- Bike Bulletin
- Posts
- How Bike Theft Leaves Lasting Scars
How Bike Theft Leaves Lasting Scars
Plus, 500 laps around a roundabout, the original carbon bike, and Stats for the Nerds
Sam Westby
April 25, 2025
Welcome to the Bike Bulletin. It’s like a friendly roadside mechanic, always here to help.
—Sam Westby @samcwestby
This is a weekly newsletter about bike trips, urban cycling, and a love for two-wheeled transit. The more time you spend on a bike, the better. I share new editions every Thursday (sometime Friday 😵), gearing you up for the ride ahead.
Here’s what we have today.
🌍 RIDE: The Erie Canalway Trail
❓ RESEARCH: How bike theft leaves lasting scars
🎥 WATCH: Bikepacking the Red Desert, Wyoming
📖 READ: 500 laps around a roundabout
🚲 ARCHIVES: The first carbon bike (1988)
📰 NEWS: Millions of dollars, bikeshare improvements, and more
ROUTE ON MY RADAR
The Erie Canalway Trail
Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.
Across New York, from Albany to Buffalo
87% unpaved
364 miles (586 kilometers) and mostly flat
Follows historic towpaths along the Erie Canal
Tons of trail amenities — campsites, bike-friendly services, ice cream, swimming
Official Website: https://eriecanalway.org/explore/cycling
I plan to ride this later in the summer. It should be relaxing and carefree bike touring. No cars to worry about, and every service I could need on the trail.
FROM THE IVORY TOWER
How Bike Theft Leaves Lasting Scars
I can tell you first hand that when my bike was stolen in January, my routine was messed up. It took me probably a week to get back to my normal habit of bike communiting. I took the train. I drove my car (yes, surprise, I actually own a car). I rode bikeshare.
What can happen when someone gets their bike stolen?
University of California researchers set out to answer this question. They released a report this month about how bike theft affects bicycling behavior. Here’s what they found.
When & where: 41% of thefts happen overnight. 28% occur inside a shed/garage.
How: Most stolen bikes were locked (cable locks at 35 % and U-locks at 26%).
Recovery: Only 15% of victims recovered a bike. Recovery is more likely when owners know the theft time, register the bike, and report it through multiple channels.
After theft: 47% of victims rode less or quit riding.
Equity: Lower-income riders cut back riding (20%) more than those earning > $150k (8%)
Replacement: 25% of people do not replace their stolen bike.
Cities that want to get more people on bikes should pair a safer bike network with secure parking options and other protections against bike theft.
You can read the policy brief here.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Bikepacking the Red Desert, Wyoming
A PBS Wyoming crew follows four people riding through Wyoming’s Red Desert. This documentary teaches about bikes and the environment.
Watch on YouTube.
WHAT I’M READING
Southeast Portland’s Ladds 500
This hilarious event has been going on for 8 years. It started as a joke with some friends, but has since turned into a large community event. 100s of people come to ride 500 laps around a roundabout. They shut down neighboring streets, people wear costumes, and riders travel about 75 miles!
Read on KGW.com.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The First Full Carbon Road Bike (1988)
Colnago unveiled the Concept in 1986 in partnership with Enzo Ferrari. They never released it commercially because it weighed 28 pounds (13 kilos), but Colnago forever takes the prize for building the “first full carbon road bike”.
Read more at cycling-obsession.com.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Bentonville Bike Fest
Date: May 23–25, 2025
Location: Bentonville, AR
Details: Large mountain bike festival with group rides, clinics, demos, and family activities
Official Website: https://www.bentonvillebikefest.com/
2400. The number of cyclists who rode the Boston Marathon course at midnight before the race. (Instagram)
Lidar. Researchers at the University of Missouri are using lidar to learn pedestrian behavior at an existing, poorly designed intersection. (KCUR)
Paused. An Ontario judge stopped the removal of Toronto’s three contested bike lanes until the courts finish the lawsuit. This is a win for bike advocates and people who respect the legislative process. (CBC)
10 years. The age of Philadelphia’s bikeshare program! (Axios)
$20.6 million. The planned budget to expand Austin, Texas’s bikeshare system. (KVUE)
Bend, Oregon. After a two-year pilot program, they decided to continue their bikeshare program. (The Bulletin)
50%. The drop in air pollution in Paris, France, compared to 20 years ago. How? More bikes. Fewer cars. (Fast Company)
A Note From Sam
Reply to this email and let me know what sections you liked / topics you’d like me to write about.
To share this email, you can forward it or send someone this link: https://bikebulletin.beehiiv.com/subscribe.
