Sorry for causing the thread drift. Problems in Denver are multi-faceted. There's a big organized crime problem, targeting high-end bikes. Geographic location combined with a population that prioritizes outdoor recreation, combined with top-down law enforcement directives have made it a lucrative epicenter for bicyclre-specific crime. But there's also a big and growing problem with smaller-scale, local property crimes. Politics, funding and the inability or unwillingness to prosecute means that thieves operate with no fear. Problems exploded after the Pandemic. I don't think the current economic situation is going to help.
Giant chop-shops are set up in the open; clothes-lines are strung across bike paths, more and more homeless camps filled with bikes, brash daylight lock cutting, scaling multi-floor apartment buildings to take bikes off of porches; private garages are scoped out and targeted in the upper-end neighborhoods. Many of the brand new, still-unfilled urban center condo and mixed use developments are plummeting in value as residents try to unload and flee. There are literally hundreds of bike thefts a day at times. It's still a fun place to explore by bike, but you have to be smart. You can't, for instance, sit at outdoor bistro seating in the cherry creek neighborhood with your bike unlocked 10 feet away in a bike rack, because someone will grab it and be gone before you can hop over a rope to catch them. And I mentioned the REI parking lot, right? An unattended bike on a car rack won't last more than a minute there. You still see thousands of bikes in places like the RINO district, but I think they're mostly beaters, and even those get stolen. Ask me how I know.... :-( I hear catalytic converters are becoming more popular, so maybe that'll take some pressure off of bikes. On Friday, July 22, 2022 at 11:36:16 AM UTC-6 George Schick wrote: > > https://www.5280.com/2022/07/inside-the-organized-crime-ring-that-stole-nearly-1-million-worth-of-bikes-from-denver-retailers/ > > > On Friday, July 22, 2022 at 11:51:49 AM UTC-5 Paul Clifton wrote: > >> Hey Keith, >> I am not familiar with the situation in Denver. Can you provide some more >> context? Is it a major theft problem or is there some even larger issue? >> Are u-locks sufficient, or are angle grinders so common that there's really >> nowhere safe to leave a bike? Why Denver? >> >> Paul in AR >> >> FWIW - I'm surprised bike theft isn't a bigger problem here in NW >> Arkansas where bikes somewhat more expensive than Rivendell's get left >> unlocked for hours at a time. I reckon there isn't a good way to move them >> and the population is too small to hide easily. >> >> On Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 10:53:01 AM UTC-5 iamkeith wrote: >> >>> Maybe the exhibitors pre-shipped all of their bikes and they got stolen, >>> so they have to cancel. >>> >>> Bad joke. But not really. I hope you find out what's going on, >>> because I might even be able to attend one of these for a change. >>> >>> In all seriousness though: If you're not familiar with the situation in >>> Denver the last few years, be warned and be careful! Consider not even >>> bringing bikes. If you do, don't leave them unattended for even 30 >>> seconds, anywhere in town, or even locked to a vehicular bike rack. Even >>> in busy, visible spaces with lots of activity. ESPECIALLY at the REI >>> store. If you're out riding on the otherwise-great trail system, stay in >>> groups and bring you bike inside any store WITH you. >>> >>> On Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 12:11:52 AM UTC-6 K Griffin wrote: >>> >>>> Hi, all— >>>> >>>> A bunch of us have been ready to head to Denver in late Sept for the >>>> NAHBS event. The NAHBS.com website is not responding. Their last >>>> facebook post announced the event… back in January. I saw references >>>> online to it being at the Colo. convention center, but it’s not on their >>>> schedule. Same for the Coliseum on the north side of town. Does anyone >>>> have any more information about this event? >>>> >>>> Stay cool, and keep the rubber side down! >>>> >>>> —Kurt in Sioux Falls >>>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/796a6d96-919a-420a-8190-c5a5e32ecc23n%40googlegroups.com.
