Ever been bikejacked? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

04-07-2004, 07:02 AM

I was riding home on my normal commute last night just after sunset.
This is normally a pretty low-key commute through a fairly industrial
area with only the occasional hassle from motorists, etc.

This time, though, I got a low-grade attempt to steal my bike.
Up ahead I saw a small group of guys near the railroad tracks and
one started crossing the street in front of me. It looked like
he'd be across well before I got there, but he slowed down mid-
street and turned around to talk to the other guys. My radar
said "drunks -- trouble" and so I wasn't terribly surprised
when, as I approached, he took a step back in the opposite
direction to be right in my path and said "give me your bike".

Using the tracks was clever because a lot of people would probably
slow way down, but I normally cross at speed, coasting; and my
trouble radar went off, so I was able to just ride around the guy
with a friendly expletive. Clearly they didn't try hard to take
the bike -- they could have spread out across the street and
attempted to knock me off the bike -- but it was still pretty scary.

I called the police when I got back to let them know (in case other,
less prepared cyclists encountered the same people) and they said they'd
send someone to check it out. Probably I did the right thing
(rather than being confrontational, etc.), but it left an
unsatisfying taste in my mouth.

Funnily, I had read about this exact situation in a book from the
library, something like the Urban Commuter's Handbook (not the
exact title, I don't remember it), but I didn't expect it to
actually happen to me. Anyone else have similar incidents and/or
better ideas for responses?

-- Dan

--
Dan Cosley ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].cs.umn.edu * [Only registered and activated users can see links. ])
GroupLens Research Lab, Univ of MN ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ] * 612.624.8372)
*** Just a foot soldier in the Army of Truth ***