Comments on: Bike Theft

By: Jonathan law

Jonathan law — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:29:36 +0000

I have several times been in a hardware store here in Croydon, and watched teenage kids trying to buy a pair of bolt-croppers.

Thankfully his particular store keeps such items out of sight and under the counter so they can use discretion as to whom they sell such items (they already have knives and spray paint under lock and key).

One time upon being denied a pair of bolt-croppers the kids sought to buy a crowbar……one didn’t need too much more information to hazard a guess at what kind of nefarious behaviour these baseball capped individuals had in mind.

Sadly I have all but given up using my beautiful bicycle for everyday getting about, as i fear too much for it’s safety in Croydon.

Sadly if you saw someone trying to steal your bike and you thumped them one or grabbed them to prevent this action the police would soon be arresting you rather than the real criminal

As a side thought I would be in favour of making the cycling proficiency a compulsory test, and banning cyclists from the pavements and making them observe the rules of the road.

And if the motorists don’t like it how about making cyclists pay road tax – something minor like £1 to £5 per year , so that motorists can view them as proper paid up road users.

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By: Sebrof

Sebrof — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:23:09 +0000

Boris,

Just seen you cycling (rather speedily) down Farringdon street, new bike or did they get the little sods who nicked yours?

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By: Simple solution to bike theft

Simple solution to bike theft — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 18:37:08 +0000

I think a simple, if radical solution would be to make it illegal to sell any second hand bike or bike parts.
You could still give them away for free but not sell for money (or barter for other goods.)

With no second hand market the bike thefts would then disappear overnight.

yes it would be a little annoying to know that you’ll never be able to sell that new bike for cash – but I think the advantage of not having it stolen will far outweigh that.

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By: Fred Collier

Fred Collier — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:24:33 +0000

Someone may have already suggested this….I don’t know as I can’t be bothered reading all the other squabbles about grammar and spelling and fine details etc. that usually develop five ‘Posts’ after the main article (really I haven’t looked but I bet they are there!!…If you have bothered, post a reply telling me…)
As we seem to be the most CCTV’d nation on earth, can’t we have a few more pointing at newly erected and supervised ‘bike parks’…are we not paying enough tax generally and saving enough of the environment on our bikes for this small concession to be made for us bi-wheeled eco-warriors?

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By: Reg Pither

Reg Pither — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:19:47 +0000

If the final judge of the value of a degree is the market, then I wonder how you rate your own, Boris?
Does selling insurance call for a thorough grounding in the Peloponnesian war? Would a Kwik Fit fitter fit quicker if he or she quoted extracts from the Iliad and Odyssey while loosening the wheelnuts? Is it essential for those smarmy, lying, Carol Vorderman-types who try to flog you a loan for life to ask “Are you worried about debt or, as Plato said, quoting Sophocles on the subject of love, ‘To my great delight I have escaped from it, and feel as if I had escaped from a frantic and savage master.’”?
Learning classics at Balliol, by your own logic, is about as much use in the job market as a spare prick is at a virgin’s wedding.
I thought the purpose of education, particularly of a degree, was to teach you to think, not just to groom you for a designated slot as a work drone. Evidently, your education failed to teach you to think at all so, bearing in mind you would have recieved a grant and your course fees from the state (as I did and as we all should in an advanced society), can we have our money back?

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By: crebley

crebley — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:23:24 +0000

Yes, it’s turning into tumbleweed town. Perhaps it’s time that powder monkey put up the Bullingdon link again.

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By: Vicus Scurra

Vicus Scurra — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:19:55 +0000

Can we have some new nonsense please Boris? Going rusty over here.

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By: Captain Badger

Captain Badger — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 09:21:39 +0000

“He should do something the country needs to repay his privileged start in life. We’ve got plenty of flowery Comment writers. Hard graft of the brain sort to me is hunched over a computer trying to find a bug in the code with a deadline looming”

Code bunnying requires a rather specialised mindset. i don’t think Boz would be very good at it, and besides, it’s all getting Bangalored anyway.

What this country desperately needs is honest politicians running the show instead of the current lying warmongers. perhaps Boz could try that (although a bit less of the eextra curricular shagging may help with the PR )

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By: John

John — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:26:34 +0000

Your Bike might have been stolen by a Scouser, it is highly likly.
And keep up the all the good work you are doing.

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By: Steven_L

Steven_L — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:05:29 +0000

< “especially when the government has a majority and the House of Commons has been reduced to a school debating society” (Jack Target)<

I’m not sure about the school debating society analogy, however I tdo think that an ever increasing share of the debate takes place in the media and – certainly over the year or so since I stuck my oar in the water – online.

Lefties fear Boris because he has a personality and non-tribalist centre-gorund voters like him. They will never stop trying to smear him.

I like to believe he is a political Garry Kasparov, luring them into an intricate trap.

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