Paul Barnard

Would the OP be beyond criticism if he eschewed St Louis on account of crime?

Maelochs

I can see why the guy wouldn't live in Philly if it isn't even a top-ten city.

Why settle? Go for the gusto. I am looking at real estate in St. Louis on another web page right now .... but I am not moving yet .... their rate of bike thefts doesn't measure up.

indyfabz

Pulling out of 30th Street Station right now as part of a short overnight bike trip. I’m going to have some showers and a strong headwind tomorrow morning, so no morning coffee sunrise photo like last time. Oh well.

Koyote

There’s a whole segment of the US population that is almost overwhelmed with fear and resentment. It’s been programmed into them by opportunistic politicians and their “news” sources.

livedarklions

Well, it can't be all bad.
​​They don't have to worry about you hanging around.

Seriously, why would you think trashing a city would be a proper focus of a General Cycling thread? Congratulations on a successful trolling.

3alarmer 

BikeLite

What would happen if you were caught driving a stolen car? Why are bikes different? Bike ownership needs to be similar (obviously not the same) as car ownership and maybe more could be done?

All bikes would have a serial number etched in (if not already done) with free registration and whatever else needed to happen.

rsbob 

A good idea but registration would involve setting up a secure web page, maintenance and upgrades. There goes the ‘free’ part.

Take a picture of your serial numbers and save it in the cloud or whoever - even print it and save.

bikehoco

Is this similar to what you're looking for?

https://bikeindex.org/

3alarmer 

...bicycles are much more easily stripped, parted out, and spray painted flat black. That said, there are plenty of cars that get stolen and never recovered. Not sure why you think people are going to get "caught" riding a stolen bike. There is not much enforcement of stolen car recoveries, unless they get pulled over for some other violation. Nobody who makes and sell bicycles is going to want to deal with etching and engraving various parts on the bicycle, along with the frame and fork, as part of the manufacturing and assembly process.

The current bicycle registration system here in California (using frame ID numbers), has done little or nothing to curtail theft.

CliffordK

Or if one is caught riding a stolen horse...

3alarmer 

...horses are easily disguised.

adlai

Philly crime is really high. Just because st Louis is worse doesn't mean much. Philly murder rate is roughly 18-20 per 100k. Lancaster pa in contrast, Amish country, is 2/100k.

So Philly crime is 10x per capita of Lancaster crime.

Some parts of the USA have higher murder rates than Baghdad. ISIS would be an improvement...

Koyote

Some people state the most obvious, unsurprising information as if it's insightful.

shelbyfv

Or you could look for rates of child sex abuse.... Point is, you can live where you want. Stating what should be obvious, city, suburb or rural, each has attractions. No one choice is "better" for all.

indyfabz

Fighting a 20-30 mph headwind thanks to a coastal storm while the OP is trolling behind a keyboard.

But last night was pretty.

shelbyfv

OMG, are you still not murdered....?

3alarmer 

...say what you want, I have never trusted the Amish.

3alarmer 

...and the Phillies are up 3-1 in the Series.

indyfabz

Amazing, considering I went to Jersey. Hell. Riding a bike in Atlantic City can amount to a death sentence.

I’ll feel safer when I get off the train back in town a ride to my local to watch the game.