Originally Posted by skanking biker
Unless the bike was truly "abandoned" in which case the original owner gave up legal ownership of the bike. If I leave a couch on the curb and someone takes it before the garbage man comes, thats not technically stealing.
For a real ethical mind bender here is one. Dude leaves his bike on a rack. Goes to a bar, gets drunk and hit by a car, and is in a coma for 2 months. While he is in the coma someone puts a sign on the bike that says free bike parts. Assuming you do not have knowledge of any of the facts pertaining to the owner's current situation and simply come upon the bike, is it ethical for you to take the seat?
A. Yes, because I didnt know the guy was in a coma and i read the sign and though the owner gave it away.
B. No, regardless of whether yoyuknew about the owner's situation or thought you were stealing or even had a reasonable basis for your subjective belief, objectively you still took property belonging to another person
I'm not sure about your city, but I learned about a year ago that if you leave a sofa out for the garbage man, the sofa becomes the property of the city and if it is taken it is technically stealing from the city (was a surprise to me). However, if you leave it on your property and put a sign on it, it can be taken lawfully by anyone, but the garbage man won't touch it. That's the way it is here, anyway. Interesting, huh.
As for the dilemna, I would select 'B' simply because I doubt anyone would leave a locked bike and put a sign on it. I would see that as someone playing a dirty trick on someone and wouldn't touch the bike. Anyone giving away parts wouldn't do it like that.
And as for taking the grips. It was wrong. You need new grips, buy them. Taking them without permission is theft, no matter what was assumed.