Melbourne Cyclist

Cycling in Melbourne Australia

Question of ethics.

Near our local rail station a fairly new MTB chained to a st sign had it's wheels and seat/seatpost stolen, presumably they were quick release. The owner left it there, not being able to ride it home. The bike was there for three days, & I had my eye on it for parts. The question is, at what point does it become fair game for parts? Three days? A week? Not at all? Unfortunately someone slightly less conflicted than myself snaffled it at the three day mark, much to my annoyance (and presumably the owners annoyance too). Thoughts please.

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Permalink Reply by Cory on April 17, 2011 at 7:05pm
Report it to the police.  If no-one claims in 3 months, it's yours.... IIRC.
Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on April 18, 2011 at 7:22am
Yeh, I agree, Cory, definitely the safest bet. Who's to say it wasn't a case of needing the owner needing 3 days to organise transport for their denuded bike?
Permalink Reply by Etienne de Brignell on April 17, 2011 at 10:14pm
If the owner had left it there for three days after not being able to ride it home, I can only assume the owner had given up on it for good. No dedicated bike owner in their right mind would leave a frame chained to a street sign for that long if it was worth anything to them. Good to see that you considered the ethics of the situation, but I reckon you missed out there.
Permalink Reply by Bridgette on April 18, 2011 at 8:41am
Pigs RRRSS! Even if it were sitting there for weeks, one has no right to remove anothers property without express permission or, as eluded to by Cory, through the mechanics of law. Even then, I would suggest, ethically, it is still the property of the poor sod who lost it in the first place.
Permalink Reply by Cory on April 18, 2011 at 10:51am
Could be injured.  Could be all manner of reasons why they haven't returned.  May have forgotten where they put it.  Report it.  Police and/or council.  Your patience may be rewarded.
Permalink Reply by Jamesa on April 18, 2011 at 12:02pm

@ John E

 

Unfortunately, I think that taking parts of it would still be stealing.  Also if it was my bike I would assume that anyone caught taking any parts off it was the original thief... Not a great look.

 

Incidentally - there was some sort of black hybrid bike locked up to the railing under the freeway on the MYT - just opposite the high school walkway - it has been there for over two weeks and was a bit of a hazard until someone shoved it over the other side of the railing.  It now hangs over the creek bed.

 

Although I agree it is not anyones to steal, what sort of delinquent would leave a bike parked on a narrow bike trail like that?  I can only imagine how much fun it would be to hit coming through there late at night.  I ascribe to the bike/gf theory: treat your bike like you treat your girl - noone but you rides your girl and you shouldn't lock your girl up unattended to the railing of a bike trail for two weeks.

 

I am not interested but going by what it being said on here, if anyone wants a bike - report that bike to the Police and wait to collect your reward...  First in, first served John E?

Permalink Reply by John E. on April 18, 2011 at 1:23pm
Thanks for the comments; fundamentally it is stealing, but there must be a point where the owner has given up on it & it becomes public property, as in the recent court decisions re hard rubbish pickup; the owner has relinquished claim to the goods by depositing them on the side of the road. Reporting it to the police & waiting is the correct thing to do, but is unlikely to result in anything worthwhile. Oh well, I hope the owner isn't put off riding from this experience - the buggers who originally stole the wheels are lowlifes!
Permalink Reply by Jamesa on April 19, 2011 at 4:05pm

I have had two bikes stolen when I lived in Sydney.  The bastards are everywhere.

It is small concilation and a hard lesson but everyone needs to use two locks for their bikes - a u-lock for the rear and frame, and a cablelock for the front.I prefer mixing the locks for weight and for the idea that a tool for breaking one of the locks may not work on the other lock... Wishful thinking maybe.

Then you should remove the quick release lever on the seat post - or just take the seat with you (I still have a spare seat because of the previous losses).

Sadly I think,if you don't lock your bike properly you have to take a chance on either a wheel or the whole bike being taken.

Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on April 20, 2011 at 6:38am

I'm reminded of Sheldon Brown's 50 pound bicycle rule.

 

A bicycle always weighs 50lb, because no matter what the bike weighs, the U-lock will make up the difference. A cheap nasty 40lb bicycle only needs a 10lb lock because nobody wants to steal it. A 20lb bicycle is a beautiful ride and everybody wants one, so the lock has to be 30lb.

 

:-)

Permalink Reply by brian smith on April 20, 2011 at 4:42pm

It should have been reported to the statio staff (if anyone was at the station)

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