I got one of my first compliments regarding commuting from a total stranger today. As I was getting ready to mount my bike for the ride home this evening, a woman who works in the same building comes out on her way to her car. I'm just about to ride away when she says: "You're quite impressive." "Excuse me?" I reply (cause ya never know in NY.) She continues, " I see you when you leave and when I get to where I'm going, you're already there. I'm impressed at how fast you ride that thing." Leaving all the double entendres alone, I say, "Well, thanks! You know, you could do the same! Takes the same time driving or riding." We chuckled, she wished me a safe ride home and I rode off.
Something about the positive reinforcement got my legs moving on the ride home... made pretty good time and I felt good the whole way.
So just as much as some people get derision and contempt from co-workers, this interaction was wholly positive and enforced my choice to ride to work. Also nice to know there's at least one person on the roads who knows me, recognizes me, and is less likely to run me over...