Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "bike sacramento"

Escalating bike theft hits Sacramento hard

2012-11-20T18:33:12Z

It's been said that raw statistics do not lie. But what happens when only one out of 10 bike thefts get reported?

You would think crime statistics would be important for our sometimes fair city to get a handle on, but when a greater majority of its citizens would rather forget what just happened to them, it's time to change the communication lines of the most telling of all statistics: crime.

After several conversations with law enforcement about bike crime and about a recent bike theft from a few of our local bike shops, I’ve reached the conclusion that our police force is weary and stretched out.

Bike theft is very painful as most of this readership will tell you. But most all bike theives get a slap of the wrist and never see time behind bars. It’s a misdemeanor to steal someone’s bicycle worth under $1,000.

One officer said to not even bother pressing charges after a bike at my shop was recently never returned on a test spin. It will only cost you a lot of time from work, I was told. Another officer shrugged off the question with "it’s the justice system."

More concern from store operators would help address the problem, specifically the Safeway on 19th Street, which is known for being the epicenter of bike theft. On any given day, you can find a chopped cable lock or bikes missing wheels and saddles near the well hidden from view bike racks. It seems that store management could care less what happens to their customers’ modes of transportation outside as long as they spend their money inside.

The long and the short of it is far too many bikes are disappearing without a trace, and this calls for more, not less investigation.

I invite a discussion on what to do about this issue, as it really is one of our most chronic problems in Sacramento.

Disclosure: John Boyer is the owner of Edible Pedal, a bike shop and delivery service in Midtown

Bike ride celebrates Mr. Moonlight

2012-08-30T17:55:32Z

This Friday evening starting at 8:30pm join Jim Brown from CBC for a moonlight ride with a pot luck desert finish at William Pond Park Although Mr Moonlight will be shinning bright lights for your bike ar in order. The ride starts from Temple Coffee on 28th and S.

https://www.facebook.com/events/475090439177047/

This will be a casual ride so leave your skinny tired bike behind so you can enjoy the wonderful natural surroundings of the American River Bike trail.

Bike Swap today

2012-04-29T11:23:18Z

Edible Pedal, a bike shop with a delivery service is having a bike swap today in the alley parking lot next to Cheap Thrills at 17th and L. It is free to the puplic and there will be a $10 fee to vendors that goes to the Sacramento Bike Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides help educating its public on bike mechanics and self reliance via the bicycle.

The swap has a slant toward the bicycle commuter and tourist with the purpose of increasing their numbers and to encourage current commuters to bring a friends who are contemplating bike commuting and touring. TheBikeswap goes from 9am to 2 pm.

The CBC (California Bike Coalition) will also have a booth explaining the new and improved 3 foot law bill being reintroduced this year.

Disclosure: author is the owner of Edible Pedal

Bike theft, Its flourishing and prospering in Sacramento

2012-02-03T15:40:53Z

They come into the bike shop with eyes darting from corner to corner. You can actually feel their fading hope that at any moment the stolen bike that gave them so much pleasure or secured them a swift passage to their livelihood will miracuosly show up. Then without a hello or how are you, the tragic mental record of loss unfolds. With their face quivering they often confess of the ommision of forgetting to lock up their trusty steed.The carelessness and absent mindedness is afterall a part of modern day life.

If the loss makes them just plain mad the next reaction is to get another bike to make up for the loss but this time its going to be invisible to the common bike thief. the uglification insues as the pain of loss is too great. In hopes to fool the thieves, one often camouflages their next steed by buying a black bike with low grade components or plastering it with so many loud angry stickers that the idea of stripping off all that vinyl would waste the bike theives time and delay the next hijacking of someone elses prized steed.

I dont have the figures of bike theft in Sacramento as they are not attainable. You see 9 out of 10 people never file a police report. Perhaps it is just apathy or a hope if they just forget the loss quickly the pain and aching will go away. But I do know the figures from my shop and I will tell you they can reach as many as 5 in a day. My passion is to get people on a bike and to eliminate car trips from the city streets and replace them with happy trips via the bicycle. That said you can understand how this crime collectively takes a serious toll on not just me but all of us who see Sacramento a better place to live when bicycling becomes a common way of life.

This week alone 2 people I know had 4 and 3 bikes taken at the same time out of back yards and garages. We may have a very organized effort here in strip mining Sacramento of its biking way of life.

As a community we must get tireless about locking up our bikes with not 1 but 2 locks, a cable AND a Ulock of quality. Here is a good article on how to lock up to keep bike thieves moving on to the uneducated fellows "at risk" bike.

http://www.sfbike.org/?theft_locking

It is the hope of this writer to create a tight knit community that puts the bike thief into his own apathy until he gets the help he needs to contribute on a positive level.

Disclosure: yes! I shamelessly sell bicycle locks at Edible Pedal Bike shop and delivery.

Wilie Weir comes to Sacramento

2010-02-07T19:40:14Z

Famed author from Carmichael Willie Weir has booked 3 shows for next week at REI. The world traveller by bicycle puts on a fine show that combines humor, drama and inspiration. The timing is perfect as Sacramento suffers through its economic woes. Willy brings answers to the dilema of how one can travel on the cheap.

When Willie gets on stage its clear his objective is to create pedal powered world travelers with every breath. The fear mongering intention that makes up the Media world of today is overmatched when it comes to Willies message. We have all heard it before, the family member who tells you "oh you mus'nt go there! Its too dangerous!" Simply put Willie Weir is a native treasure to Sacramento.

Shows are Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Very entertaining so dont miss it. Proceeds go to 3 fine nonprofits; SABA,the Sacramento Bike Kitchen and The Mustard Seed Spin

http://www.willieweir.com/