ePlaya

I'm collecting information to try and get an idea of what the environment around a lost bike looks like. If you've ever lost a bike on the playa, would you take a minute to fill it out?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/191M7Y6 ... o/viewform

You need to be more specific as to your reasons for wanting this information. Data like this could be used in all sorts of ways, good and bad.

Dear Dr. Helix:

I am a nerd. I like data points.

My friends are in camps at 7:00 and C, 7:00 and E and 9:30 and E... and so far, out of 90 some points, 7:00 and D & E is as bad a place to leave your bike on the playa as Center Camp. E is rivaling the esplanade... and I know that my data is skewed.

I am a fixer. I like taking bad situations and finding ways to make them better. In the case of bicycle theft, I have no idea how to fix it, because you can't fix people, so I'm settling for data now. I'll write something up when I stop receiving data points, or when I reach 1000. Maybe someone can learn something from it and we can impede the rate at which bicycles go wandering.

Is that ok with you?

I don't it is actually. The very thing I worry about is that someone (not saying you) could use the data to establish trends and target areas. You've just done that yourself with your example. Everything you want the data for is probably on the up and up, but who ELSE might see it? These are my concerns, and they be unfounded, but I think I will pass on this. Good luck.

For the official survey from Jack Rabbit Speaks use this link.............................................

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/191M7Y6 ... o/viewform

The respected burner, Runs With Scissors is heading up this study. You can find it in the latest newsletter.

My heart goes all squishy for nerds.

I'm looking forward to a future edition when they tell us where the MOST bikes went missing. I predict, burn night everywhere whether they were locked or not. (But mainly NOT.)

Last year they posted a photo of all the bikes left behind. It looked like the Center Camp had 2000+ guests for coffee et al. I hope they post one again!

My own research has traced these missing bikes to the island of Lost Children.

Mine has traced them to the Island of Misfit Sex Toys.

hey! Thankyou for posting the Jack Rabbit speaks link!

In regards to where the bikes go, it turns out that those are the same island. It was an unfortunate combination of ideas, but the lost children do find many purposes for the misfit toys. ultimately, it was a good thing.

And to answer the question, where do the bikes go, I need more distribution. Right now, the most dangerous place for bikes is where my friends camp, because they have fantastically distributed the survey amongst their camps and neighbors.

I didn't lose my bike but I had a funny/weird experience with lost bikes. 4 of my nearby new friends left their bikes at my camp. 2 were flying home and 2 had a broken bike rack. I said OK because I didn't see the harm. Well...by Monday morning it looked like a bike disposal yard. (If you throw 3 bags of garbage in a conspicuous place everyone will add to it.) Next time I'll just say NO.