How to steal a bike in NYC
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as a demonstration of bystander indifference to bike theft.
What it is
A 2006 video showing a man openly cutting the lock and stealing a bike in New York City while passersby, including police, ignore him.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2009 to 2015.
What Hacker News said
Cites justlearning · 2009-11 · on “French Ideal of Bicycle-Sharing Meets Reality”
stealing - reminds me of this video showing indifference in NYC (even with cops in sight).(substitute NYC with any major city) [this video]
Cites Jach · 2014-12 · on “What happens to your bike after it’s stolen”
Bit of a difference from harsh punishment not deterring theft of something you need to live vs. theft of something like a bike. When the punishments for stealing anything at all are as severe as hanging, exile, or losing a hand, do you really expect much else besides necessities to be stolen? I suppose you still might expect all sorts of things to be stolen if the chance of getting caught is nil, as it is with bikes -- you still need a strong enough probability of getting caught to back up whatever punishment is decreed, which is why bait bikes can be a helpful tool. I doubt better locks would work, I remembered this video from years ago on how even ridiculous methods of stealing a bike won'
Cites jrockway · 2015-09 · on “Lockpickers 3-D Print TSA Master Luggage Keys from Leaked Photos”
Perhaps. Here's an old video about stealing bikes in NYC: [this video] Note that the guy is hacking away at the lock and the police show up. To tell him to not sit in an active traffic lane.