Location
Portland State University
Start Date
4-11-2015 12:30 PM
End Date
4-11-2015 2:30 PM
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/26371
Description
Portland is known as Bike City U.S.A for its promotion of a eco friendly method of transportation and support of biking infrastructure. Although our city has this progressive reputation, there is a negative aspect of a bike-loving city that has not received attention. The Oregon Household Activity survey in 2011 states that “about 29 percent of adults in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties own a bike”. As more people has decided to commute with bikes, theft has increased dramatically. According to the Portland Police Bureau, “Portland thieves last year took more than 2,100 bikes worth well over $1 million combined”. In an attempt to solve this problem, the police bureau has proposed to create a task force to patrol areas of possible bike theft. Although this is a step in the right direction, it is not a realistic solution to this problem. The cost to employ more policemen to patrol the city would be high and most of these crimes are not prosecuted by in court.
We talked to people who have experienced bike theft in Portland. Kimberly K said “I didn't understand how they could have stolen my bike because I had a cable lock. I was really angry and was afraid my insurance wouldn't pay for it.” John B said “I didn’t have enough money to buy a new bike and I didn’t buy bike insurance so I couldn’t buy a bike for over a year.
Included in
Civil Engineering Commons, Engineering Education Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons
véLo-CK
Portland State University
Portland is known as Bike City U.S.A for its promotion of a eco friendly method of transportation and support of biking infrastructure. Although our city has this progressive reputation, there is a negative aspect of a bike-loving city that has not received attention. The Oregon Household Activity survey in 2011 states that “about 29 percent of adults in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties own a bike”. As more people has decided to commute with bikes, theft has increased dramatically. According to the Portland Police Bureau, “Portland thieves last year took more than 2,100 bikes worth well over $1 million combined”. In an attempt to solve this problem, the police bureau has proposed to create a task force to patrol areas of possible bike theft. Although this is a step in the right direction, it is not a realistic solution to this problem. The cost to employ more policemen to patrol the city would be high and most of these crimes are not prosecuted by in court.
We talked to people who have experienced bike theft in Portland. Kimberly K said “I didn't understand how they could have stolen my bike because I had a cable lock. I was really angry and was afraid my insurance wouldn't pay for it.” John B said “I didn’t have enough money to buy a new bike and I didn’t buy bike insurance so I couldn’t buy a bike for over a year.
Comments
Mentors: Anthony Levenda, Soheil Zarrin
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