Amsterdam's Bike Graveyard
12-22-17, 05:37 PM
#26
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,397
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
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The fact of the matter is that unless you live in a specifically bike-friendly town like PDX or SF or Ames, most people either don't write down their VIN or don't know one is on the bike! Bikes in American society are still viewed as children's toys or for the poor, so to acknowledge them as something more would, in the authorities' view, make them look ridiculous.
This post has been insightful and educational. I believe I read or was told by a Dutch that the bikes you see on the street in the Netherlands are the crappy bikes. Many own quality bikes that they keep inside and use for serious rides.
This post has been insightful and educational. I believe I read or was told by a Dutch that the bikes you see on the street in the Netherlands are the crappy bikes. Many own quality bikes that they keep inside and use for serious rides.
My current daily bike is a 8-speed igh but that one is starting to wear out and replacement might be expensive. So I am contemplating getting a simpler bike (or a Brompton folder) as my next home <> station bike.
I own a couple of nicer bikes as well but those stay inside and will mostly be taken out for longer trips or vacations.
Another factor is the (especially comparatively) huge number of bike thefts. Getting your bike stolen is almost a rite of passage and if you live in Amsterdam it will probably get stolen a few times.
Country - Population - Number of bikes stolen each year
NL - 17,020,000 - 468,000 ~ 772,000
USA - 323,100,000 - 211,000
If you want a comparative relative number, that would be 8,884,300 bikes stolen each year in the US. That's 42 (!) times as often as now.
12-22-17, 06:36 PM
#27
Banned.
Last edited by prairiepedaler; 12-30-17 at 06:36 PM.
12-24-17, 06:41 AM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,308
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
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What percent of bike thefts are reported? If a person reports a bike was stolen, does the police automatically send them to this lot? Have records of when and where they took the bikes?
12-24-17, 08:47 AM
#29
Prefers Cicero
12-25-17, 06:08 AM
#30
Overdoing projects
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
Posts: 2,397
Bikes: Batavus Randonneur GL, Gazelle Orange Excellent, Gazelle Super Licht, Gazelle Grand Tourist, Gazelle Lausanne, Gazelle Tandem, Koga-Miyata SilverAce, Koga-Miyata WorldTraveller
Mentioned: 58 Post(s)
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12-25-17, 08:42 AM
#31
Prefers Cicero
