Urban Bicycle Theft, a Fact of Life

"Having one's bike stolen is a part of our collective experience as urban riders. It provides the rationale for a Web site, 'Someone Stole My Bike,' that appeared recently and features video testimonials from riders about the day their beloved bikes were taken away.

'In one way, it's a deeply personal experience which makes you feel singled out and which has very real repercussions for your daily commute as well as how you spend your leisure time,' said Susie Cooley, a television producer and one of the creators of the site, the genesis of which was, not surprisingly, the theft of a producer's bike.

'And on the other hand, you realize that having your bike stolen is almost inevitable, especially in a city like New York,' she said, adding, 'Despite the ubiquitous nature of bike theft, every case is unique to the victim.'"