Bike theft and violence

rhb, a flash ride would be amazing, will have to look into it. We are trying to get information about this incident out to as many as possible! It's shocking how nobody knew this had happened, because of the lack of media coverage. So many people use Victoria Park as a route to and from work, these guys need to be caught.

For everyone wondering where it happened, it happened in the area between the canal and the St Agnes Gate entrance from Gore Road.

Anti Bike-Theft and Violence Ride

This is terrible, but sadly I can't say I'm surprised by the lack of media coverage. This kind of thing is actually quite common. :(

whatok, that's exactly why it's so important to get this information around to as many as possible!

Of course!

Does anyone know if it's possible to make this a sticky thread?

Scary stuff. A couple of years ago I was attacked by a gang near leyton who ran out from cars to get me off. i was lucky to get away. heard this is happening more often now.
Hope the guy is ok.

So we're at the point now where it's worth stabbing and possibly killing an innocent stranger in broad daylight for a third of the fenced value of a secondhand hybrid? London's pretty fucked. Really hope the guy makes a full recovery and that these scumbags have awful, awful things waiting for them in their futures. Awful.

Kids like this would do it even if there was nothing there to steal. Its just something to do. Like basic bullying really, the whole dominance thing is more rewarding for them than actually getting stuff.

For everyone wondering where it happened, it happened in the area between the canal and the St Agnes Gate entrance from Gore Road.

Yes, that's where the attacks have always happened, but they used to be late at night (a couple of forumengers who used to live in the area had trouble with that) and not at 7pm.

Sparky may correct me, but I think for such a story to be picked up more widely, it first has to go into local media, e.g. Hackney Gazette, East London Advertiser.

Just a general "fuckinel" to add, astonishing. Will the local cycle campaign groups organise a "flash ride" to highlight this type of going on? That might get some media coverage...?

While I don't know much about the incident, my first instinct would be to treat it as a mugging and, despite the fact that the bike was taken, I wouldn't think that a flash ride would be an appropriate response here. We could give out information to park users, ideally together with police and park authorities, and obviously better enforcement is key (much as it's unlikely that there'll be more, similar attacks there while the culprits lay low). Tower Hamlets Wheelers may be interested in following it up:

http://www.wheelers.org.uk/

What a terrifying incident! Heal up fast to the rider and I would definitely be up for taking part in a flash ride to raise awareness.

While I don't know much about the incident, my first instinct would be to treat it as a mugging and, despite the fact that the bike was taken, I wouldn't think that a flash ride would be an appropriate response here. We could give out information to park users, ideally together with police and park authorities, and obviously better enforcement is key (much as it's unlikely that there'll be more, similar attacks there while the culprits lay low). Tower Hamlets Wheelers may be interested in following it up:

http://www.wheelers.org.uk/

Hmmm. Giving out leaflets won't raise the media profile, a Flash ride might.

can't find a single news story on this.. but I am shit at Google....

My stepson was stabbed and his bike taken, so were my both neighbours' sons. Haven't seen any queue of journos outside.

Hmmm. Giving out leaflets won't raise the media profile, a Flash ride might.

It depends on what you want to achieve. Despite the fact that a bike was taken, it doesn't strike me as a 'cycling issue' as such--it's a mugging. People want to use 'flash rides' all the time now, but as with all campaigning tools, it's one to be used sparingly, or people will simply start to ignore such rides. Giving out some solid information to regular park users is less glamorous, but it's generally bread-and-butter stuff like this that gets results.

I know it may sound horrible, but this is London, my friend, and no flash ride will change it.

Oh well fuck it then.

Folks, first step is to catch these guys! So if anyone knows anything that might of help, please contact the police.

Yeah, I stay well away from the park and the canal at night now. This kind of thing is exactly why I came here looking for a new bike in the first place - jumped by the canal in Victoria Park, teenagers with a knife to my chest. This was only a few weeks back, so I can't help but wonder if it's the same bunch.

The police were as helpful as they could be, I thought - we spent a good hour driving around the neighbourhood with one of the undercover crews that had been camped out nearby but seems like these kids can lurk anywhere and disappear completely in a matter of minutes.

And it's not like the canal isn't busy either, I'd only just overtaken a girl on a boris bike and an elderly lady walking her dog, so I was glad at least it hadn't been them. I'd been up and down that same stretch of park and canal twice a day for two years, stone throwing kids and all. You can just never know if it's safe off the main roads around there, apparently even in broad daylight now. Please be careful out there!

^Unfortunate choice of name- given your experience.

Might be a reference to London, 'Stabbing town'.

My stepson was stabbed and his bike taken, so were my both neighbours' sons. Haven't seen any queue of journos outside.

fuck man, when was this? are they ok?

A couple of months ago. Yes, they are both ok, but as they are idiots themselves, they didn't want to talk to police.

lived in london - kilburn, edgware road, stepney green and bethnal green none of which could be called sheltered areas - all my life and this is still massively shocking.

Anybody got any experience with trackers in bike

I tested one out once. Still have it in the garage I think. Short version: they do work.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/apr/06/spylamp-anti-bike-theft-device