Bus Eireann - folding bike stolen from hold?

wavehopper1

I stow a folding bike in the luggage hold and commute to Dublin.

On my return journey, another passenger alighting as I was unpacking my bike told me that he had seen a bike being stolen "at the station". He said that while people were queuing to get out, a guy already disembarked ran off with a folding bike while the owner was shouting inside the bus and the bus driver was beeping the horn.

I can't think of how to guard against this. There is nothing in the hold to lock a bike to. No point just locking the wheel. The bike doesn't pack up so small that I could get it onto a bus that tends to be full.

I'm going to write to Bus Eirean and suggest fixing points in the hold that a lock could attach to. But I won't hold my breath for that one.

Does anybody have any other ideas? All I can think of is to stand up and start moving for the exit well before my final stop. But this bus has intermediate stops so it's hardly practical unless I get off each time and get back on.

Victor

Bike bag?

Stripey Cat

A heavy weight you could lock the bike to, or some sort of movement alarm?

foggy_lad

I know that Bus Eireann will state that luggage is carried at the owners own risk but realistically that is as much use as similar signs in Car parks when cars get damaged, if your property is stolen you should be compensated by the company because they have a duty of care to your luggage once they allow you place it unattended in the luggage compartment.

Such large items as those bloody awful carry on suitcases that are allowed in the cabin of aircraft and folding bikes etc should never be allowed in the passenger cabin of any bus as they could cause damage or injury to other passengers as well as blocking the aisle or taking up a seat.

wavehopper1

Victor wrote: »

Bike bag?

Thanks for the suggestion. I have a bike bag, but I don't use it as it slows just grabbing it out of the hold and unfolding it to cycle away. But the other problem is - it's a canvas bag and it's pretty clear that there's a bike inside due to the shape of the wheels.

And I think it would actually make it easier to grab it and run. I got the impression from the fella I was talking to, that the thief grabbed the folded bike, tucked it under his arm, and legged it. Stopping to unfold it, click the levers into place and tighten them would have allowed staff or alighting passengers to intervene (the bus driver was leaning on the horn and pointing).

Without the bag, there is a single velcro ribbon that I loop around the frame and the pannier rack to keep the entire bike from unfolding - but it's still a bit awkward hauling it out of the hold as it unfolds a little. Having it in the bag would be a help to someone legging off with it

ProudDUB

Sit up front so that you can be first off the bus. Tell the driver of your concerns. Ask him to not open the cargo hold door until you are off the bus & you can grab your bike as soon as the door opens. Last time I was on a BE bus & watched the cargo door opening as the driver stayed inside, I remember thinking the very same thing...anyone could take what ever they wanted from the cargo hold, and there is no one to stop them really.

wavehopper1

foggy_lad wrote: »

I know that Bus Eireann will state that luggage is carried at the owners own risk but realistically that is as much use as similar signs in Car parks when cars get damaged, if your property is stolen you should be compensated by the company because they have a duty of care to your luggage once they allow you place it unattended in the luggage compartment.

Such large items as those bloody awful carry on suitcases that are allowed in the cabin of aircraft and folding bikes etc should never be allowed in the passenger cabin of any bus as they could cause damage or injury to other passengers as well as blocking the aisle or taking up a seat.

I understand what you're saying about getting compensation. My problem is that Bus Eirean will tie claimants up for months if not years, meanwhile the cyclist has the considerable expense of replacing the bike in order to get to work the following day and for many succeeding days .

wavehopper1

ProudDUB wrote: »

Sit up front so that you can be first off the bus. Tell the driver of your concerns. Ask him to not open the cargo hold door until you are off the bus & you can grab your bike as soon as the door opens. Last time I was on a BE bus & watched the cargo door opening as the driver stayed inside, I remember thinking the very same thing...anyone could take what ever they wanted from the cargo hold, and there is no one to stop them really.

Good suggestion, I know the driver to nod to - they remember who has a bike and will open the hold when they see me outside. They're a friendly lot and I'll have a word. The problem is that, understandably, they want to be off from stops as soon as possible, they know where I got off (it's not Busarus but before that) and they hit the control to open the hatch as I'm in the queue inside disembarking.

wavehopper1

Stripey Cat wrote: »

A heavy weight you could lock the bike to, or some sort of movement alarm?

The alarm won't stop somone legging it out of Busarus - but I'm thinking the heavy weight is the way to go. Ideally if someone else was doing the exact same roue as me - getting on and off at the same stop, I'd suggest we lock our bikes together, it would be too unwieldy to run away with two.

Of course, I take the bike as I have a distance to cycle once off the bus in the city centre, I can't carry a very heavy weight in my backpack for a distance.

I'm thinking two options. A heavy weight which I can leave/lock near each stop. Not a problem from my starting point in the sticks, but I alight at O'Connell Street, not sure that I could leave a weight locked to something every day without the guards showing a concern.

The alternative is something light but of a large diameter so it's awkward to run with, but I can pack it away too?

munchkin_utd

wavehopper1 wrote: »

<snip>
I can't think of how to guard against this. There is nothing in the hold to lock a bike to. No point just locking the wheel. The bike doesn't pack up so small that I could get it onto a bus that tends to be full.<snip>

you sure there isnt anything to lock it to?

Are all busses not like this with supporting struts in the middle which you can chain stuff to should the urge take you?

dmcronin

Locking it to the struts seems the way to go IMHO. IF you can actually physically do that, depending on how much luggage is in there before you.

Failing that, a bike bag. A plain-ish bag with no writing might make it look like a bag of smelly old student washing.

Wouldn't a movement alarm go off if; bike is shifted by people putting more stuff in or a sharp braking by the bus?

With the way things are going, they'd rob the eyes out of your head these days.

wavehopper1

munchkin_utd wrote: »

you sure there isnt anything to lock it to?

Are all busses not like this with supporting struts in the middle which you can chain stuff to should the urge take you?

Unfortunately not all coaches have that large a luggage space. I suppose the likes of Galway/Limerick/Cork get them. I'm taking the bus for Cavan and the space is usually a lot smaller - sometimes instead of being in the main section underneath, it's a small box at the hindmost end of the bus at chest-height.

munchkin_utd

wavehopper1 wrote: »

Unfortunately not all coaches have that large a luggage space. I suppose the likes of Galway/Limerick/Cork get them. I'm taking the bus for Cavan and the space is usually a lot smaller - sometimes instead of being in the main section underneath, it's a small box at the hindmost end of the bus at chest-height.

agh, you mean the double deckers ?
Forgot about them.

bk

If the struts are there, lock it to the struts.

Still use the lock if not, just lock the wheel to the frame, makes it a slightly less attractive target.

Place the bike at the back of the luggage hold if you can. On larger buses I have to actually climb into the hold to pull luggage out of the back!! Wouldn't be easy for a thief.

Sit at the front of the bus and keep an eye on the hold when it is opened.

Add your bike to your house contents insurance, so it is at least partly covered if stolen.

While it is good to take precautions mentioned above, don't worry too much about it, it is unlikely to happen to you and live is too short to worry too much.

foggy_lad

wavehopper1 wrote: »

I stow a folding bike in the luggage hold and commute to Dublin.

On my return journey, another passenger alighting as I was unpacking my bike told me that he had seen a bike being stolen "at the station". He said that while people were queuing to get out, a guy already disembarked ran off with a folding bike while the owner was shouting inside the bus and the bus driver was beeping the horn.

where was security when this bike was stolen from the luggage locker of a bus in busaras? Busaras is a haven for homeless beggars and addicts and the security see nothing wrong with allowing them sit in the main building at night scoping out tired or less attentive passengers!

I'm going to write to Bus Eirean and suggest fixing points in the hold that a lock could attach to. But I won't hold my breath on that one.

maybe suggest they provide adequate security for their passengers?

Geog1234

On National Express coaches across the water passengers aren't allowed next or near the hold without the driver (or other member of personnel in the case of large stations) being present.

Perhaps the major stops need to be supervised in this way - there are pros and cons to doing so.

It shouldn't cost the earth though for the company to provide some sort of ring/fixing points in the compartment that a bike could quickly be secured to.

The luggage compartment on the LD double deckers on the 109 route is awkward to access - I once had to use my umbrella plus stand on tip toes on the footpath edge to "fish" a fellow passenger's bag out. Even at that it took a few attempts. On the plus side in security terms there is the relative awkwardness of accessing the hold plus the fact that the vehicle's CCTV is recording activity both inside and out.

Commuter buses starting from Cavan in the early-morning come from Cavan Garage which is overseen by the Area Office at Dundalk Bus Station, Long Walk, Dundalk, Co. Louth so one could write there or alternatively to Head Office, Broadstone, Dublin 7.

Run_to_da_hills

If I was travelling with valuables in the hold I would either get out at each stop and watch or else get a window seat so I could look down at the hold In the States the driver issues you with a luggage tag that corresponds with your ticket.

wavehopper1

Geog1234 wrote: »

On National Express coaches across the water passengers aren't allowed next or near the hold without the driver (or other member of personnel in the case of large stations) being present.

Perhaps the major stops need to be supervised in this way - there are pros and cons to doing so.

It shouldn't cost the earth though for the company to provide some sort of ring/fixing points in the compartment that a bike could quickly be secured to.

The luggage compartment on the LD double deckers on the 109 route is awkward to access - I once had to use my umbrella plus stand on tip toes on the footpath edge to "fish" a fellow passenger's bag out. Even at that it took a few attempts. On the plus side in security terms there is the relative awkwardness of accessing the hold plus the fact that the vehicle's CCTV is recording activity both inside and out.

Commuter buses starting from Cavan in the early-morning come from Cavan Garage which is overseen by the Area Office at Dundalk Bus Station, Long Walk, Dundalk, Co. Louth so one could write there or alternatively to Head Office, Broadstone, Dublin 7.

Thanks for the info on those addresses, very helpful. I'll write to both.

LordSutch

I have always wondered about the security of peoples luggage in the hold. Many's the time I have been on an airport bus/coach only to have it stop and have the hold opened for passengers getting on or off. I always try and have a look out the window just in case my bag is accidentally (or deliberately taken off), so I try and take my bags on board if they're not too big. Sorry to hear about the folding bike, a subject close to home.