Comments on: Yes, Virginia, there is a Bike Thief

By: Yes, Virginia, there is a Bike Thief | AltDaily | Drakz best Online Service

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:38:55 +0000

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By: Lucien

Lucien — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:09:54 +0000

Great advice, u-locks all the way. By the long ones so you can lock the frame, wheel to a post. The one draw back, if only a inconvenience, is the post, pole, or tree you lock to has to be narrow enough for the “u” to fit around.

By: Wes

Wes — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:17:13 +0000

Yep, Bruce, you’re right: registering a bike is a pain. It’s supposed to be available at all precincts, every day, but the reality is that your best bet is to go during regular business hours, M-F.

if the NPD was really interested in cutting down on bike thefts, then all bicycles in Norfolk would be sold with a registration sticker, just as you can’t drive off in a new car without tags. According to the Norfolk City Code, all bicycles sold within the city are supposed to be registered within 2 weeksm but it’s pretty obvious that that doesn’t happen.

So the reality is that the bike license law is selectively enforced: (rich, white) doctors wearing lycra & riding carbon fiber bikes are never see their bikes impounded for lack of a sticker, but (poor, black) day laborers riding Huffies deal with it all the time.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:25:58 +0000

Great story indeed, and as one who relies on his bike for commuting, recreation and, when no one’s around, companionship, I really appreciate the advice about buying the right lock. My experience trying to register my bike with the police was very unpleasant, to say the least. I was told it had to be done at the substation on Virginia Beach Boulevard on the way to Military Circle, and I had to bring the sales receipt and serial number. On a day when I had rented a car for errands such as this, I walked into this place that looked like a processing center at Guantanamo, a few minutes later an officer came out and insisted he couldn’t give me a bicycle license unless I produced the bike. Since I didn’t have the bike my only alternative was to leave. Given the lack of regard the police seem to have for bike riders (one friend who was hit buy a driver a few years ago says the cop’s first question at the scene was to the driver: Is your car OK?) I don’t hold out much hope that licensing will help someone whose bike has been stolen.

By: Greg Thompson

Greg Thompson — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:38:13 +0000

Great article!