Northeast - Safe riding in NY?

Hello, I was just wondering if anyone has had any bad experiences on more than one occasion? I plan on riding my Brompton around Long Island and in the city. I am 30 years old, but I look like I could still be a high school student. I plan on bring to bring my bike with me in doors so I don't have to worry about it being stolen. But I was just curious if people have had any trouble with someone trying to steal your bike directly from you.

never heard of that before. people are pretty bold here but not to the point where they will steal your bike from under you

I'll second that. Bikes do get stolen here -- and everywhere -- but Long Island City is not a place I'd expect a bike to get stolen right out from under you.

it really depends on the parts. where exactly do you plan on riding?

I have heard of it. But not in a while. Common sense will prevail here; I wouldn't be very concerned but just use general caution. The places it would be most likely to happen, I should think, would be dark areas of a big park like Central or Prospect, if you are by yourself in the wee hours of the night. Also on bridge bike paths (people have been bike jacked there, and also had their cell phones taken in the past), again, if you're alone at the middle of the night. There were reports just a few years ago of gang activity stealing hipsters' bikes by the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge, although that seemed to quiet down quickly.

I think if you are riding during regular hours (say 5 AM to 1 AM) you'll be fine. Riding with others helps your safety factor. If you want added peace of mind, carry a cell phone (I'll leave you to do a search here for the pro/anti mace, knife or gun carry opinions), some ID (http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx), and look at local police blotters in areas you are unfamiliar with to see if bikejackings have happened recently.

If you appear to be weak and vulnerable and get cornered by a large urban pack of youths (if you live here you should know what that means) then it is certainly possible if not likely that you might be hijacked for your ride. Though it would be hard for them to effectively corner you if you are in motion in broad daylight.

I would say that the scenario would be if someone noticed and took a shine to your bike and then decided to intercept you one day. That would draw them police attention for relatively little gain.


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If you appear to be weak and vulnerable and get cornered by a large urban pack of youths (if you live here you should know what that means) then it is certainly possible if not likely that you might be hijacked for your ride. Though it would be hard for them to effectively corner you if you are in motion in broad daylight.

I would say that the scenario would be if someone noticed and took a shine to your bike and then decided to intercept you one day. That would draw them police attention for relatively little gain.


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That brings up a good point. If you ride habitually in the same place and time everyday you may be making yourself a target. It does depend upon the area, but not necessarily. It's good to break up your route or riding times.

The same goes for locking up on the street. No matter how good your lock is, if you chain up at the same place at predictable times it's only a matter of when it will get stolen or messed with. You should vary your parking spots. If I ever rode a nice bike to work and had to lock up outside (rare) I'd actually go move it at lunch time.

I have yet to hear of any "bike-jackings" in NYC.

I concur that riding slow at 3AM in Central Park is probably asking for trouble, but I think this issue is pretty low on the list.

Uh yeah, NYC is full of thugs. Just ask any Red Sox fan.

I have yet to hear of any "bike-jackings" in NYC.

I concur that riding slow at 3AM in Central Park is probably asking for trouble, but I think this issue is pretty low on the list.


It does happen: but mostly to young kids. I don't think full grown bike messengers or commuters get jacked in broad daylight, but I can certainly see it happening at night if you run into the wrong group.

I've personally seen a cheap beater being stolen from a Chinese food deliveryman (If I had a weapon handy I might have used it on the thief...).




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In all of the years riding all over the city I never had anyone try to steal my bike. hassled yes but that's about it.

Stuff Does Happen (http://bikeblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/happy-earthdayi-got-great-present-my.html)


again, this is rare, but use common sense and you should be fine. You're in much more danger of getting hit by a car or having a dumb ped step out in front of you.

In all of the years riding all over the city I never had anyone try to steal my bike. hassled yes but that's about it.

All over the city? Bushwick and Cypress Hills at night during the summer months too? Then your point is well taken. It can't ever happen since it never happened to you. :lol:

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All over the city? Bushwick and Cypress Hills at night during the summer months too? Then your point is well taken. It can't ever happen since it never happened to you. :lol:

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He never indicated that it could never happen, just relaying his own experiences which is all anyone can really offer on these forums.

And FWIW, I've rode through some really sketchy sections of Bushwick and Bed-Stuy on my Brompton (I was lost) in the middle of the night to check out ToddP shows. Never hassled or stopped. It was mostly during the winter though so maybe the bike thieves were hibernating? ;)

To the OP - DO NOT lock up your Brompton outside. I recall someone on these boards last year had locked theirs up outside of a gym. When they came back, their Kryptonite locks were cut and their bike was stolen.

He never indicated that it could never happen, just relaying his own experiences which is all anyone can really offer on these forums.


Yes, but OP was asking a concerned question and that kind of answer is sort of like saying "I swim in shark-infested waters all the time and in all my years (unspecified) I've never been bitten...". You see what I mean? :D




And FWIW, I've rode through some really sketchy sections of Bushwick and Bed-Stuy on my Brompton (I was lost) in the middle of the night to check out ToddP shows. Never hassled or stopped. It was mostly during the winter though so maybe the bike thieves were hibernating? ;)

To the OP - DO NOT lock up your Brompton outside. I recall someone on these boards last year had locked theirs up outside of a gym. When they came back, their Kryptonite locks were cut and their bike was stolen.


Things have been better in recent years, but with the economic downturn, I'd expect that some word of caution is always appropriate. Even paranoids can have real enemies... :lol:

i actually work in bushwick and ride my bike to and from work and never had any problems just the random comment like " ***** you know you can't ride up that hill" sorry for my use of words.

p.s. i'm black btw

A good friend of mine was hit across the head with a 2X4 at an intersection
in the mid eighties. happened at the bowery. before it got gentrified.
his MSR helmet saved him, he was knocked down and got up swinging his U lock.
haven't heard of anything like this lately. but would not be surprised if Chinese food delivery people
get jacked. sad.

Thanks people. Hearing your comments does make me feel alittle better. I really do look young (dress young) and I have had my bike stolen as well as parts when I was in high school. So, I am naturally cautious, so I was wondering if getting you bike stolen was more common, but I guess it isn't. I won't lock my bike up anywhere except to my leg! Haha. And I won't be riding in the middle of the night. So, I hope I won't have any problems. Thanks!

If you look at the story I posted above, the guy who lost his bike should have followed his common sense/gut feeling. Just be careful and listen to your instincts, you should be fine. Ride safe!:)

Just curious, but is mace legal to carry in NY?

Yes, I believe they changed mace to be legal a little while ago, but you should really check with authorities anyway just to be sure. Also legal are knives with blades less than 4" (but you really have to know how to retain and use them if you go this way).

Interesting that carrying around hammers and screwdrivers without showing any malevolent intent is plenty legal.


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Interesting that carrying around hammers and screwdrivers without showing any malevolent intent is plenty legal.




Indeed. All it takes is one moran on a plane and suddenly shoes are a deadly weapon.:notamused:

I take back what I said earlier. This morning, Newsday reported that a kid was robbed of his bike at gunpoint in East Meadow, a fairly quiet Long Island suburb. I guess crime is hit and miss wherever you go.

That sucks. I do agree, sadly, that stuff like this tends to increase as the economy takes a dive.

I take back what I said earlier. This morning, Newsday reported that a kid was robbed of his bike at gunpoint in East Meadow, a fairly quiet Long Island suburb. I guess crime is hit and miss wherever you go.


Found it:


Teen robbed of his bicycle in East Meadow
BY JOHN VALENTI | john.valenti@newsday.com

Two young men, believed to be armed and in their teens, stopped a 17-year-old boy riding his bicycle in East Meadow just after midnight Tuesday - then stole his bike, police said.

Police are now searching for the bicycle thieves.

Nassau County police said the incident occurred near the intersection of Marlboro Street and Newbridge Road at 12:50 a.m. The two robbers approached the teen on the bike and one "gestured through his sleeve that he had a handgun," police said. One of the robbers took the bike and fled the scene on it, while the other fled the area on foot, police said.

No one was injured.



http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-lirobb2412909773jun23,0,2846859.story



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That is too bad. I don't plan on riding in areas where I am not familiar with or late at night. I would probably give up biking if I ever find myself in a situation like that. Mace sounds like a good idea to carry anyway.......

Found it:




http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-lirobb2412909773jun23,0,2846859.story



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I ride through that intersection all the time. My usual routes go north up all of those roads (newbridge rd, merrick ave, bellmore ave, wantagh ave, ect..) If they stole a 17 year old kids bike I cant imagine it was an expensive road bike. I doubt the other teens were armed but you never know. That sucks.

Teens accused of robbing kids' bikes in Hicksville

August 22, 2009 By MATTHEW CHAYES matthew.chayes@newsday.com

A pack of teens robbed other children of their bicycles at knifepoint at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville, Nassau County police said Saturday.
Cops arrested the three thieves - a 19-year-old and two 14-year-olds - as they tried to fence the ripped-off rides at the same mall a short time after the Friday afternoon stickup, police said.
The robbers used a knife to threaten their victims into giving up the bikes, police said.
Later, armed with descriptions of the bikes and the suspects, the officers found the robbers.
Authorities identified the eldest robber as Miguel Marquina, 19, of 10 Gerald Ave., but they didn't make public the names of the two 14-year-olds because they are juveniles.
Marquina faced a felony robbery charge, police said.
A police spokeswoman said one of the 14-year-olds was released to the custody of his parents. She said it was not immediately clear what happened to the other suspect.



http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/teens-accused-of-robbing-kids-bikes-in-hicksville-1.1388124

I always try to be careful riding through certain areas. I generally ride alone but go out early in the morning when gangs and the like are sleeping. That said riding in LIC during day light should not be a problem.