it seems that stealing (or "borrowing") bicycles has become a real problem this year. my neighbors got their bike stolen (while taking a leek in a toilet!), and my friend got her bike stolen on the playa on sunday night (near the temple burn). it was not misplaced, it was stolen (or "borrowed"), since it was left near other's friends bikes and the other bikes were still there, only my friend's bike was missing. i forced myself to lock my bike everytime i leave it, but having to do that is really sad.
i just cannot understand that people, even when wasted or tired (or both), have so little respect for other people's property and steal a random bike, instead of just walking.
by the way, my friend's bike was a basic mountain-bike, color blue, with white-and-red-zebra reflector tape on each side of one of the tubes of the body, and a distinctive pink e-wire in the shape of a triangle in the front wheel. no suspension, no rack.
stolen (or "borrowed") bicycles
stolen (or "borrowed") bicycles
-- Tristan - http://www.playa-dust.com
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Steel Kitty
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:11 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
yep, sucks about people "borrowing" a bike
I can't believe that I've started locking my bike when I head to the port-o-lets, the burn... practically everywhere.. even at home near camp..
it's true that I came out once to a a girl who was standing there looking for her bike. Someone decided that they didn't want to walk home.
it's true that I came out once to a a girl who was standing there looking for her bike. Someone decided that they didn't want to walk home.
Life isn't about arriving at the grave well preserved, but rather, sliding in sideways yelling "Holy Shit, what a ride!"
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dragonfly Jafe
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:08 am
- Location: the Oregon Trail
...our neighbors down the street had a bunch of bikes all chained together. Apparently two thieves tried to grab a bike, and the whole bunch came along creating enough noise to alert everyone nearby. From hearing them tell it, the thieves got quite a pummeling (including a bloody nose) before escaping from the horde of vigilantes that decended on them (including some women!)
I don't know how much of it really happened, but it was kind of scary hearing how happy they were about beating the crap out of some (potential) bike thieves. They were truly sad that the thieves got away consciuous and breathing.
I think there is enough hatred of bike thieves that if the org/police don't start doing something about it, this could be the cause of the first BRC murder. I chose to gaurd our camp both burn nights, and there were no incidents (we were an Esplanade village tho')
Our camp did however loose 2 bikes (both unlocked outside bathrooms).
I don't know how much of it really happened, but it was kind of scary hearing how happy they were about beating the crap out of some (potential) bike thieves. They were truly sad that the thieves got away consciuous and breathing.
I think there is enough hatred of bike thieves that if the org/police don't start doing something about it, this could be the cause of the first BRC murder. I chose to gaurd our camp both burn nights, and there were no incidents (we were an Esplanade village tho')
Our camp did however loose 2 bikes (both unlocked outside bathrooms).
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer
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AntiM
- Moderator
- Posts: 20301
- Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 5:23 am
- Burning Since: 2001
- Camp Name: Anti M's Home for Wayward Art
- Location: Wild, Wild West
The "yellow bike" program caused problems for people with actual yellow-colored bikes. Our ranger unlocked his bike his bike at Center Cafe, got called over to do something rangery and didn't have time to wrangle the lock back on, and in that instant, woof! his bike was gone.
On the plus side, another campmate who had his bike taken last year on Monday found it this year in front of a camp on the Esp. Who brings back a stolen bike without making any changes to it?! It still had some very unique and specific stuff on it marking it as his! And yes, unlocked.
On the plus side, another campmate who had his bike taken last year on Monday found it this year in front of a camp on the Esp. Who brings back a stolen bike without making any changes to it?! It still had some very unique and specific stuff on it marking it as his! And yes, unlocked.
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The CO
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:56 am
- Burning Since: 1996
- Camp Name: M*A*S*H 4207th/404://Village Not Found
- Location: I-CORPS, M*A*S*H HQ, Van Nuts, CA
One of our campmates had a bike stolen, and our most resourceful Pvt. Dang actually found it being ridden on the esplanade. Being 6 foot +, all he had to do was walk up to the bike and say "I think you need to give me than bike." The thief thought for a second, got off, and handed it over & walked away.
I wish all missing bike stories were that simple.
I wish all missing bike stories were that simple.
M*A*S*H 4207th: An army of fun.
I don't care what the borg says: feather-wearers will NOT be served in Rosie's Bar.
When I ask how many burns, I mean at BRC.
I don't care what the borg says: feather-wearers will NOT be served in Rosie's Bar.
When I ask how many burns, I mean at BRC.
I saw a truck driving away from the event loaded with 30 or more bicycles and it left me to wonder. I'm in San Francisco, the #2 city for bike theft in the US so I locked mine at all times. Ironically I lost my expensive lock on the last day. And some people are just fruit loops from too much LSD. One tripping guy hanging in our camp showed me "his" bike, a truly tricked out burning man bike, and was on it and about to leave when some poor girl came out and said "what are you doing with my bike?" It was her bike! frickin' nutcase that guy was.
We had 2 bikes stolen from our camp within an hour of arriving. We unloaded the gear, started figuring out where everything was going to go, thought... hey lets move stuff away from the street, and it was too late, 2 bikes gone. We were much more careful about locking them & hiding them, but not such a great welcome.
A day or so later, someone stole a flag off of the front yard. Hello! It was pretty obvious that it was part of the row of flags marking the boundary between camp & street.
None of it ruined our burn, but it is aggravating.
A day or so later, someone stole a flag off of the front yard. Hello! It was pretty obvious that it was part of the row of flags marking the boundary between camp & street.
None of it ruined our burn, but it is aggravating.
no one in our camp locked their bikes at all. I never even broke out our other locks. we had many bikes without locks. I had one lock on my bike which I used but two times. nothing stolen. Never locked our vehicle either.
Things were actually much worse many moons ago when the perimeter was less well controlled and some of the Paiutes were liberating bikes.
I am sorry that some people had their bikes taken, but I gather that most of those are cases of mistaken identity.
Sometimes as a game at night I would leave my unlocked well lit, blinking, bike in the middle of the shifting sea of parked art cars and bikes and wander off, wondering if I would ever see it again, not really caring too much, and lo and behold it was always there and always easy to find.
Two fools left their unlit locked bikes in the middle of the esplenade on sat night and two drunks on yet another penis bike without a headlight ran into them. who was the bigger fool? the guy without a headlight or the unlit locked bike owners? I helped the drunks move the bikes off the esplenade. If you think those bikes were stolen, you are sadlly mistaken. They were a safety hazard and were removed from the playa. I placed them next to a fire. I can imagine the the owners coming back to where they left their bikes and cursing those damn safety thieves.
Things were actually much worse many moons ago when the perimeter was less well controlled and some of the Paiutes were liberating bikes.
I am sorry that some people had their bikes taken, but I gather that most of those are cases of mistaken identity.
Sometimes as a game at night I would leave my unlocked well lit, blinking, bike in the middle of the shifting sea of parked art cars and bikes and wander off, wondering if I would ever see it again, not really caring too much, and lo and behold it was always there and always easy to find.
Two fools left their unlit locked bikes in the middle of the esplenade on sat night and two drunks on yet another penis bike without a headlight ran into them. who was the bigger fool? the guy without a headlight or the unlit locked bike owners? I helped the drunks move the bikes off the esplenade. If you think those bikes were stolen, you are sadlly mistaken. They were a safety hazard and were removed from the playa. I placed them next to a fire. I can imagine the the owners coming back to where they left their bikes and cursing those damn safety thieves.
ta epi ta
i had a bike stolen at center camp. its my responsibility cause i had bought a lock, but had never even unwrapped it. nevertheless....
My bike was very unique. on the front it had a chucky doll inside of an elk pelvis. unique handle bars. racks and panniers with tools and good shit in it. the bike itself was old and mechanically toast, but i lost hundreds of bucks of stuff. At least i quit putting cameras in there.
Last year, on the same bike, every bike around me was stolen at center camp. so I had the sense of immunity because of uniqueness.
I consider it an outright theft and if we found it there would have been blood shed if need be, probably mine, but we were pretty pissed. i am not even violent by nature. I resisted spending the rest of the event looking at every bike that went by. but we did search the major events/porta potties.
Monday morning someone went by with 2 of their bikes they said they found out at the temple. we went out there 2 hours later and the Entire playa was bikeless.
And my buddy said he saw 2 trailers full leaving the event during his search.
we also ended up locking everything up for the burn when we saw a man and his 2 kids that looked so out of place with their walmart plastic bag "daypacks". you knew they were there to steal stuff.
its sad, but yeah , someone is going to get seriously hurt someday.
My bike was very unique. on the front it had a chucky doll inside of an elk pelvis. unique handle bars. racks and panniers with tools and good shit in it. the bike itself was old and mechanically toast, but i lost hundreds of bucks of stuff. At least i quit putting cameras in there.
Last year, on the same bike, every bike around me was stolen at center camp. so I had the sense of immunity because of uniqueness.
I consider it an outright theft and if we found it there would have been blood shed if need be, probably mine, but we were pretty pissed. i am not even violent by nature. I resisted spending the rest of the event looking at every bike that went by. but we did search the major events/porta potties.
Monday morning someone went by with 2 of their bikes they said they found out at the temple. we went out there 2 hours later and the Entire playa was bikeless.
And my buddy said he saw 2 trailers full leaving the event during his search.
we also ended up locking everything up for the burn when we saw a man and his 2 kids that looked so out of place with their walmart plastic bag "daypacks". you knew they were there to steal stuff.
its sad, but yeah , someone is going to get seriously hurt someday.
Its all one song- neil young
By saturday and sunday, I was HOPING someone would steal my bike, since I'd have to lug it back to Reno and donate it to Goodwill before getting on a plane. But no such luck. I left it unlocked EVERYWHERE, at all hours. Brand spankin new and undecorated to boot. Had to pack the damn thing up. BUt at least I had a chance to give it to a nice family on the reservation with kids on my way out of town, which is better than donating it to Goodwill who just jack the price up outrageously as they do w/ everything else these days.
i heard there have been organized groups that have been caught stealing bikes and shipping them out of the playa by truck-loads before.
maybe there would be a way to prevent that, by asking all vehicles that carry more than, say, 4 bikes, to register at the gate (i.e. BM would take their license plate number and give them a receipt), and by checking their registration (or licence plate) when they leave. this way, leaving with a truck-load or trailer full of stolen bikes would not be that easy.
i.e. if someone comes with an empty trailer and leaves with 30 bikes on the trailer, they would have some explaining to do...
maybe there would be a way to prevent that, by asking all vehicles that carry more than, say, 4 bikes, to register at the gate (i.e. BM would take their license plate number and give them a receipt), and by checking their registration (or licence plate) when they leave. this way, leaving with a truck-load or trailer full of stolen bikes would not be that easy.
i.e. if someone comes with an empty trailer and leaves with 30 bikes on the trailer, they would have some explaining to do...
-- Tristan - http://www.playa-dust.com
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INSANEPOOKIE
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:09 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon USA
- Contact:
Weee stealing is fun!! err borrowing
Out of error I didn't bring a bike, we ran out of room with four people in the car and our baggage.
I befriended a chap named Bob who is a part of camp 7 (I think the name is LUCKY 7) that let me borrow their extra bike for two days. He explained their other extra bike was stolen on the second day! So it appears theft is not so uncommon. When I returned the bike he was surprised that I came back. That suggests to me it's an annoying truth that theft is everywhere in regards to bikes at Burning Man.
My feet were hella sore from all of the walking and believe youuu me I walked many a hours.
Next year I will bring a bike (no matter what! I learned my lesson the hard way) and I will lock my bike up every single time I have to venture more than a few steps from it.
I befriended a chap named Bob who is a part of camp 7 (I think the name is LUCKY 7) that let me borrow their extra bike for two days. He explained their other extra bike was stolen on the second day! So it appears theft is not so uncommon. When I returned the bike he was surprised that I came back. That suggests to me it's an annoying truth that theft is everywhere in regards to bikes at Burning Man.
My feet were hella sore from all of the walking and believe youuu me I walked many a hours.
Next year I will bring a bike (no matter what! I learned my lesson the hard way) and I will lock my bike up every single time I have to venture more than a few steps from it.
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INSANEPOOKIE
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:09 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon USA
- Contact:
All bikes are yellow to me.
[quote="AntiM"]The "yellow bike" program caused problems for people with actual yellow-colored bikes. Our ranger unlocked his bike his bike at Center Cafe, got called over to do something rangery and didn't have time to wrangle the lock back on, and in that instant, woof! his bike was gone.
.[/quote]
I found the YELLOW bike section and it was of course empty of yellow bikes. There were SOME bikes that had yellow on them and the simple question of "How do I know what these darn bikes look like other than some yellow on them?"
-- well, it was obvious to me that the bikes with a bit of yellow were not them (I can imagine people using that as an excuse to BORROW a partially yellow bike) but as I never saw the code/standard of the "yellow bike" to locate one in the future. I could only assume the bikes would be pure yellow spray paint jobs.
I do think the Yellow Bike idea is a good concept though. I wouldn't make the blunder of not bringing a bike again but others, first timers MIGHT make the same mistake I did.
.[/quote]
I found the YELLOW bike section and it was of course empty of yellow bikes. There were SOME bikes that had yellow on them and the simple question of "How do I know what these darn bikes look like other than some yellow on them?"
-- well, it was obvious to me that the bikes with a bit of yellow were not them (I can imagine people using that as an excuse to BORROW a partially yellow bike) but as I never saw the code/standard of the "yellow bike" to locate one in the future. I could only assume the bikes would be pure yellow spray paint jobs.
I do think the Yellow Bike idea is a good concept though. I wouldn't make the blunder of not bringing a bike again but others, first timers MIGHT make the same mistake I did.
[quote="Tristan"]> I saw a truck driving away from the event loaded with 30 or more bicycles and it left me to wonder.
I also saw that truck, or another one like it...[/quote]
I don't know about those trailers but I do know that at least three campers next to me were looking to dump their bikes before they left BM.
They had all flown in to Reno and did not want to freight them home. Two really nice guys in our camp offered to haul them away in their trailer. These guys came with 3 bikes of their own and were always happy to lend one of them to anyone who needed one and were planning to do the same with the bikes they got from their neighbors. Not everything is as it seems.
I was really surprised how many people thought it would be OK to just leave their bikes on the playa when they left rather than haul them away.
I also saw that truck, or another one like it...[/quote]
I don't know about those trailers but I do know that at least three campers next to me were looking to dump their bikes before they left BM.
They had all flown in to Reno and did not want to freight them home. Two really nice guys in our camp offered to haul them away in their trailer. These guys came with 3 bikes of their own and were always happy to lend one of them to anyone who needed one and were planning to do the same with the bikes they got from their neighbors. Not everything is as it seems.
I was really surprised how many people thought it would be OK to just leave their bikes on the playa when they left rather than haul them away.
We got what we got. We'll get what we get. Let's burn.
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unjonharley
- Posts: 10434
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:05 am
- Burning Since: 2001
- Camp Name: Elliot's naked bycycel repair
- Location: Salem Or.
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Bray-n-Trill
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:49 am
Neighborhood watches
Our bikes were stolen on Thursday night. Luckily some friends happened to walk past them on the other side of the esplanade the next day and we recovered them. However as I ran to where they had seen them, I caught myself wrapping my poi chains around my fingers hoping not only that the bikes would be there but I would get the opportunity to embed numerous impression of my chains on their face. I knew if I did see them I wouldn't stop until I was too exhausted to stop pummeling them. I don't care what their explanation or excuse would be; they'll be tripping out for sure when I'd get done with them.
I hate what their thoughtless action had turned me into. Its only a bike, albiet an expensive one. But for some reason, a truly thoughtless act like that has a Dr. Jeckyl-Mr Hyde effect on me. And I hate what I become even more than the original act.
Something really needs to be done. Someone is truly going to get seriously hurt. If the person(s) who had taken our bikes were there, I would no doubt be in trouble for assault rather than sitting here at the computer.
The first, most obviuos approach are neighborhood watches. If someone is stealing bikes they are bringing them somewhere on the playa and have neighbors. We don't need to be suspicious of our neighbors but at least aware of suspicious behaviour if it happens.
As for joyrides - thats is always going to be a problem, all I can hope is morals and maybe a fear of a good thumping might alleviate this plague.
Peace
I hate what their thoughtless action had turned me into. Its only a bike, albiet an expensive one. But for some reason, a truly thoughtless act like that has a Dr. Jeckyl-Mr Hyde effect on me. And I hate what I become even more than the original act.
Something really needs to be done. Someone is truly going to get seriously hurt. If the person(s) who had taken our bikes were there, I would no doubt be in trouble for assault rather than sitting here at the computer.
The first, most obviuos approach are neighborhood watches. If someone is stealing bikes they are bringing them somewhere on the playa and have neighbors. We don't need to be suspicious of our neighbors but at least aware of suspicious behaviour if it happens.
As for joyrides - thats is always going to be a problem, all I can hope is morals and maybe a fear of a good thumping might alleviate this plague.
Peace
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unjonharley
- Posts: 10434
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:05 am
- Burning Since: 2001
- Camp Name: Elliot's naked bycycel repair
- Location: Salem Or.
This is getting a lot like he weather. Every one talks about it but no one dose any thing about it.
So first let us ridd our selfs of a few complainers on this list. If you bike went missing and it was not locked. It appears to me you must get some thing out of having your bike stolen. So what is it? You want some one to feel sorry for you? Your life is so small you need more to grip about? I wear the bike keys around my neck. That is so I can get up and go any time with an of four bikes.
Where I live in the defult world I lock even at home. one of them cost me a grand. That one I keep in the house. When I take it out for a ride I never take my hand of of it. Even go right into stores with it.
How much planer can it be said: Lock your fucking bike.
Mow the rest of the story: I had went to bed early. I was still awake when some car head lights shined across the tent. The shadow of some one lifting a campmates bike was very plane Guess they didn't see the log chain that run through all the bikes and the gas can. I tried not to make any noise but did, on my way out of bed. The person bolted. That was a good thing. I did not get arested for assult. And he did not get smacked with a three pound hammer.
So first let us ridd our selfs of a few complainers on this list. If you bike went missing and it was not locked. It appears to me you must get some thing out of having your bike stolen. So what is it? You want some one to feel sorry for you? Your life is so small you need more to grip about? I wear the bike keys around my neck. That is so I can get up and go any time with an of four bikes.
Where I live in the defult world I lock even at home. one of them cost me a grand. That one I keep in the house. When I take it out for a ride I never take my hand of of it. Even go right into stores with it.
How much planer can it be said: Lock your fucking bike.
Mow the rest of the story: I had went to bed early. I was still awake when some car head lights shined across the tent. The shadow of some one lifting a campmates bike was very plane Guess they didn't see the log chain that run through all the bikes and the gas can. I tried not to make any noise but did, on my way out of bed. The person bolted. That was a good thing. I did not get arested for assult. And he did not get smacked with a three pound hammer.
I was in Eplaya Info tent for only 5 minutes. Some "person" relocated my bike. This happened on Friday so I could not be a part of the CT parade as I was sooo looking forward to doing. The bike was later found Sunday being riden by a girl. After she gave us a long excuse, she finally got off the bike and walked away. I had tied my necklace to it to give it its identity. The "person" who took the bike took everything else off it to detour it findings but left the necklace. You may have fucked up my CT exp but not my BM spirit. I still wish you peace and please think twice. We are all here together to share a common goal. One of which is not to fuck up the other's burn. It was a green bike loaned to me by a dear friend. I just wanted you to know that. Now go and play nice nice with the other children. See you next year.
BOOBIES!!!
I too lost a bike, it was yellow! I didn't here the yellow bike thing until after the bike left on it's own adventure. I always bring a "herd" of bikes & loan them out!
We marked or tagged every bike with our address (except the one that was borrowed) & had at least two "tagged" bikes returned! I do believe that had we tagged the yellow bike before it left camp it would have come back.
Address stickers are CHEAP! and well worth the few minutes to fill out & stick on!
We marked or tagged every bike with our address (except the one that was borrowed) & had at least two "tagged" bikes returned! I do believe that had we tagged the yellow bike before it left camp it would have come back.
Address stickers are CHEAP! and well worth the few minutes to fill out & stick on!
Objects behind you may appeare larger than reality!
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INSANEPOOKIE
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:09 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon USA
- Contact:
GPS Tracking
Now that'd be a nifty map view to watch.
Put a tracker on a bike or bikes and watch an elapsed time video showing everywhere the bikes went through out the week :)
Put a tracker on a bike or bikes and watch an elapsed time video showing everywhere the bikes went through out the week :)
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RINGMASTER
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 1:41 am
- Location: Astoria, Oregon
- Contact:
weren't the yellow bikes green? or were those 2 separate programs? lol
admittedly.. i almost fucked up at one point.. i borrowed my friends bike earlier in the week.. went out scoping out art.. and at the belgian waffle.. i got off.. took some pictures.. got back on.. rode about 200 feet before i realized it wasnt the right bike, just very similar.. so i rode back.. left it, got the right one, looked around to make sure no one was giving me dirty looks that i needed to explain, lol, and left.
doh! im just glad i caught it fairly quickly and didnt end up back in camp before noticing
admittedly.. i almost fucked up at one point.. i borrowed my friends bike earlier in the week.. went out scoping out art.. and at the belgian waffle.. i got off.. took some pictures.. got back on.. rode about 200 feet before i realized it wasnt the right bike, just very similar.. so i rode back.. left it, got the right one, looked around to make sure no one was giving me dirty looks that i needed to explain, lol, and left.
doh! im just glad i caught it fairly quickly and didnt end up back in camp before noticing
Re: Neighborhood watches
Yeah, I think Unjon said it pretty clearly. And, you know, that survival guide thingy.Bray-n-Trill wrote:Something really needs to be done.
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Kinetic IV
- Posts: 2977
- Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2005 7:34 pm
- Location: Kyiv, Ukraine as of 10/27/06
Trust in DOG but tie up your horse.
My local bike store had a small 3 digit combo cable lock that was retractable and fit in a pocket or could be easily hooked onto other things when not in use. I spent $15 for it. Locks are relatively cheap, if you bring a bike you need to light it and lock it, it's that simple. I've had a bike stolen a couple years back, the Rangers won't do jack shit, LE could care less...$20 spent means you avoid dealing with people who really don't seem to give a flying....well you know.
And here's an idea...one I can't implement myself but I'm tossing it out here. Put a stolen bike form on the Playa Info computers that are operational for most of the event. The Rangers don't want to take reports....yet it would be nice to get a better shapshot of how bad the problem is. A quick and easy do it yourself online form might be the answer. Also it should be relatively low cost to implement and administer providing someone knows how to setup a database behind the form.... And if you take this one step further make the database online accessible and post a link to the form off the main site so people can use it after the event.....
It's just a thought but considering how long it's taken the webteam to fix the current eplaya problems this idea might be DOA. I hope I'm wrong. Thoughts, comments, rude remarks? Anyone got some?
My local bike store had a small 3 digit combo cable lock that was retractable and fit in a pocket or could be easily hooked onto other things when not in use. I spent $15 for it. Locks are relatively cheap, if you bring a bike you need to light it and lock it, it's that simple. I've had a bike stolen a couple years back, the Rangers won't do jack shit, LE could care less...$20 spent means you avoid dealing with people who really don't seem to give a flying....well you know.
And here's an idea...one I can't implement myself but I'm tossing it out here. Put a stolen bike form on the Playa Info computers that are operational for most of the event. The Rangers don't want to take reports....yet it would be nice to get a better shapshot of how bad the problem is. A quick and easy do it yourself online form might be the answer. Also it should be relatively low cost to implement and administer providing someone knows how to setup a database behind the form.... And if you take this one step further make the database online accessible and post a link to the form off the main site so people can use it after the event.....
It's just a thought but considering how long it's taken the webteam to fix the current eplaya problems this idea might be DOA. I hope I'm wrong. Thoughts, comments, rude remarks? Anyone got some?