So as you may or may not know, I travel mostly by bike; that is, I am a bike commuter. I ride my bike approximately 10 miles a day if you average everything out. But I don't have a top of the line, flashy, $500 bike like many bike commuters; mine is the type that gets ya where you are going, but really isn't anything special.
So my ethical dilemma is this; for the past four or five months, I've been passing this really nice, $500 commuter bike; you know, the type with the comfortable, wide seat like a saddle, the big wheels that go over glass and don't get flats, the big, wide handlebars, what some folks would call a "cruiser." It has been locked in the same spot for five months or so, and I've been going by for about five months, coveting this bike.
Now, all of a sudden, I notice it has a green sign on it, put on it by city workers. The green sign says if someone doesn't claim this bike in four days, the city will take it and sell it. I know how to pick the kind of lock on this bike; in fact, I have a key that would probably work on it, since I have a similar lock. Now, do I take this bike which I am reasonably sure is not going to be claimed by the rightful owner, since it has been there for about five months, or do I let the city of Portland make a profit off of it? I'm thinking about that nice seat and how it even has shocks (a bike with shocks!,) and how I wouldn't be all sore at the end of the day, but then I'm thinking "I do love the city of Portland and technically, taking the bike would be stealing from them." But the way the little green sign is worded, it sounds like it doesn't really matter to them who takes the bike, they just want it moved. So that is my little ethical question at the moment. My house mates where divided over this; they pointed out that I could be charged with stealing, but I pointed out that nobody knows I'm not the original owner of the bike (who, it seems obvious, is not coming back for it.)
Love ya,
Carrot
The Amazing Part of this is that you live in a place where the bike has not already been stolen. It really is a testament to the general morality of the people around you. I like the fact that you really are debating taking the bike and not just stealing it. I won't endorse stealing, I feel rather strongly that one should only steal when there is no other option. But leaving it there and missing out on a great bike is almost unbearable to think of.
You could pick the lock, park the bike in a place nearby where it wouldn't get removed by the city, lock it up and leave it for a week or so to make sure that someone doesn't want it. You could leave a note stapled around the frame so that they could contact you. Then if it doesn't either disappear, or if you don't get a response, I would think you could absolutely take it guilt free.
This is an overly complicated answer, but I know that if it were my bike and I had been out of town and came back to a missing bike I would be rather upset. I am like you, my bike is my main mode of transportation. It enables me to get around gas free with little to no cost.
The city is probably going to sell this bike along with several others at some surplus warehouse place. Just find out where and go buy it. It should be pretty cheap. Is there a number that you can call on the bike?
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
Great ideas. Thanks! Actually when I rode the bus home today it looked like the bike had been taken, so I don't have to debate this anymore; but the more I thought about it, the more not good I felt about taking the bike. I mean, I do already have a bike and to take it just seemed greedy; I don't really need it, and I know the city of Portland has it's problems and probably needs the income generated from selling bikes and also, if I really want it, I can always buy it from the city...
Love ya,
Carrot
Good decision. What would Thoreau have done?
I mean, would he have convinced Ralph Waldo Emmerson to buy it for him? Or would he have taken it in the name of nature and road it around the pond? :) Good luck on yer search for a cushy-seated cruiser.
The Once-ler: Well, what do you want? I should shut down my factory, fire a hundred-thousand workers? Is that good economics, is that sound for the country?
If you just called the city and made an offer on the bike, do you think they would sell it to you now as opposed to waiting? They may just want to get rid of it quickly to save some paperwork. You never know unless you ask.
Just out of curiosity, is there a good rack on it where you can put a possum should you happen to find another one? :?!)