Recovery!

It has been ten months since my bicycle was stolen.

This morning at 9:00am I got a phone call from the Vancouver Police Department. The detective told me that he had some good news for me. I immediately said My bike!!1! Yes, it was about my bike. Someone had brought my Devinci bicycle into a pawn shop on Hastings street, near the Army and Navy store. Did I want it back?

Yes, I wanted it back. So about an hour and a half later it was delivered to me by the detective. He brought it over in the trunk of his car. Amazing.

The original cranks and pedals are on the bike; I can tell because I removed the reflector on one side of each pedal to install toe clips. The toe clips are gone. The original brakes are on the bike, I think; the MEC cartridge style pads that I had put on the bike just before it was stolen are there. My retractable basket is gone, but the rack is still there. The original rear wheel with original tire is on the bike. And a new, crappy wheel is on the front.

I still can't believe it. I tightened up the rear brake cable, and with a little air in the tires it would be ready to ride. So now I have three bicycles, which is just about the right number, for now.

If only that bike could talk. How many owners has it had? What crazy adventures has it been on for the past ten months?

Let's be careful out there

Vancouver Police Department Media Release

Off-Duty Police Officer Injured in Traffic Collision

2007-10-02

October 1, 2007, 8:00 pm An off-duty member of the VPD was cycling through the intersection of 10th and Highbury when he was struck by a car. The officer was thrown in the air and subsequently landed on the hood of the vehicle.

The officer suffered non life-threatening injuries and is expected to be released from hospital today.

"We find this increase in accidents because roads are slippery at this time of year," said VPD media spokesperson Howard Chow. "We ask pedestrians to take that extra time to cross the street. Motorists, slow down and give yourself time to get to where you have to go."

The police are currently interviewing witnesses to the incident.

I'm not sure the advice given by Howard Chow is helpful. Take that extra time to cross the street? You're better off looking both ways and then running across as fast as you can. That's what I do. Also notable is the lack of specific advice for cyclists.

Asking drivers to adjust their driving to accommodate weather conditions is cute.