I was riding my bike to work this morning through brooklyn and stopped at a red light. About a dozen other cyclists ended up stopped at this corner with me, and I was thinking that I’ve definitely noticed an increase in the number of people commuting by bike over the past couple of years, and that’s fantastic.

While I was waiting for the light to change, I noticed that the woman on the bicycle next to me was wearing the coolest, prettiest shoes. Shoes that I had actually been searching for and failing to find: burgundy/black mary janes with a short heel. After being stopped at another red light a few blocks away, I got up the nerve to ask her where she got them. She couldn’t remember the brand, but as the light turned green, she offered to pull over on the next block and take them off so she could tell me. 

Incredible!

She did that - the shoes, btw, are made by Jose Saenz, a shoemaker in Spain - and told me about the store she bought them at in Portland. How freaking nice is this chick? I thanked her and, as she was about to pedal away, she pointed out that you just don’t get this kind of interaction when you’re driving in a car.

Very true.

The rest of my ride was peaceful and breezy. The plant and garden guys on 6th avenue were again cutting up large branches - if anyone knows what exactly they’re doing, please let me know. A taxi actually waved me on to continue riding straight through an intersection, putting his turn signal on, not turning into my bike - amazing! 

It’s mornings like this that I remember, or at least, consciously consider, how much I love my hometown. Thank you, New York :) It’s good to be back.

And thank you, female cyclist with impeccable taste in footwear. I not only found the shoe store you referred to in Portland, OR, but I also found the shoes!