Bike Theft Chronicles: Stolen from TriMet bus rack

From RM on 9/24/14:

“About two weeks ago my husband’s bike was stolen off the front of a TriMet bus. It was not taken by another rider. It was taken by a random person on the street who ran up to the bus, grabbed his bike and rode off. The driver alerted our friend, who had borrowed the bike but by the time she got off the bus the thief could not be caught. I contacted TriMet and got a weak sorry from them but no hint that they could or would compensate us for the loss. The person I spoke to said, “it’s public transit,” like that somehow made it all go away. From what I understand, this type of thing is a rarity and I would think that TriMet’s Risk department or some such would have a way to compensate (even a small amount) for the loss of something that was put in their care while someone is riding the bus. I’ve made a report to the police but am not holding my breath for a result. Our homeowner’s policy has a deductible greater than the value of the bike. I don’t know if you have any suggestions or influence in a matter of this sort, but any input or help would be greatly appreciated.”

— Read more Bike Theft Chronicles

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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9watts
9watts
9 years ago

Your expectations of Trimet, RM, seem entirely reasonable. I hope you will share with us what you hear from them. Brazen is hardly an adequate term.

CaptainKarma
CaptainKarma
9 years ago

Put your bike in it’s highest gear before loading it. Keep a bungie for wrapping around the bike and bus rack. If they give you crap about it, wrap it through the spokes and rear frame triangle before the bus comes. It will slow and confound drug addled bike theives, maybe. Or trip them in traffic.

Joseph E
Joseph E
9 years ago

Lock a wheel of the bike to the bike’s frame. A thief can take if off the rack, but they can’t ride it away. And you can still take it off the bus rack quickly at your destination without delaying other bus riders.

Todd Boulanger
Todd Boulanger
9 years ago
Reply to  Joseph E

The Dutch style frame locks are nice for this type of quick locking. (Clever Cycles sells this type of lock by AXA, Basta, Trelock, etc.)

Chris Shaffer
Chris Shaffer
9 years ago

Small claims court is an option too.

Spiffy
Spiffy
9 years ago

my insurance company waived my deductible on the last theft claim I filed with them because the claim value was so low…

I didn’t get the full replacement value of my item, but I also didn’t have to pay to get them to give me $1000…