Why, oh Why...

[Jeffshadows]

...do people steal bike seats at the UA?!!

[chumley]

I don't know why the first one was stolen, but the rest are stolen because somebody stole theirs. (Now its your turn!)

My bike was stolen at ASU a few years ago. It was u-locked to a bike rack under video surveillance. ASU Police wouldn't even pull the tape to watch the video to see if the thief could be identified. Its not worth their time. They wouldn't even let me watch the tape and just tell them the exact time it was taken. It's an unenforced and unpunished crime.

ASU has a policy of no bikes allowed in buildings. I bring mine every day. If they're not going to look at a simple videotape of a theft to secure my property, then I'm going to keep it with me regardless of their rules.

As for the bike seat, I recommend some duct tape. It could be a perfectly good seat, but if you put a few strips of duct tape across it, it looks like its busted and nobody will steal it. Especially after a summer in the sun when that tape is half peeling and stringy. A little Goo Gone keeps the residual glue off your shorts.

[Jeffshadows]

Yea, we're not supposed to have ours in the building at the health sciences center, either.

[Alston_Neal]

That's just a total pita. It's not like you have nothing better to do than buy a new seat.

[Jeffshadows]

That's what aggravates me. I try to be empathetic to someone's substance abuse problem, but how much money are you going to get for a cheap-o bike seat?!! Now I have to walk the thing home or whatever...

[Al_HikesAZ]

I had two bikes. My good road bike and a clunker 3 speed that I rode around campus. And even on the clunker I still took the seat and front wheel with me to class. I figured that there were a lot nicer bikes to steal that had front wheels.

I agree with chumley:

I don't know why the first one was stolen, but the rest are stolen because somebody stole theirs. (Now its your turn!)

I think it's most likely a replacement or prank and not a substance abuse problem.

[Jim]

Replace the swing arm quick release with an old fashioned bolt and problem solved.

[Tough_Boots]

I live right next to ASU and there's always a rash of bike theft at the end of each semester. Luckily, I'm not a student so I don't have to leave mine locked up outside for any length of time usually. I agree with Jim_H about replacing the quick release stuff. I bought a new bike last year and EVERYTHING is quick release and makes me a little nervous. It's convenient for people with smaller cars but I have a truck and don't ever have a reason to take of seats or wheels. When I do have to leave it locked somewhere for a while, I either take the seat with me or chain it to my bike. Chain locks aren't the safest lock but they'll stop someone who's only stealing seats. When it comes down to it, though, if someone wants to steal a bike-- they're gonna get it. You should check out some of the lock picking video's on youtube. Those scumbags are amazing at what they do.

[Jeffshadows]

Yea, the quick release is on its way out...