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submitted 2 days ago by Comrade_Squid@lemmy.ml to c/micromobility@lemmy.world

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Left my bike locked up at a rack on a road for pedestrian and commercial vehicles. Two hours later and I return to find that the bike has been flipped over the rack and both wheels are warped. Police have been unhelpful, saying for myself to request CCTV footage and that they won't investigate as no one person had been injured.

I'm so pissed, had this bike for one month now, its been a dream to ride, and some fuck probably in a commercial vehicle didn't care to check mirrors while parking, then drove off without leaving any detail.

The bike repairshop are saying the bike frame has a 5mm misalignment, both wheels will need replacing..

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[-] ChetManly@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

ACAB

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 46 points 2 days ago

they won’t investigate as no one person had been injured.

Fwiw, this is the same response I got when my car was stolen. They insisted I had to goto the station to file a report, but couldn’t say how I was supposed to get there ….. and they used that to mail me a ticket weeks later for “abandoning” my stripped car in a bad neighborhood…… including already a week of “storage”

[-] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 86 points 2 days ago

Now imagine your car being obliterated in a similar way and the Police saying "Nah, we won't investigate that..."

And bike frame 5mm bend basically is a 100% economic damage if it is made of aluminium or has carbon fiber components.

[-] swicano@programming.dev 55 points 2 days ago

In my area of the US at least, that is basically how it goes even for cars. If it was a hit and run and you weren't in the car they're just like "well good luck wkth the insurance company bro that really sucks"

[-] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 30 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Wow, didn't know that.

In Germany, where I come from, "Unfallflucht" ("fleeing an accident") is a criminal offense, and for criminal offenses the police has to investigate by law.
And it's also no joke, the penalties are potentially severe.

Basically this also applies to damaging a parked bike with your car, only the final penalty for the offender might be lower, depending on amount of damage, but it would still be a criminal offense (as opposed to a purely civil matter).

Wouldn't have expected the US to be that different, especially given the grim no-joke-reputation the US police forces have...

[-] VeganCheesecake 3 points 1 day ago

Lol, what I heard in such cases was "Wollen Sie nen Brief wenn wir's einstellen?" ("Do you want a letter when we close the investigation?")

Which is honestly whatever. I just had to talk to them to check a box for insurance.

[-] awfulawful 24 points 2 days ago

It's also a crime anywhere in the US. Whether the police will do much to investigate beyond typing up a report probably depends on how easy it is for them to solve, whether you matter, etc.

[-] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 days ago

depends on [..] whether you matter

My original point exactly.

*insert Peter Griffin traffic control meme here, but with a car vs. a bike instead of light vs. dark skin color*

[-] errer@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

Police here don’t give a fuck about your car or your bike or your dog or anything else, unless they would get in trouble by doing nothing about it.

[-] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Yup. But some guy picking up floating paint from the reflecting pool gets tracked down and charged with a felony

[-] plateee@piefed.social 6 points 2 days ago

My poor '98 Honda civic's front bumper was literally ripped off in a mall parking garage - someone backed into it, then must have hooked something, and floored it. The police said they couldn't do anything because it's private property, and the mall said they didn't have any security footage because, "we don't film the garages - it would be a liability". I'm in the Midwest of the US.

[-] jerkface@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago

Why do you expect wealthy people to get better treatment??

[-] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago

Uhh, experience watching it happen?

Money talks.

[-] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Why do you expect wealthy people to get better treatment??

Not wealthy people.
Car people.

You know, real traffic participants!
/s

Not considering bikes part of normal traffic and also as being so low cost as to being not worth to bother is still a mindset surprisingly common, especially in the older parts of population.

And regarding the poor/wealthy distinction:
Where I live, it is by now often the other way round:
The poor drive car, because they have to, while the more wealthy ride bikes, because they have the opportunity to do so.

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[-] treasure@feddit.org 23 points 2 days ago

That's rough, dude; my sympathies. You're definitely not alone though: Recently, both wheels were stolen from my bike and since there were no cameras or witnesses, the chance of police finding the perpetrator(s) is slim to none. Worth of the stolen parts is ~150 €, cost to replace them around ~400 €...

Black bike locked at the frame with a folding lock to a metal frame. Both wheels are missing.

[-] save_the_humans@leminal.space 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I've had a couple front wheels stolen, but the back wheel should basically never get taken if locked properly. Here's a little graphic to help. You want to lock the most valuable parts and that's the frame and back wheel. When the lock goes through that triangle on the frame through just the wheel both are secured.

[-] treasure@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago

I know that locking the back wheel is desirable, but there are two rationales why I didn't:

Due to the lower position of the lock, bolt cutters could be placed on the ground with one handle and a thief could use their body weight to break the lock.
Those racks are very populated during the day and other's bikes' frames and wheels can get in the way.

I have learned from my mistake though and have bought an additional cable to secure my front and back wheels.

[-] white_nrdy@programming.dev 4 points 2 days ago

I've always prioritized locking the front and frame to the rack. Since I figure it's harder and more obvious to remove the back wheel

[-] save_the_humans@leminal.space 1 points 1 day ago

I dont think thats a bad option. I've done that when I had a quick release on the front, but sometimes, especially with a smaller u lock, its hard to get both the frame and any wheel secured together, so I'll do just the back wheel between that triangle in the frame.

[-] white_nrdy@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago

Fair enough. I also have an ABUS folding lock, so it has a decent amount of reach.

Out of curiosity, what's your opinion on Frame locks (so mounted to that triangle and slides a pin through the rear spokes). I had one on my previous bike (no mount points on my new bike) and loved it for quick stops at the market and such.

[-] thymos@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago

The second drawing in the first column is wrong. The first drawing shows a lock with a cable just sticking out of it, is that a thing? Never seen it before.

Where did that image come from?

[-] save_the_humans@leminal.space 3 points 1 day ago

With the lock placed like that in the second drawing there's no way to separate the wheel from the frame so they're both secured. Its the easiest way sometimes with a smaller ulock. The first one just uses a separate cable where one end is placed through the ulock to help secure the front wheel.

[-] jnod4@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

What if they just cut the wheel (as they're made from soft materials) , rotate it to free it from lock then just take the bike?

[-] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 day ago

None of these are safe, bottom left would be the safest placement of the lock, but it says cable lock, those can be easily cut, it should've been a U-lock or a chain. The other two on the left can be stolen by destroying the rear wheel. Considering the threat to U-locks is an angle grinder, you can easily cut the rim with one.

[-] Digestive_Biscuit@feddit.uk 19 points 2 days ago

That's awful, I feel for you. Where I live the police don't care about stolens bikes. Similarly, my old 1989 Ford car got stolen and they didn't seem to care about that either, until it was abandoned out the front of some house blocking their driveway. Then I had to pay the impound to get it back.

[-] Professorozone@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

Much sympathy for you. People suck.

[-] Zamboni_Driver@lemmy.ca 24 points 2 days ago

This is what stops me from using my bikes for everyday transportation. I love my bikes. I wish I could do everyday things on them, but they are so vulnerable. Even if I bought a shitty bike, it would be impossible for me not to end up putting time into it fixing it up and making it cool and I would fall in love with that bike too. If I lock my bike up somewhere there is a good chance someone will steal parts off of it or fuck it up :(.

[-] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

If you love tinkering with your bike, let me introduce you to the well-known German concept of "borutizing" your bike!

This advanced concept might cover both your need for personalization and substantially increase inbuild theft protection!

Link to site (naturally original only available in German, use your preferred translator to get most out of it):
https://borumat.de/fahrrad-diebstahlschutz

[-] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago

Folding bikes ftw!

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Is that a Mavic A719 rim in the rear? Those things tend to be indestructible.

Was gonna say that only the wheels look dead but if the frame is bent, given it appears to be aluminum... yeah.

[-] Eq0@literature.cafe 27 points 2 days ago

That’s infuriating!

[-] TerraRoot@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If you gotta leave it in a busy public place, it should be really cheap an replaceable

(I'm sorry your nice bike got broken, I wish the bastard itchy hemmorids until he dies)

[-] Comrade_Squid@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I disagree

The bike was relatively cheap as bought from a local bike charity who fix up and sell bikes. Price makes no difference. The bike could have been a gift and I would still be at the same level of annoyance

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago

I don't/can't even ride a bike and this made me sad when it popped up in All. Is there such a thing as bicycle insurance, like auto insurance? It seems like it would be expensive but so is having to just accept that your bicycle could be a total loss at any moment, and having a big organization to push for better policing of malicious damage and the creation of bike-safe streets would be helpful. I guess I'm seeing a League of American Bicyclists but how about some kind of insurance co-op with a monthly fee that pays out (at least a portion) in a case like yours?

[-] Simon_Shitewood@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 days ago

It's usually added onto house insurance in the UK - they cover stuff happening at home by default, then you have to pay extra to cover accidents or theft from somewhere other than your house.

[-] Octavio@piefed.social 13 points 2 days ago

I'm so sorry. That sucks!

[-] jerkface@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 days ago

What city?

[-] Comrade_Squid@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago

Exeter

[-] Katana314@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

I’m sorry to suggest this too late, but this is why I paid for bike insurance through my lock.

You basically share with them some evidence the bike was locked when a theft occurred, like a police report or picture of discarded lock. That said, I don’t know whether they cover vandalism.

And yes, it’s many orders of magnitude cheaper than car insurance.

[-] Professorozone@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

LOL. Until my latest bike, which is an e bike,I never spent more than $30 for a bike. No way I'm buying insurance.

[-] osanna@lemmy.vg 9 points 2 days ago

Sorry bro :/. That really sucks.

[-] tunetardis@piefed.ca 7 points 2 days ago

That Salvador Dali shit in the lower photo is just heartbreaking.

Is it worth repairing or are you looking at a new bike? In either case, a gofundme might help. I know as a long-time bike commuter, I would chip in for someone in your situation.

[-] fpslem@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

That's just aweful, friend, I'm so sorry.

[-] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 days ago

Damn, I'm sorry this happened to you.

This kind of bullshit is why I started using folding bikes and bringing them inside with me (either a Priority Folder or w Ride1up Portola). Once I get to work, they just come in with me and fold up under my desk.

[-] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

More likely a mentally ill person than a car. In my area there are a couple guys that go around wrecking shit until they get locked up again. Tearing down flags, smashing pots, tipping over kiosks, and stomping bike tires are all pretty regular.

[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

I feel with you. I once experienced the same.

[-] inari@piefed.zip 5 points 2 days ago

Fuck that really sucks

[-] drcobaltjedi@programming.dev 4 points 2 days ago

Oof, I know the pain of a broken bike when it's your favorite transportation. My condolences buddy.

[-] DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 4 points 2 days ago

Shitty, any chance it's steel? Frame might be recoverable.

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this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2026

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micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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