Living Car Free - Stranded Motorist: GIVE ME YOUR BIKE!

I was doing my daily commute this morning when I passed a junky car on the side of the road. One wheel was off and several people were milling around, trying to find the spare or something. When I passed one guy ordered me to give him my bike so he could get help! I passed the opportunity to make a remark. He seemed pretty freaked out--or maybe just a freak. Anyway it was one of those little moments that reminds me why bicycles are better than cars.

You should have said "You can't have my bike, but here, you can have my spare." LOL

Sounds like the car stopped but the sense of entitlement to the road hadn't.

Sounds like the car stopped but the sense of entitlement to the road hadn't.

Yep!

Maybe that guy oughta consider investing in a folding bike to throw in his car trunk for the future.

Could have been a filthy drug addict seeking a fix. Just a wild guess/theory for the reasons behind this peculiar roadside discussion and the reason he was so interested in the bike.

Sounds like a robbery attempt to me

No robbery, they were really stranded. He was just a nut.

But it did make me wonder how people would react after a major earthquake, when they're cars are useless on the broken roads but my bike isn't. Panic sets in, and certain people might get grabby.

It's odd that ever happens to anyone. I was at a light once and two non threatening bums asked if he could have my bike. I said "No".

WTF? I guess if you're asking for quarters then asking for a bike isn't a stretch, although I doubt some realize how expensive bikes really are.

I live in a city where one wrong turn and you could end up in a terrible neighborhood. Once I rode past what was probably a crack house that had two (likely stolen) bikes laying in the yard. As I rode past, a dude runs out of the house and shouts, "Hey! STOP! You're riding my bike!". He gave chase (on foot) but I had no problem pedaling away. He was either joking (it was rather comical) or was on crack.

You can have mine when you pry it outa my cold dead hands.:rolleyes:


I think I would yell "Sorry, gotta go" and take off.

I was getting air at a gas station one time, cou[le looked like they just got outa jail tried to get mine, My cousins wife carries pepper spay.......??????

We all oughtta get concealed carry licenses. The motorists would fear the cyclists for once. :D

I thought about packing a black card board cutout of a Desert Eagle hand gun in one of my rear jersey pockets, just to get car drivers to give me a little more room and respect. Then I thought I would probably be arrested for brandishing a firearm.

I actually had my Detective Special in a pocket holster, but some nut yelling at you isn't just cause to throw down iron.

No robbery, they were really stranded. He was just a nut.

But it did make me wonder how people would react after a major earthquake, when they're cars are useless on the broken roads but my bike isn't. Panic sets in, and certain people might get grabby.

I do not have to wait for a earthquake or something like that for trouble to follow. Desperate people do desperate things-like bike jacking. I already had a distant relative had his brains permamently scrambled with a crazy guy like that smashing my mother's relative's head in over a cheap bike. I use folding bikes exclusively at present that could be hidden underneath junk if need to-or ride very, very fast away.

Yikes! Maybe I'll start wearing my helmet all the time.

Yep!

Maybe that guy oughta consider investing in a folding bike to throw in his car trunk for the future.

I used that setup for a while.

Car + fixed gear bike at all times

We all oughtta get concealed carry licenses. The motorists would fear the cyclists for once. :D

cyclo commuters should be granted CCW ... the threat only on reputation would be awesome

I was driving a friend's busted up pickup last year as a favor to her after a shoulder operation. The stupid thing broke down on me, but I had my bike in the back. I was sorely tempted to just cruise the thirty miles back home and leave her Ford on the road. It was nice to have the option, even if I didn't go through with it.

I was driving a friend's busted up pickup last year as a favor to her after a shoulder operation. The stupid thing broke down on me, but I had my bike in the back. I was sorely tempted to just cruise the thirty miles back home and leave her Ford on the road. It was nice to have the option, even if I didn't go through with it.

Sounds like my first two vehicles(pickups), seems they spent more time in my garage being worked on, than on the road. I always had my trusty Schwinn Varsity stashed in back of the beds of both trucks so I wouldn't be left walking. The Schwinn came through several times, before I ended up getting a more reliable vehicle.

Once, I had some 'project dwellers' yell at me, as I was riding near the downtown projects, on my commute to work downtown. They said, "Gimme yo' bike!" I think they were serious. I just kicked in into the high gear, and sailed. The next day, I dramatically modified my commute route.

Sounds like a robbery attempt to me
I live in Louisville, KY, and downtown is rougher than it used to be, and rougher than our mayor would have you believe. If a bum asks me for money, as I am walking, I immediately say, "Nope"; I don't give them the time of day. Usually they will ask you what time it is, to engage you, or to see what type of watch or jewelry you have [I have a Submariner] and I say, "I dunno - no watch", and just walk away. I monitor their position, though; I won't let them sneak up on me. They want you to think they are just like you, just another citizen -- but they are not. Then they whack you over the friggin' head with a steel pipe. I would be careful in the inner city - people do get bike-jacked.

Please, any bleeding hearts, spare me the "they are just misunderstood" crap - there are reasons people become homeless.

My wife and I have a friend who used to be homeless for 10 years, and he finally dried out, got a job and tried to make a go of it. He worked at a store as a clerk for 5 years, but then he lost his job, and is now back on the street, up in Cinncinnatti.

It has happened to me. I just pick up speed and call out that I will call for help. Then you could call 911 and report the attempt to take your bike.

But it did make me wonder how people would react after a major earthquake, when they're cars are useless on the broken roads but my bike isn't. Panic sets in, and certain people might get grabby.

Do you really think that large numbers of people would panic because they'd have to walk a few miles for a change? If that's true, that's truly pathetic.

I actually had my Detective Special in a pocket holster, but some nut yelling at you isn't just cause to throw down iron.

I love Alaska.