The Bike Thief: Video Exposes Cyclist's Vulnerability, and Public's Complicity
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 07.10.07
We love bikes here at TreeHugger, but many of us know first hand how vulnerable they can be to theft, especially if we live in urban areas. Unfortunately, the problem is compounded by the fact that very few people are willing to step in and do something when they see a crime happening. As could be seen in our post on a Man Caught Stealing Bike Wheels, Set to Music, there are plenty of people who get angry about this kind of behavior though, but are we willing to stand up and be counted when we see it happening in the street? Who knows, maybe one day innovative solutions like the In-Lock will make bike theft impossible, but somehow we suspect there’ll always be someone looking to exploit the easy targets.
Now we’ve come across another NYC-based video showing just how easy it is to steal a bike and get away with it. The Neistat Brothers, apparently avid cyclists, got so sick of losing bikes, and bike parts to thieves, they thought they’d expose just how easy this kind of theft is. And by the way, the bike, and lock, is their own. ::Neistat Brothers:: via YouTube::
I dunno...the people who steal bikes are often meth-heads and gas-huffers whose higher brain functions have pretty much been destroyed by toxic substances. They tend to be unpredictable and VIOLENT. I'm six foot, 275 pounds and able to take care of myself, and I would NEVER interfere in a situation like that. Maybe call a cop, but don't mess with these guys. It's pretty much like baiting a wild animal.
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Author's comment:
Fair point, I'm not sure I would either. But I'd AT LEAST call the cops.
Here in the Netherlands almost every bike worth stealing has a lock of this type: http://axabasta.intermix5.nl/cat/front/items.asp?level=2&id=11
Basically it's a half ring attached to your frame that goes through the spokes of your rear-wheel when you lock your bike. These locks are very difficult to cut and your bicycle won't roll as long as it is locked. Combine with a sturdy chain to attach your bike to something and at the very least your bike will be the last one that gets stolen.
Big bald guy talking to himself and carrying a big metal stick? Oh yeah, I'm about to get in his way...
Hopefully they went back and picked up the chain he tossed on the ground.
This reminds me of an AdCouncil campaign...'Stop Mannequinism'. Everyone comments on these acts but not enough people do something. They just act like mannequins.
I applaud them for bringing attention to yet another public issue. Hopefully more people will realize that it is their civic duty to do something. (something reasonable like rob commented).
Still 3 or 4 people could take this guy. Especially if they had a lasso or something. I'd like to see a video of real bikes locked up to bait thieves and then attacked by a mob and strung up by their ankles till dawn with a sign saying "Thief" duct taped to them.......
hmm kweppsies idea has potential for a new youtube hit. id watch regularly.
this is new york after all. he probably could have kiilled someone in broad daylight & nobody would have stopped.
Seriuosly, it shoud be a reminder to make sure thatyou take care of yoyur shit, becuase nobody else will.
The video is hilarious at the end.
Someone mentioned Netherlands, here's a great look at the bike culture in Amsterdam. Yep, those bikes do have
"Spectacular Gigantic Unbreakable Security Chains".
I saw people using the same kind of Rear Wheel Cuff locks when I was in Japan, so I bought one. I love it. It takes a second to lock and unlock. Perfect for returning a dvd to the video store or whatever.
I had to steal a bike a few weeks ago, it was abandoned because the back wheel was stolen in the first place and has been loked up at my university for a yaer, i took it with permission of the faculty. The engeneering department provided a set of bolt cutters not questions asked. 20 minutes later a had most of a bike that i am now fixing up so that i can get some of my friends into cycling by having a bike avaliable for them to join me on :)
But yes the whole process was unobstructed and easy.
It has always been said that bike locks are there just to stop opportunitists and not the serious bike thiefs.
This video is very old.