Today on facebook, I read a sad post about this person in Miami who had their Electra Amsterdam stolen in Miami Beach.  As I also have an Electra Amsterdam, I immediately felt empathy for this person.  WHY do people steal bicycles?  There are so many great bikes in the world, can't you just get your own?  Also, considering the bicycle was at least $800 retail, I'm sure the owner would rather give the $30 to the crackhead that stole it, and get their bike back!

SO, I digress- the reason that I thought this article was so GREAT for our blog is that the post is an EXCELLENT example of how incredibly UN-friendly Miami can be to the urban cyclist.  Said blogger relates their attempt to ride a bus with his bike- and details how the bus driver made no attempt to help, and then proceeded to RUN OVER the bike when it fell off in traffic!

You know what?  This has happened to me, too!  (Except the unfortunate running-over part).  The bus drivers, when they aren't trying to run you over, certainly do not spend one iota of energy to try and help you if you do make the fateful decision to bring your bike on the bus.  It's pathetic.

Here's a little indication of this poor commuter's day... and a photo of the stolen bike.  Ahhhh.. Miami.

A Bad Start to the Commute

The bike held ok for the ride, swinging back and forth as the driverhit the brakes and accelerated along the route (in that oh-so-softlyway that MDT bus drivers hit the pedals, like they really get a kick ofseeing everything and everyone on the bus swing wildly back-and-forth).I hit the signal for my stop at 135 St & Biscayne,and as we’re slowing down, the bike slipped off backwards from the busbike rack. The locking mechanism of the rack had slipped off the frontwheel and thus the bike was left without anything holding it in place.The bike was hit by the bus (thankfully as it was slowing down),pushing it into the next lane of traffic (the middle one).

The bike suffered some scratches, one of the panniers was scratchedheavily, and both wheels got bent to the point that the bike could notbe ridden. The driver called in and reported the incident, and thenleft.