My Bike Got Stolen While Fulfilling A Grocery Order, What To Do Now?

[bingbongbangbung]

I locked it to the fence at a grocery store and it was gone after I left the building to deliver the goods to a customer. Sadly the staff checked the cameras and told me they couldn't see from that angle. I did file a police report, but they're not really gonna do much, especially since I don't have a GPS tracker nor did I register the serial number with them. My only options going forward as a courier is to either quit this work, get another (manual) bike along with necessary upgrades and hope I don't get targetted again, or get a foldable e-bike with upgrades and bring it with me everywhere I go. I can't get a car due to expenses and motorcycle I don't have a license nor insurance.

Problem with latter is that e-bikes cost way more, battery poses a safety hazard, electric motor has a limited range, makes me an even bigger target for theives, and not every establishment will let me bring it in. Problem with former is that I gotta install upgrades to the bike (again) and wait for those mods to arrive, along with continuing to struggle against the wind and steep hills. Sure, I can just get a large delivery bag to store stuff instead of the baskets, but I still need a cargo rack and most manual bikes don't come with it while e-bikes typically do. I already filed a police report, but as I never registered it with the cops nor do I have GPS tracker I'm screwed.

[andreasderjuengere]

Yes, it looks as if you're ''screwed'' - for now. And you don't deserve it because you show initiative and pro-activity.

Make your next bike visually unattractive. You could attempt to get a ''loan'' from a charitable local initiative or perhaps via ''go-fund-me''.

[bingbongbangbung]

So basically I should go for a used bike on FB, Kijiji, or Craigslist?

[andreasderjuengere]

Why not? It's your tool, but not your hobby. Just make sure that it's suitable for your job: not exhausting, service friendly, sturdy.

[bingbongbangbung]

What if I end up buying a stolen bike? Wouldn't that make me a hypocrite?

[andreasderjuengere]

As an afterthought: at one of my previous workplaces we used personal tools. Mine were often disappearing. So I made them looking unattractive and onwards my toolbox was untouched.

[andreasderjuengere]

You may end up buying your OWN bike :D - you could try to buy one based on personal contact instead of ''online''

[bingbongbangbung]

I tried finding my bike on those websites but it's not there

[andreasderjuengere]

Get a different one, then.
To dwell on the past will not help you shaping your future.

[bingbongbangbung]

Yeah I think I'm gonna get an entry level bike with cargo rack and basket by default to severely reduce the risk of being targeted for theft and to avoid the hassle of installing those accessories myself

[bingbongbangbung]

I won't even be delivering for UberEats past the summer or early fall anyways, and due to delivering groceries, I won't have enough strength to carry a foldable e-bike with me (plus some places won't let me in or demand I leave it outside)

[andreasderjuengere]

I see. So it's perhaps smarter to think out an alternative to what you do right now

[bingbongbangbung]

I already asked my dad to refer me to any internal positions at his workplace, which has some IT jobs (I stuided coding in college)

[andreasderjuengere]

Thanks for MHO - and: all the best :)

[exitseven]

This really sucks. You need to get another bike and get back up in the saddle again. get a better lock and chain and try and keep an eye on it. Hopefully bad juju will not strike you twice.

[bingbongbangbung]

Yeah PIN locks are unreliable and cable locks can easily be cut

[exitseven]

I have a case hardened steel chain. I covered it with an old bike tube so it does not scratch the paint. I have a heavy padlock.

[bingbongbangbung]

So I should go for chains and/or U style locks?

[exitseven]

I use the chain and secure both the front and rear wheels.

[bingbongbangbung]

I'm thinking I'll go for an entry level bike with just a cargo rack and front basket included by default, then I'll buy some locks and a delivery bag (so no rear basket) that I can take with me

[bingbongbangbung]

Because an e-bike makes me an even bigger target and the foldable e-bikes I won't be able to easily carry with me as I have to deliver groceries all day

[bingbongbangbung]

Plus some places probably won't allow me to bring the e-bike inside even if folded, and placing it inside a bag would make me seem very suspicious

[bingbongbangbung]

Considering I'm only gonna be using a bike for courier work for the next 2 or 3 months before I move on, getting an e-bike isn't worth it

[Anonymous]

Why are you 23 and still pedaling a bicycle, why don't you have a car? Why do you have such a low paying job?

[bingbongbangbung]

Sure let me expand my automation startup to America and take off... oh wait, Mr. Cheeto put tariffs on everyone and got ICE to enforce strict border and immigration control

[bingbongbangbung]

Even if I did have a car, I'm not gonna use it for delivering when I'd have to pay for gas, parking, insurance, tolls, and maintenance

[bingbongbangbung]

Also the laws in my province were changed a few days ago so couriers are guaranteed minimum wage, when before I couldn't even make that even on my best days