If you leave your bike on the streets of New York, it’s eventually going to get stolen. Even if it’s locked up. Even if it’s a beater. Even if there aren’t any tyres. It. Will. Get. Stolen. This video shows you the life cycle of a bicycle left outside for an entire year.
The video, made by Red Peak and Hudson Urban Bicycles, actually takes a while to get going as no one touches the bike for the better half of the year. That has to be some sort of record in NYC, actually. But anyway, after that half year mark passes, you’ll see the bike lose its basket, seat, tyres, brakes, dignity and everything else in a zippity. Those vultures work fast! [YouTube via EV Grieve
SherlockHolmes
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 9:08 AMTo be fair, if the same bike is chained for more than half a year and nobody claims it, then it’s kinda giving off the signal of ‘please take me – nobody wants me’.
The fact that it did stay around for half a year does mean that people obviously suspected that the bike was no longer wanted. So, what do you expect? Yes, that doesn’t mean it’s right to take the bike – but you’ll further notice – it was never stolen outright. Instead, it was ‘politely’ fleeced for spare parts until the frame had fallen on the ground. Somebody even took the lock and left the frame on the ground. This tells me, you’re average thief is not at work here, but probably students needing spare parts. I imagine this could happen in any major city, anywhere in the world. Also note, all the theft is happening at night when the camera is not turned on.
Philip B
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 9:51 AMVery true, but for one thing;
“Also note, all the theft is happening at night when the camera is not turned on.”
The video was made with photographs, not actual video footage. This is why you never see a thief… (who would steal something while being photographed?)
Just This Guy ...
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 1:08 PMSo.. Why did they keep photographing it after 261 days?
Still photographing something that’s been gone three months?
Carey
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 5:41 PMYeh ya derp. It’s a project for what happens when you leave a bike over one year. It’d be kinda stupid to end that project half way through. If you can’t tell these are photos you’re pretty spastic.
cayal
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 9:44 AMIt’s amazing it took so long for the bottle to go.
peter
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 12:19 PMcame here to say that
Uncle Bob
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 10:02 AMI am curious as to why the Kryptonite NY lock is removed between day 211 and 212.
I can’t watch it YT to see if this is explained in the comments. The lock is worth more than the bike, and not easily removable without destroying it.
You would not go to that effort without taking the bike, so they must have removed it, yet the bike remained for many more days.
JonBOY
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 1:02 PMIf you slow it down the bike lock actually gets stolen but the bike is left behind almost completely intact.
Classic!
madatom
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 3:48 PMto be entirely honest i reckon 1 of the shop owners decided to grab the remaining frame and throw it out
Bangar
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 4:30 PMWhy would you steal the lock if you can steal it, it’s obviously not up to the job!