Don't mess with the Cargo Bike Gang

This was going to be a post about how we're about halfway through the 30 Days of Biking and we haven't done anything really eventful. It was much harder the first year when it was a struggle to figure out how and where we were going to bike. Now it's a breeze because we ride to go just about everywhere and have been doing so for over two years. This is our third 30 Days of Biking and it seems to get easier each year. I did miss one day this month but I ended up walking seven miles instead and I figure that should count for something. Maybe the biggest change is my decision not to push myself to bike/do something just because I think I should. 

HOWEVER, this afternoon the boys and I were riding home on the Bullitt and I asked the boys "alley way or non-alley way?" It's always alley way but it's fun to let them decide. As we rode past the liquor store on the corner (I know, alleyways and liquor stores, I live in a classy neighborhood), a woman in front smiled and I smiled back. Everyone loves the Bullitt so we get lots of attention. Then she said "my boyfriend just got one of those and wants to ride me around in front." I wondered where they would have found one of "these" bikes and just registered it as an odd comment. 

But when we turned down the alley, sure enough, there was a beige Christiania looking a little worse for wear parked in front of a house that's know for its hoarder-like tendencies. It clicked. This was the bike that I had vaguely glanced at this morning on my FB feed. A local non-proft had had their Christiania stolen last night. 

The lookout photo, courtesy of Edible Pedal.

This next part of my story is not something I would recommend anyone doing, myself included. I'm not even sure why or how I did what I did. I pulled over and said "That's not yours, it's stolen, give it to me or I'm calling the police." One guy looked "shocked" and started asking questions but the other guy tried to call my bluff. When I said I could pull up photos in seconds (thanks FB), he tried to ride the bike away. I dialed the police as I watched him attempt to ride the bike and instead crash it into a nearby house 30 feet away while the other guy was yelling at him to stop and give me the bike. I then walked both cargo bikes down the alley and cradled the phone to my ear as I gave the runaway's description to the police. Sadly, he's a guy I've seen a lot lately around the neighborhood. The bike is now safe and sound with minimal repairs needed. All that was going through my head was that if this had been my bike, I would have been distraught and wishing someone would do the same for me. Once the adrenaline wore off, I realized what a stupid thing I had done with my kids onboard, being so close to my house, and with a very recognizable bike of my own.

It's missing its seatpost and GRAS decals but I'm told it's the real deal :) The Edible Pedal sticker was the big giveaway. Boy, that would have been embarrassing if I had stolen back the wrong bike...

So a word to the wise, don't mess with the Cargo Bike Posse, we will hunt you down and steal back our bikes. It may seem like cargo bike theft is on the rise but it's probably because there are more and more cargo bikes in town and they are incredibly useful to a needy and desperate community, not to mention they are highly valuable and sought after. This is another wake up call to ensure my own bikes are ALWAYS locked up securely and properly insured, even (especially) at home.