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Pick Her Or Not To Pick Her (up) ?


martinkap

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Luckily, I was not standing in the freshly digged grave and was not talking to Hamlet. But the picture I saw was not prettier. I was standing in front of a bike lying on her side and almost obscenely showing her guts. I don't know about you, but I feel that there is something ungodly and disturbing about bike down. It is never a pretty sight.

The bike, nicely painted roadster with not much chrome, was lying on my favorite spot. I was too late to repark my Hawk GT and a guy who parks in the same area, snatched my spot. Just couple days ago, we parked next to each other on the oposite side of the street. We snuggled our bikes together and hoped for the best. Before he disappeared into the night, I had showed him my newly installed sliders, or as I personally call them, 'the crash bars'. He was impressed and was hoping to find similar for his bike.

It was 2am in the night and I was standing alone next to his injured beauty. Seems like the crash bars were more needed that he thought. I felt lucky that my Hawk was not the one lying there.

It was obvious that I could not pick her up alone and I did not want to risk being shot by approching complete strangers on the dark Manhattan streets. So, full of guilt I went home.

The next morning, I left home and hoped that his bike will be already standing. She was not. She was on the right side and was obvious that someone was messing up with the cover. I stood for long time there. If that was my bike, I hope someone would pick her up. But, I don't have full coverage insurance nor very expensive motorcycle. So, after all the thinking, I have still not found any strong reasons for picking her up.

Feeling more guilty than before, I left for work. The same night she was not there anymore and I haven't seem him or his bike since.

But the question remains:

Should have I pick up his bike? Or did I do the right yet painful thing?

10 Comments


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  • Member Contributer

what kind of messed up place do you live that you cannot ask a stranger for help?

Oh, you told us, NYC......

If your bike drops, you will have all the adrenaline to lift it and stop battery acid leaking out and messing up the paintwork.

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Hmm, that's a tough one....

Well, you said you weren't strong enough to pick it up by yourself, so you can't feel bad about that. And, if you were scared of trying to get a stranger's help, you can't do much about that either.

Maybe it would have been a good idea to call the cops and let them know about it. They would have been able to pick it up themselves, plus they could have contacted the owner. Of course, I have no idea if the cops in NYC would have done any of that if you called them. You'd know better than I.

Give it a few days and then look back on the situation with a sober point-of-view, without the feelings of guilt and helplessness. Hopefully you'll be able to make more sense of it later.

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  • Member Contributer

...Of course, I have no idea if the cops in NYC would have done any of that if you called them.

Nope. If you've ever seen police cars and ambulances trying to get through NYC traffic, you'll quickly come to the conclusion that they would not thank you for bothering them. Unfortunately, they usually have other, more critical stuff going on.

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  • Member Contributer
what kind of messed up place do you live that you cannot ask a stranger for help?

Oh, you told us, NYC......

If your bike drops, you will have all the adrenaline to lift it and stop battery acid leaking out and messing up the paintwork.

About NYC, I had a Honda 600 Coupe that I could not find a starter for. The car was small enough to push myself but people in NYC would always run over and start pushing without even being asked.

I used to walk all over Manhatten. For some reason people always asked me for direction and for the most part I could help them. Sometimes spontanious conversations who pop up on the best subway line or bus line with transfer points etc.

I remember standing by "The Tree" and someone came around handing out Chrismas Carols. Stranges would just walk up and sing a few songs, smile and walk away.

Just scratch the surface of a New Yorker and they are just the same as anyone else. I'm pretty sure someone would help you pick up the bike.

drivers_side.jpg

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  • Member Contributer
what kind of messed up place do you live that you cannot ask a stranger for help?

Oh, you told us, NYC......

If your bike drops, you will have all the adrenaline to lift it and stop battery acid leaking out and messing up the paintwork.

About NYC, I had a Honda 600 Coupe that I could not find a starter for. The car was small enough to push myself but people in NYC would always run over and start pushing without even being asked.

I used to walk all over Manhatten. For some reason people always asked me for direction and for the most part I could help them. Sometimes spontanious conversations who pop up on the best subway line or bus line with transfer points etc.

I remember standing by "The Tree" and someone came around handing out Chrismas Carols. Stranges would just walk up and sing a few songs, smile and walk away.

Just scratch the surface of a New Yorker and they are just the same as anyone else. I'm pretty sure someone would help you pick up the bike.

:+1:

New York is often rated one of the friendliest cities...

I would not touch someone else's property which has been "vandalized" although I do want to help every time I see a bike on its side. What if they come out and you're standing over their bike on its side. Sure you didn't knock it over. What if in your attempt to do a good deed you accidently drop it again or do more damage in some way. There is no real benefit to picking up the bike. What if the owner doesn't notice the damage because it's upright when he/she returns. Then later on notices it and is like WTF? If you've witnessed the knocking over, get the license of the vehicle that did it and call the police. If it was a person who maliciously knocked over the bike, by all means club them and detain them for the police. Although I understand you have to be VERY careful attempting to make a "citizen's arrest"

You did the right thing!

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You did the right thing. What if you were trying to pick it up and the owner walks up, asking what did you do. What happened to the bike to be laying on it's side?

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  • Member Contributer
You did the right thing. What if you were trying to pick it up and the owner walks up, asking what did you do. What happened to the bike to be laying on it's side?

:+1:

You did the right thing for all the reasons above.

No need to feel guilty.

Regarding New Yorkers, they are a fine bunch.

THey may not have enough time to stop and chat with strangers, like people do in small towns, but if you are in trouble, you can always count on them to help you out.

I have too many stories in support of this, but not enough time to tell them... I am a New Yorker after all :goofy:

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  • Member Contributer

Tough call in this day of sue for anything you can world. Can"t pick it up makes good sense, easy call. I had my bike knocked over. A cherry 86. It was there all day. I was mortified that they did not pick it up. I would have picked it. Sorry, Hope this helps in the future with the guilt trip.

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  • Member Contributer
what kind of messed up place do you live that you cannot ask a stranger for help?

Oh, you told us, NYC......

If your bike drops, you will have all the adrenaline to lift it and stop battery acid leaking out and messing up the paintwork.

So true. Dropped mine once (shoelace got caught up on centerstand and I lost my balance and tipped her over.) Quickly jerked it upright again like it only weighed 1/2 its actual weight. And I'm not terribly strong. Adrenaline is funny stuff.......

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  • Member Contributer

I don't know. Sounds like you're trying to convice yourself you did the right thing, but it ain't working. So now you're asking "friends" (we're all friends here, aren't we?) and of course they will support you. That's what friends do.

If you trully believed you've done the right thing, it wouldn't bother you that much. But it does.

On a more positive note, this was beautifully written.

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