Item — HN Reader

Though I don't agree with how you're saying what you're saying, I am curious how this issue is planning to be addressed.

As a SF resident, let's say I took a bike home to hayes valley. I'd say there's a 90% chance your bike will get stripped/stolen each night (assuming it's locked well with a good lock) in this area. Would I be liable for this as a user?

Also I can't imagine this would be profitable if there isn't a revolutionary change in theft-prevention. Perhaps it's the GPS component will help discourage thieves?

3 comments

Gps helps and then I think its mostly down to design. The lock has to be so integrated that breaking it leaves the bike unusable, and wheels, saddles etc has to be non-standard so no one could use or sell a wheel or other part from one of the bikes. Also the bikes have to be recognizable in geometry so that it's very obvious to any buyer if a re-painted stolen one is sold.

Stealing and stripping bikes has only 4 reasons 1) selling it 2) selling parts 3) transportation 4) vandalism.

Vandalism is almost impossible to prevent. The other 3 should be preventable by good (and well-known) design. For the bikes to be well known enough you need a large exposure. You can't have just e.g 1000 bikes in SF.

Maybe somebody could make a business out of bicycle parking.

Why is crime so horrible in SF?

What do you mean? We don't have any criminals here, we only have "victims" who are undereducated and "rebalancing privilege" when they sell your $1,000 bike for $50 bucks so they can buy a handle.