Virginians (Update: and those of you in parts of Maryland as well), don't forget to vote!
- The 2011 Tweed Ride is this Sunday
- Determined bike thieves are now cutting through U-Locks in Georgetown.
- H Street streetcar tracks take a cyclist down, but that doesn't mean the two modes can't be friends.
- It's the first week of darker evening commutes. Be careful.
- Capital Bikeshare expansion continues (13th and H Street NE just got more docks).
Thirty-six docks, which keep bikes securely locked between uses, were added to four stations Monday. Four other stations were expanded Friday, and a total of 18 stations will have the capacity to handle more of the red bikes when the expansion is complete.
The expansion will continue this week, when the program begins to install docking stations in 34 new locations in the District and six new locations in Arlington.
It takes a lot of work to cut through a U-Lock.
- Bad people...very bad people.
Posted by: Scout03 | November 08, 2011 at 10:15 AM
I'm pretty sure I saw that lock in Georgetown. I actually though it was from removing an abandoned bike.
A lot of work? Probably about 3 minutes with a portable saw. Just pull up in a van, and you're out of there in a few minutes.
Posted by: charlie | November 08, 2011 at 10:21 AM
With cordless power tools getting up above 18Vs into the 24V range, thiefs have a lot more cutting power at their disposal. A grinder with a decent diamond blade could probably cut its way through one of those Bulldog Minis pretty quickly.
I count myself as lucky to be able to bring my bike up to my office with me and not have to leave it out on the street or down in the garage.
Posted by: Bilsko | November 08, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Not implying that this is an excuse but how long was the bike there? Charlie may have a point that maybe someone thought the bike was abandoned and called for the cutters. I mean, those were pretty clean cuts, like they had time and weren't worried about making noise.
That said, if it were legit, they probably would have also taken the lock.
By the way, Dr Gridlock replied via email that the information sent to him about illegal parking in bike lanes was helpful
Posted by: Randall Myers | November 08, 2011 at 12:35 PM
My fiance and I caught a guy cutting through a u-lock in broad daylight across the street from the Loew's Theater in Georgetown a few years ago, so clearly crooks still think they can get away with it down there.
Posted by: IMGoph | November 10, 2011 at 01:50 PM