'Let's get these bikes under the butts of those in need"

On Tuesday afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking with Amanda Factor - a Torontoist contributor. Amanda found me while Googling stories related to Igor Kenk's stolen bikes. I'm glad Amanda has pushed this story back into the public realm.

The article "What to do with Igor's loot?" was published yesterday at Torontoist.

1) I believe that the stolen bikes should (via an established organization) be given to those Toronto residents in need, that could benefit most from having the bikes.
2) I don't believe these particular bikes should be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
3) I believe this issue needs to stay in the media for the above idea to gain any traction.

If you are interested in any of my other posts on Igor Kenk's stolen bikes please click here.

Thanks for visiting and thanks again to Amanda and Torontoist.

C

Labels: bikes, igor kenk, stolen bikes, toronto, torontoist

Hey all,

So a number of members of the media/new media responded to my challenge. I haven't had a chance to mine through all the Google Alerts in my inbox. But certainly my hits have gone up considerably - so thank you to all that have written anything on this idea. Special thanks to Raymi for being my top traffic source.

For those of us just joining us - we are trying to keep the 2500 (or so) bicycles that Toronto Police recovered from Igor Kenk off the auction block ... and straight to the folks that need them most. Hopefully to those that can't afford a bike (even at auction) and who would benefit from having a bicycle to ride to work or school.

My friend K. Sawyer Paul of Soundloading came up with a great idea for a Petition when we met briefly Monday and shot the following PSA.




So please take a second to watch the short PSA and sign the Petition. If you could spread the word that would be great.

In an effort to make things as easy as possible I've drafted a quick message that you can cut, paste and e-mail to your friends and cyclist allies.

Dear [friend],

I thought you might be interested in this.
http://chadnuttall.com/2008/08/petition-stolen-bikes-to-those-in-need.html

This dude Chad is trying to get the bikes that Toronto Police recovered from Igor Kenk to those in need. Many people can't afford to buy a bike - but would benefit from owning one to get to work or school. It would be great if you could swing by http://www.chadnuttall.com and view his short video PSA and sign the petition.

Petition link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/667303138

Thanks!

[your name]

Thanks again for reading - and thanks for the supportive e-mails. Please sign the petition.

[Click here to sign the petition]

C

Labels: bikes, igor kenk, stolen bikes, toronto police

I sent the following e-mail to Dylan Reid @ Spacing on July 31st re: Igor Kenk's stolen bikes.

Dylan,

I've been trying to work through an idea in my head for a while ...
getting bikes into the hands of those who need them most. After last
weeks announcement of Toronto Police finding all those stolen bikes
... I think I may have thought of a starting point. What if we just
gave the bikes away? Conventional practice is for Police to auction
the bikes as "proceeds of crime" but I think 2000 more bikes on the
road could be good for the city and it citizens.

I'm aware of a British initiative in which a small town in the
midlands gave all residence in their public housing complexes
bicycles. Obviously Toronto has more than 2000 people living in
subsidizing housing - but perhaps an offer to those folks first would
work. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the idea ... you have a
lot more experience and far more ties to the cycling advocacy
community.

Thanks,

C

Dylan suggested I connect with Yvonne Bambrick, Assistant Coordinator at the Toronto Cyclists Union. Yvonne seemed very positive ... she had actually already started to connect with some folks about just such an idea. She forwarded me e-mail to Rick Conroy, Coordinator of the Toronto Cyclists Union.

I was starting to get excited. Perhaps we really could get these bikes into the hands of some folks that needed them most. Certainly my hope was to keep the bike's downtown.

Unfortunately Rick got the following message from Mark Pugash at the Toronto Police Service.

Date: Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 3:51 PM

Rick

We have also received messages like the one below. Unfortunately our legal
advice says the Police Services Act precludes us from doing that.

Mark Pugash
Director of Public Information
Toronto Police Service
416 808 7088
mark.pugash@torontopolice.on.ca

Mark played the legal trump card. It's always so hard to negotiate with legal advice. After reading the message I thought ... is this it? a dead end?

Matt Blackett also of Spacing thought maybe we could set it up so that only 1 charity showed up at the auction. He suggested the United Way. Who would bid against the United Way?

I'm wondering if this idea can get some traction in the media and the community we may be able to influence what ultimately happens to these bikes. I would love to see these bikes not go to auction, stay downtown and get into the hands of those who could use them to ride to work and school.

So now my challenge is to the media - I've sent e-mail to folks at the Toronto Star, Sun, Globe&Mail and the National Post as well as some Toronto Blogs. I've handed you a story - provided you with key informants ... it would be wonderful if this idea could make it into the media and into public opinion.

A special thanks to the names I mentioned above for already being so helpful!
Thanks for reading!

C
(fingers crossed)



Update: Toronto Mike has responded with "Give the Igor Kenk Bikes Away"
Thanks Mike!

Update August 9: Dylan Reid from Spacing just wrote a new piece on the idea "What should be done with Igor's bikes?"


C

Labels: bikes, igor kenk, spacing, stolen bikes, toronto, toronto police