The Guardian's bike blog

It catches you like a mirage in the distance.

"Ooh a noodle shop with bikes, like a late night grimey LMNH", get closer and you're like "uggggghh!"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/may/19/violent-bicycle-muggings

Our own Matt Sparkes' new piece.

I'm just about to have a cup of tea and a read.

from the article^

Cycle insurer ETA has seen four times as many cases of "bicycle mugging" in the first three months of this year alone than it did in the whole of 2009, even adjusted for an increase in policies

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/may/19/violent-bicycle-muggings

Our own Matt Sparkes' new piece.

I'm just about to have a cup of tea and a read.

No, you mean you're about to print it off, staple it, go to the bog and have a good read.

No, you mean you're about to print it off, staple it, go to the bog and have a good read.

Well not everyone's choice of rhythm literature is the same.

No, you mean you're about to print it off, staple it, go to the bog and have a good read.

This.

Hangs head in shame

Seems that lots of people have had similar experiences, judging by the comments.

Similar experiences to being attacked, not reading on the loo.

No, you mean you're about to print it off, staple it, go to the bog and have a good read.

This is why god made iPads, the computer you can use while shitting.

This is why god made iPads, the computer you can use while shitting.

Do you work for Apple's PR department? Because you should.

A girl I know was having a wee in a public toilet.

Suddenly, a bloke laid on his back outside the toilet and slid his head under the door.

He grinned up at her.

She said, 'If you don't fuck off, I'm going to push my stiletto heel slowly into your eye."

He stopped smiling, and fucked off.

Do you work for Apple's PR department? Because you should.

i don't know why but this really made me giggle.

Flame-throwers on the handle bars ala

that's clearly a sarf efrican numberplate. transvaal byt the looks of it. which is hardly suprising.

from the article^

Cycle insurer ETA has seen four times as many cases of "bicycle mugging" in the first three months of this year alone than it did in the whole of 2009, even adjusted for an increase in policies

An insurance company suggesting crime is on the rise? Surely not.

Yeah, but there's obviously an issue. Look at the threads on this forum, and the comments on the post.

The comments on the post don't exactly back this idea that this is a crime on the rise though do they, especially as most people are recounting incidents that happened a few years ago.

that's clearly a sarf efrican numberplate. transvaal byt the looks of it. which is hardly suprising.

He's a Saffa lawyer, that flamethrower system is years old, he got a lot of press when he came up with it as a car-jacking deterrent.

He's a Saffa lawyer, that flamethrower system is years old, he got a lot of press when he came up with it as a car-jacking deterrent.

just what i'd expect from some of my campatriots. 'hmmm, that darkie is getting a bit close to my expensive, bought on overextended credit bimmer for my liking - i know, lets murder him in the most horrific way conceivable - can't be too sure these days'

what a fucking cunt.

just what i'd expect from some of my campatriots

Are you sure it's not one of your countshimanos?

Yeah, but there's obviously an issue. Look at the threads on this forum, and the comments on the post.

I'm sorry Sparky but your piece really does not add anything to our understanding of this issue. I know you did not write the headline or standfirst but it was predictable what they would be.
*"The number of cyclists who lose their rides in brazen robberies has increased alarmingly"
*That claim is not substantiated by the article. The only statistics are provided by an insurance firm and you took them at face value and didn't even mention the potential self-interest. The rest is anecdote and as has been pointed out a great many of the stories are incidents that happened years ago. It is possible that bike muggings have always been a problem but have never been recognised as such but that was not your angle.
Strip out the comments that are years old, or are about non-violent bike theft and you are left with pitifully little on which to base such a dramatic article. Further strip out the muggings that took place in De Beauvoir, which were specific to one location and which appear to have been committed by the same few people, and the evidence for a growing problem is even weaker.
*"The last thing we want at the Bike blog is to scaremonger or make cyclists paranoid"
Unfortunately that is exactly what you appear to have done. You do not have anything that could be called reliable evidence.* Ending with a 'Don't have nightmares, do sleep well' style sign off* "bicycle mugging is still very rare*" won't undo the impression the article has created that there is yet one more reason for people not to ride bikes.

yeah well said
not every reader is as discerning

This is almost something out of Culture of Fear.

This is almost something out of Culture of Fear.

I haven't seen that one. Is it good? It's got the bloke out of Premium Rush in it no?

it's a book, really worth reading.