HARTFORD - Stolen from CT Transit Bus
 

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/Dscn0618.jpg

Above is the picture of my most recent bicycle to be stolen a 2003 Scattante R-550. It is the fourth total (I had three stolen out of a garage in San Diego).

It's a little late to be posting this as the events that follow happened on November 3rd 2008. I'm guessing the bike is long gone, but I'm writing this anyway just in case anyone has seen the bike around Hartford.

I was getting off a CT Transit BUS in downtown Hartford. Even though I let the driver know that I was getting off, the bus still pulled away as I was walking to the front. I called CT Transit to let them know my bike was still on the front of their bus, but the only response I received was that I would have to wait until it showed up at the lost and found. It never did.

I filed a police report on Nov 5th and I have already dealt with CT Transit claims dept (they finally admitted fault).

However, I'm still pissed about the bike being stolen. It wasn't even a super-nice bike, but I still want to catch the a--hole who took it. I HATE BIKE THIEVES!!!

So, please help me find my bike so the the thief can be caught. Thanks.

Sorry man, but it's gone. It might get sold on Craigslist. Or stripped for parts, or shipped out of the US altogether....

You may want to get a folding bike next time, as you should be able to take it on buses and trains without letting it leave your sight.

ct transit to compensate ($)?

sorry to hear of loss (i had re-built 1972 Atala Giro-de-Italia swiped from double locked shed, 1996).
police were next to useless. bike still brings many memories!!

replace it, the next will be better, mechanically at least.

i hope you get it back, catch the thief, let bf know transit outcome, but work on plan "B" to get replacement.

w/condolences.

tomg

Yeah, I was never really mad at the driver of the bus, because there was a lot going on (bus was packed, a lot of people getting off/on), but I was pissed off at the response from CT Transit. I was basically lied to and told that they couldn't contact the driver so he would know not to allow the bike to be swiped by someone else before he returned to the station.

CT Transit initially denied my claim ...calling it MY fault that the driver pulled away with my bike still on the front (even though I mentioned to the driver I was getting my bike off). They also insinuated in the denial letter that I didn't take action until 1 month after.

I threatened to take them to Small Claims Court and provided a printout of my cell phone calls made around that date made to CT Transit customer service and the Hartford PD to back up my claim. Don't forget, the buses all have security videos on them, yet the tapes from 03 Nov "weren't available" even though I had called and requested they hold the tapes two days after the incident. Bottom line: They cut me a check for %75 of the bike (just over $800).

I've been checking Craig's List and a couple of the local pawn shops. Nothing so far, but hey it took me 6 months took get this bike back after it was stolen from my locked garage in San Diego:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/DSCN0667.jpg
Never rub another man's rhubarb.

I'm sorry you lost your bike. On the whole, I'd call that an excellent outcome. Hartford has hugely upgraded its bus fleet recently-- tons of busses now have the racks. They have their 'hart' in the right place. Making that city more bike and ped friendly will go far in pushing out the blight that's endemic to our Connecticut cities.

I'm sure that drivers aren't the happiest about it as it adds to their workload in a sense, (I'm a union city (of Bridgeport) employee and that's how we think-- hate to say it, but it's true)

75% cost for the bike is a fairly decent settlement. Your persistence might well benefit the next rider who experiences a similar screw up.

I've yet to use a bus rack, but your anecdote has given me the idea of being sure to enter and exit the bus with my helmet on as a visual cue for the driver.