The story
I was going to my evening class and the trains going into the city are generally quiet because everyone is on their way home going in the opposite direction. Because of this I sometimes don’t fold the Brompton because there is plenty of space and it saves time at the end of the journey. A quick flip of the back wheel and away I go.
The bike was parked as above and I always sit near by incase the bike falls over or I have to move it out the way of other passengers. I was sitting on an aisle seat with my back to the Brompton.
I was busy drawing in my sketch book when I caught the smell of a cigarette. I was automatically at attention because smoking is prohibited on trains .
The bike had come into a station and the doors opened. I heard a noise at the Brompton and I turned my head to see a man in a baseball cap, the smoker, trying to work out how to pick up the Brompton. For a moment I couldn’t work out what he was doing, then I saw he trying to move the bike to the open door. I just jumped up and stood in front of him and the bike and said, “What the FxxK are you doing?” By this time I was full of adrenaline. He let go of the handlebars and jumped off the train before the doors closed. I was shaking with rage after he left. He must have hoped that I was too distracted to notice what was happening or maybe he thought another passenger was the owner. But the smell of cigarette gave him away.
I will not leave my Brompton like that again. In someways it was fortunate it was not fully folded as he could have just picked it up and walked away. Likewise had it been completely open he could have just wheeled it away but I would have heard it. Bromptons, are very noisy.
I am just very grateful I caught him in time.
Comments
Officially you are not allowed to lock bikes on trains. If I can't sit near mine I just stand, my bikes are too important to me, sometimes just sit on the floor next to them ;-)
for sure keep it next to you or lock it to something - its just not worth the risk.
Love your blog - discuvered it while researching bromptons..I'm a guy so don't wear heels - but appreciate nice things all the same
Keep blogging kid :0)
Sadly there are just too many opportunists out there.
I use SW trains and my journey is an hour. I lock my bike up. One because it's out of sight in the stowage area and two, so I can relax and plug my pod in or watch something, without worrying about it.
I know it's a pain.
Paz :)
Haven't had too many issues on public transit but when I have, I've always found that a well-timed explicative gets the job done.
I would recommend buying a basic lock, most thieves won't bother if they can't make off with it in an instant, and few will carry tools on a train (a reputation is preceded by evidence onboard.) You can get a £5 to £10 lock which will do the job easily,
One of those little locks with the alarm would really scare them off.
By some miracle, we ended up getting our very own bike back from the thief who is due in court in 2 weeks time charged with handling stolen goods. So that will be one less Brompton thief in our midst! The thing with Bromptons is that we rarely take a lock with us as the bike stays by our side most of the time. After reading your experience I will never let it out my sight again. Great blog!
Cheers,
Elena in NYC