The Chainlink

Hi, all! I got the OK to post this here from the powers at be. I'm hoping you wonderful people can help me out.

I'm a reporter with DNAinfo Chicago, and we plan to publish within the next couple of weeks a story about the city's abandoned bicycles. We were able to get a ton of great data from the city about where they have been reported.

But I'd love to speak with people who might have reported an abandoned bicycle -- or even abandoned one him/herself!

So, here's my question: Have any of you reading this post reported an abandoned bicycle in Chicago, or have you abandoned a bike yourself?

Maybe you haven't reported or abandoned a bicycle, but were always curious about that one bike near your home that hasn't moved in months or years. If so, I want to hear from you.

Give me a call, shoot me a text or send me an email.

-Ben Woodard, DNAinfo Chicago

425-328-9840, bwoodard@dnainfo.com

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I once found an abandoned notice on my bike, parked in front of a business in winter for a couple days. It stated I had a day(?) to move it or it would be "removed." Had I been out of town and returned to find it gone, I would have figured it was stolen if no notice was posted after its removal. I figured the bus. owner was a hater who notified 311.

Jim, propertyroom.com is worse than sad, it's barely functional. Worth a trip for laughs. You're right about the revenue, what a joke. Where are the bikes "at auction"? And have police tried to locate owners? Check this story out: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/07/11/stolen-art-located-returned-...

How did artwork make it onto the site after a (presumed) burglary?!

You're right.  I was trying to be nicer to propertyroom.com than it deserved.


Dean Bekken said:

Jim, propertyroom.com is worse than sad, it's barely functional. Worth a trip for laughs. You're right about the revenue, what a joke. Where are the bikes "at auction"? And have police tried to locate owners? Check this story out: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/07/11/stolen-art-located-returned-...

How did artwork make it onto the site after a (presumed) burglary?!

The "power's at be" ? Thank goodness for copy editors! :)

Yes, yes. I caught that after I posted but didn't realize until now that I can edit. Fixed. :p

David P. said:

The "power's at be" ? Thank goodness for copy editors! :)

Since you're a reporter it seemed right to give you a hard time for that :)

Ben Woodard said:

Yes, yes. I caught that after I posted but didn't realize until now that I can edit. Fixed. :p

David P. said:

The "power's at be" ? Thank goodness for copy editors! :)

Reported an abandoned bike a year or so ago on a rack where I work (across Washington from City Hall). Was removed in about a week, if memory serves. Location, location, location.

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/those-orange-bikes-locked-...

Ben, was the (orange-ad-bikes-story) any motivation for your story, (you could have asked what we know) or are you seriously going to do this story. Just a reporter type question.

Tom, the orange bike story was done by my colleague who covers Wicker Park. My story is separate -- and should be published soon.

Tom A.K. said:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/those-orange-bikes-locked-...

Ben, was the (orange-ad-bikes-story) any motivation for your story, (you could have asked what we know) or are you seriously going to do this story. Just a reporter type question.

Thanks a lot for your insight, everyone! We published the story this morning about the city's abandoned bicycles. I hope you like it.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150128/edgewater/what-happens-chic...

Great article Ben, thanks !

Ben Woodard said:

Thanks a lot for your insight, everyone! We published the story this morning about the city's abandoned bicycles. I hope you like it.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150128/edgewater/what-happens-chic...

Thanx Ben!  This "Bicycle and data fanatic" enjoys being heavily quoted.

Your 311 data extract is most impressive.

And wow, the city's reporting system is an very pretty piece of underpublicized modern web work.  I wonder who coded it?

And thanx for mentioning MassUp's collection.  Maybe when the city adds submit by email (as Massup's had for four+ years) I can think about retiring it.

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