EliB

Say you get into an accident that renders you unconscious. You're rushed off to the hospital. Is your bike left as rubbish on the street or is there some provision made, someone's responsibility to hold on to it - or what remains of it- till the time when you happily regain your senses and start asking about it?

I worry about such things.

I am in NYC, so perhaps a NY'ers response may be most pertinent.

CrosseyedCrickt

In every area I am personally familiar with the police will hold it, especially if it is evidence, but usually they hold it until you retrieve it.

slvoid

The cops usually hang on to it.
That is.. if they get to it first.
Being a NYC native, as you are, you should know what happens.

Your bike will last about 30 seconds before it's stolen.

The same guy who took your bike will probably take your shoes for the cleat.

Then they'll take your bag.

Then more pedesterians will come over and start cleaning out your pockets.

Finally, the homeless will strip whatever's left off you until the cops come and find your naked body in the street about 5 minutes after the accident.

That's usually the way it happens. Your metal fillings may or may not be in your teeth when you regain consciousness.

CrosseyedCrickt

and don't forget what the necropedopyrophiliacs will do when they notice your naked lifeless body lying there in the street

deputyjones

lol, yes those necropedopyrophiliacs can be dangerous folks, but earthy and full of charm.

Yes, the cops typically hang on to the bike, but since I am also the paramedic unit and drive an SUV at work I will typically bring it to the hospital for them.

CrosseyedCrickt

yeah right DJ
if it was a good bike I'm sure it'd "disappear" and you'd be cruising on a new commuter
don't lie

CrosseyedCrickt

heh
I can only image how many query hits google has had in the last 10 minutes for "necropedopyrophiliacs"

2manybikes

You forgot the cannibals, now they carry camping stoves.

squegeeboo

Nonsense, your metal fillings will always be in your teeth when you regain consciousness, the real question is will your teeth be in your mouth, or did one of the bums realize you had metal fillings?

jyossarian

The cops took my bike for safe keeping til I was able to get it myself. I've heard of people locking their bikes up after accidents as well.

Cadfael

Speaking from experiance I was once bundled into an ambulance and karted of to Casualty, the police put my bike in the back of their van and then went to let my wife know I was in hossie... and left the bike before they left.

Okay, if I had bought the farm they may have done it a different way... having the fatal bike dropped of at the door would be a tad undiplomaric in those cases.

My brother had the same thing happen, but in his case they took to the nearest cop shop for him to pick up when he was fit.

But I think the pertinent point is... it is not simply left by the roadside to be grabbed by the next passing crack addict.

EGreen

Depends on where you are. If you are anywhere tourists may be, you and your bike will be taken care of right and proper.

In some of the neighborHoods, some of the above sicko scenarios aren't far from reality.

I-Like-To-Bike

You also forgot about the A&S ghouls who feast on news reports of fatal bicycling accidents.

mjw16

I saw a guy get hit a couple of years ago. He was so concerned about his bike (it may have been a Litespeed) that he insisted the paramedics take it with them as they scooped him up into the back of the ambulance. So, they put him on the stretcher, pushed him in the ambulance, followed by the bike.

I'd do the same thing unless someone could pick it up for me.

CliftonGK1

My bike came with me to the hospital when I was carted off the course of a triathlon after a particularly nasty wreck. One of the officers on the scene put my mangled ride in the back of his car and followed the ambulance to the hospital.
(The bike and I suffered equal amounts of damage. Unfortunately, my healing took much longer than replacing parts on the bike did, and I couldn't ride the rest of that summer.)

seriouslysilly

I can just see the scene in You,me&Dupree with the character riding his roadie after being hit by the car with the oblong shaped wheel.

2manybikes

I did.

BroMax

That's a right decent thing to do. When I had my car stolen it felt like an insult to have to pay to retrieve it from impound. I know there are costs involved but I'd willingly pay a tax to cover it so that auto theft victims don't have another problem to contend with.

When I broke my arm and dislocated my shoulder I called a taxi and asked him to stop by the rental place to drop off the bike on the way to the hospital. The bike was undamaged. I tipped the driver $10 plus a couple bucks to round off the fare. OSHU treated me fine but next time, I'm going to one of the flatland hospitals. That ride up the hill with a dislocated shoulder was purgatory.

timmhaan

when i got in an accident a guy who happened to race with me was nearby. he took my bike and held it is his apartment until i could get it the next day. that was really nice of him. it would have been a pain to go down the police station (on cruches) to retrieve the bike.

i dont even think id be able to prove that i was the rightful owner of the bike.

centexwoody 

this will help explain to my favorite wife that I am NOT interested in renting a bike to ride during our next NYC visit...

seriouslysilly

you have more than one? how do u manage that and find the time to ride?