How Safe Area We?
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ht001 posted 8 weeks ago.
Freaking unbelievable! Not suprising, but unbelievable nonetheless. It is some sort of social phenomenon that people can't act when something looks odd and out of place. Malcolm Gladwell talks about that sort of thing in his book The Tipping Point. I do know of people who have had bikes stolen in high traffic, highly visible places here in Denver even. So crazy!
I agree with you on the insanity about not being able to bring bikes into places. Even my office building. I keep my commuter locked in the parking garage at my gym which is several blocks from my office because the building security and my office management staff act like the bike is a rabid pit bull that will cause disruption and pandemonium in a place of business.
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fastdog5 posted 8 weeks ago.
I wonder if the guy standing there with the camera alerted people to the fact that these weren't real heists..?
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brittda posted 8 weeks ago.
I have never been told this :( I HAVE though purchased one of those little thin locks (which really are only good for low theft areas as a deterrant) that I keep under my seat. I use my crappy commuter for stuff like the grocery so if it walks away life could be worse.
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cayman posted 8 weeks ago.
Hey, it's NYC, and you were expecting...? I was surprised there was still copper wire left in the lampost when he plugged in his grinder. On the other hand, notice how helpful New Yorkers are, re the guy on the scooter, took time out of his busy commute to offer assistance. :)
I heart New York.
john
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
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jnrice posted 8 weeks ago.
yep, when stores tell me I can't bring my bike in I make with my best fake limp and say "but it helps me balance and I'll just be a minute." I know it's immoral but so what, I value my bike more than my morals.
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dlhnpt posted 8 weeks ago.
cayman wrote:
I heart New York.
Think NYC gets a bad wrap here. I wonder if the same experiment was done in other big cities, how many people would act? I suspect more often than not, the bikes would be gone without a word from the passers bye.
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chrisgood1 posted 8 weeks ago.
I am currently in school in Reno and work at an LBS, the local cops say about 30-50 bikes get stolen a day and campus cops say about 5-10 a day from the campus. That includes the ones that done get reported
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ChunkyB posted 8 weeks ago.
That's totally crazy. But honestly, I think all it shows is that if you don't act like you're breaking the law, most people will assume you're not. I guess they thought "there's no way that guy would steal that bike in broad day light with people around, so it must be his" or some such. But, yeah, it totally sucks. I'm pretty sure I would have punched that dude in the back of the head if I saw him (maybe not when he had the saw).
I remember these bike lock guys were on the Fredcast a while back, and they were kind of like former bike thiefs who decided to design bike locks. One thing they said will usually keep your bike from getting stolen was to use 2 kinds of locks (U lock and Chain) because most thiefs only carry the tools to break one or the other.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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jonovision_man posted 8 weeks ago.
ChunkyB wrote:
That's totally crazy. But honestly, I think all it shows is that if you don't act like you're breaking the law, most people will assume you're not. I guess they thought "there's no way that guy would steal that bike in broad day light with people around, so it must be his" or some such.
Agreed... kind of like when you see someone with a coat hanger shoved into a car window. Most people assume it's someone who locked their keys in their car, not a car thief.
jono
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bluebirdbiker posted 8 weeks ago.
Sacry though that NOBODY stopped to ask a thing. People just ignoring him. That was what got me. Did ya check out the cop car in the background of the Trade Center? Even the van that passed by. That is amazing. He was frikin' hammering the lock! And NO ONE questioned a thing.
BBB
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beads1985 posted 8 weeks ago.
ChunkyB wrote:
That's totally crazy. But honestly, I think all it shows is that if you don't act like you're breaking the law, most people will assume you're not. I guess they thought "there's no way that guy would steal that bike in broad day light with people around, so it must be his" or some such. But, yeah, it totally sucks. I'm pretty sure I would have punched that dude in the back of the head if I saw him (maybe not when he had the saw).I remember these bike lock guys were on the Fredcast a while back, and they were kind of like former bike thiefs who decided to design bike locks. One thing they said will usually keep your bike from getting stolen was to use 2 kinds of locks (U lock and Chain) because most thiefs only carry the tools to break one or the other.
Fortunately I live in an aera that is somewhat bike friendly.
However, my wife takes her bike to the train station, and she locks it up with other much more expensive bikes, so hers will not be as much of a target.
They do have bike lockers at some train stations for rent.
This is sad because NJ transit generates income from these rentals, based on the fact they know there is a security issue.
Next step would be 3 locks ;-)
Nothing to it, but to do it
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qb ant posted 8 weeks ago.
I had a bike stolen many years ago, literally right out from under me in, yeah, in NYC. Me and a friend are riding in our neighborhood (we were like 17), she goes into a store to get a drink, I'm leaning on my bike, with hers right next to me. A guy comes running by, out of nowhere, jumps on her bike and off he goes into traffic. It happened so fast - talk about ba//s. I'm chasing with my bike, she's running. Police pct was on the next block - cops put my friend in the car and off they go - he knew right where to go - got the bike, but not the guy. This was over 30 years ago - some things never change. I'm sure though that putting this scenario in any other US city, the outcome would be the same.
"90% of the game is half mental" Yogi Berra
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Anton posted 8 weeks ago.
Preventing bike theft is easy. Simply make it a URB (Unridable bike). Take the seat with you. take a wheel with you. Carry a frame pump and let the air out of the tires. Lock it with a chain and put a bar lock through the chain rings if you can. Take the left side crank (with practice, it only takes a minute). A lad I know had his bike stolen twice from the metro station...
until he started taking the seat with him.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
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beads1985 posted 8 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
Preventing bike theft is easy. Simply make it a URB (Unridable bike). Take the seat with you. take a wheel with you. Carry a frame pump and let the air out of the tires. Lock it with a chain and put a bar lock through the chain rings if you can. Take the left side crank (with practice, it only takes a minute). A lad I know had his bike stolen twice from the metro station...
until he started taking the seat with him.
What if you rigged the lock with hmmmmmm... maybe som C4?
Then it would be an UnRidable Bike and an Non Riding Cyclist ;-)
(cue maniacal laugh MWAH HA HA HA!! ;-D)
Nothing to it, but to do it
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Anton posted 8 weeks ago.
Maybe replace the seat an M18 (Claymore), spring activated. They'll be in such a hurry they won't notice the the raised part that says "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY"
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
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beads1985 posted 8 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
Maybe replace the seat an M18 (Claymore), spring activated. They'll be in such a hurry they won't notice the the raised part that says "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY"
Sweet!! I see a plan formulating now!!
(cue more maniacal luaghter)
Nothing to it, but to do it
A little vent. I am so sick and tired of being told that I am not allowed to bring my bike into stores when shopping carts, paravehicles and alike are allowed. What gives with this "it's our store policy" thing? Just an fyi all. Take care of your baby. Check this out. Unreal!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7zb8YXrmIA
BBB
There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
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