke with several cycling activists, none of whom had encountered this cycling fairy themselves, but all of whom were moved by the gesture.
We’ll be sure to update if we find out more about her, and in the meantime: happy and safe cycling.

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Comments

  • McKingford

    The War on Car takes a devious turn!

  • Anonymous416

    My girlfriend got one of these yesterday – it really made her day, especially since she's just about to start her second round of chemo for breast cancer. Hopefully this anonymous donor is reading this – if so, she says “Thank you!”

  • LadyGibs

    I received this very same gift on Wed too! The woman approached me while I was stopped at a light and said, “this is from an anonymous donor who appreciates cyclists.” I read the front of the envelope, which said, “Thank you, ($ gift inside),” said thank you to her and rode on. This encounter brought me such a warm feeling and completely reaffirms why I love cycling in the city, it connects us to people and the cityscape in such a unique way. Despite being struck by a car a year ago, March 8th, while riding in a bike lane on Harbord, I intend to continue riding on. In a large city, we have such interesting opportunities to make people smile. I'd like to thank the woman again and this “anonymous donor” for this sweet gesture!

    What other ways can we bring peace and compassion to our city?

  • http://openid.anonymity.com/1azy7ySU Charles B Wrong

    Come summer season, i always enjoy a hearty laugh, or a nasty chuckle, at the expense of cycling blunders. There is nothing as rewarding to the soul as witnessing a cyclist getting mangled through his own volition while negotiating ttc tracks. Though it is too bad we have OHIP otherwise the expense would truly be on the cyclist himself…

    Oh lord, and thank god, for those foolish cyclists. I can't believe they think their mode of transportation imparts any class on their behalf. You'll never see me cycling to work, i am not Chinese. Don't get me wrong, i do believe cycling is a noble activity but that's only if you do it for sport.