Good news/bad news from Chicago

I saw two stories here this week that might be of interest to others.

Chicago has many drawbridges with metal grate lanes. I ride over this
stuff every day, and although you get used to it, I don't think anyone
likes it. Bikes seem to shimmy and the surface feels slippery when wet.
The city has installed a new surface for cyclists where Wells Street
crosses the Chicago River. It is a five-foot-wide strip of textured metal
that bolts to the grating. I was very skeptical that a metal surface would
feel secure, but it is said to be designed for this. I rode over it in
light rain earlier this week and it seemed pleasant and safe. There was
too much traffic to play around on it or try to skid, though. Have other
places tried this? I'd be curious if anyone has experience with a non-skid
metal surface. The bridge on Wells is intended as a test and this might be
used on other bridges if cyclists like it.

The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in Chicago
so far in November. The city says it is replacing them as fast as they are
reported, but someone has to be the first the notice each new uncovered
hole. I'd like to think a cyclist couldn't miss something like that, but
it's still dark when a lot of people start out in the morning and there
are a lot of things competing for attention. I hope this isn't happening
everywhere. The thieves deserve a headfirst visit to the sewers.

--
Paul Turner

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:14:30 -0600, "Paul Turner" wrote:

The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in Chicago
so far in November.

Same happening in Northern England. I blame the Beastie Trolls...

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:14:30 -0600, "Paul Turner" wrote:


The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in Chicago
so far in November.


Same happening in Northern England. I blame the Beastie Trolls...

Guy

The obvious question: Who buys stolen manhole covers,
and how much do they go for?

scott

Paul Turner wrote:


The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in
Chicago so far in November.

Thought I'd goggle that for a newspaper report, and was amazed to find a
whole glut of such reports:



Manhole covers stolen in Columbus....

MORE than 400 manhole covers have been stolen from a water reservoir in
suburban Hong Kong....

the mysterious phenomenon of manhole cover theft. The target has been
Newham, east London, where in recent weeks nearly 200 grates and covers have
been stolen....

10,000 Manhole covers stolen! ... Thousands of stolen manhole covers were
adding to the chaos on Calcutta's congested roads....

Abu Dhabi: The police have arrested a three-member gang who allegedly stole
150 manhole covers worth Dh200,000 from a national contracting company
working on a road project

About 750 manhole covers are stolen in Bangalore every month...

Manhole covers a steal at $340 a tonne
November 8, 2004 China's boom is blamed for holes in a London council's
budget, writes Adam Lusher......

News - Pakistan Observer - ::City - Complete Story:: Newspaper ...
.... In this way, hundreds of manhole covers are stolen in the twin cities
every month


In January, eight manhole covers worth HK$1,600 were stolen from a toilet at
Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok. ......

In Gloucester, England, at the time of writing, over 40 manhole covers were
reported
stolen, causing serious hazards to motorists........


Taipei Times - archives
.... China Manhole covers stolen A ... Over the past six weeks 1,826 manhole
covers had been
stolen, resulting in losses of about 460,000 yuan (US$55,000) to the city


Authorities in the Chinese city of Shanghai have called for greater
punishment for manhole cover thieves, after it transpired that eight people
had fallen down uncovered holes and died since last June.
The attraction of stolen manhole covers is that they can earn the thief
about 33 yuan (US$4) from scrap dealers – about a day’s wage for labourers

pk

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:11:57 -0600, Scott
wrote:

The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in Chicago
so far in November.

Same happening in Northern England. I blame the Beastie Trolls...

The obvious question: Who buys stolen manhole covers,
and how much do they go for?

I think Beastie Trolls fans wear them on chains around their necks, so
no money changes hands. But I could be wrong ;-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

pk wrote:
: Paul Turner wrote:
:
:
: The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in
: Chicago so far in November.

: Thought I'd goggle that for a newspaper report, and was amazed to find a
: whole glut of such reports:

The city charges a pretty hefty fine for any metal recyclers caught with
one too... yet it goes on...

--
John Nelson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Area Paddling/Fishing Page
http://www.chicagopaddling.org http://www.chicagofishing.org
(A Non-Commercial Web Site: No Sponsors, No Paid Ads and Nothing to Sell)

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:14:30 -0600, "Paul Turner" wrote:


The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in Chicago
so far in November.

Personhole covers.

--
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its
victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under
robber-barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber-
baron's cruelty may at some point be satiated; but those who
torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they
do so with the approval of their own conscience."

- C.S. Lewis

Chris B. wrote:

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:14:30 -0600, "Paul Turner" wrote:

The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in
Chicago so far in November.

Personhole covers.

We wouldn't want to upset the womyn, now, would we...

Matt O.

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:14:30 -0600, Paul Turner wrote:

I saw two stories here this week that might be of interest to others.

Chicago has many drawbridges with metal grate lanes. I ride over this
stuff every day, and although you get used to it, I don't think anyone
likes it. Bikes seem to shimmy and the surface feels slippery when wet.
The city has installed a new surface for cyclists where Wells Street
crosses the Chicago River. It is a five-foot-wide strip of textured
metal that bolts to the grating. I was very skeptical that a metal
surface would feel secure, but it is said to be designed for this. I
rode over it in light rain earlier this week and it seemed pleasant and
safe. There was too much traffic to play around on it or try to skid,
though. Have other places tried this? I'd be curious if anyone has
experience with a non-skid metal surface. The bridge on Wells is
intended as a test and this might be used on other bridges if cyclists
like it.

When wet any smooth metal will act as a well lubricated slip surface.
Been there and done that so I just advocate avoiding wet metal, or
walking the bike in such areas. I was born in Chicago and lived in
the area long enough to know that if there is any chance allowed to
slip, you probably will sooner or later.

The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in Chicago
so far in November. The city says it is replacing them as fast as they
are reported, but someone has to be the first the notice each new
uncovered hole. I'd like to think a cyclist couldn't miss something like
that, but it's still dark when a lot of people start out in the morning
and there are a lot of things competing for attention. I hope this isn't
happening everywhere. The thieves deserve a headfirst visit to the
sewers.

--
Paul Turner

What possible motive could there be for stealing manhole covers other
than to try to induce an accident? Trying to recycle them would be like
telling someone up front "I stole these". Fencing manhole covers is
not a viable business, and the ones I have seen are pretty heavy.
Strange happenings.

--
Bill (not always politically correct) Baka

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 15:06:10 +0000 (UTC), pk
wrote:

Paul Turner wrote:


The bad news here is that 108 manhole covers have been stolen in
Chicago so far in November.

Thought I'd goggle that for a newspaper report, and was amazed to find a
whole glut of such reports:



Manhole covers stolen in Columbus....

MORE than 400 manhole covers have been stolen from a water reservoir in
suburban Hong Kong....

the mysterious phenomenon of manhole cover theft. The target has been
Newham, east London, where in recent weeks nearly 200 grates and covers
have
been stolen....

10,000 Manhole covers stolen! ... Thousands of stolen manhole covers were
adding to the chaos on Calcutta's congested roads....

Abu Dhabi: The police have arrested a three-member gang who allegedly
stole
150 manhole covers worth Dh200,000 from a national contracting company
working on a road project

About 750 manhole covers are stolen in Bangalore every month...

Manhole covers a steal at $340 a tonne
November 8, 2004 China's boom is blamed for holes in a London council's
budget, writes Adam Lusher......

News - Pakistan Observer - ::City - Complete Story:: Newspaper ...
... In this way, hundreds of manhole covers are stolen in the twin cities
every month


In January, eight manhole covers worth HK$1,600 were stolen from a
toilet at
Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok. ......

In Gloucester, England, at the time of writing, over 40 manhole covers
were
reported
stolen, causing serious hazards to motorists........


Taipei Times - archives
... China Manhole covers stolen A ... Over the past six weeks 1,826
manhole
covers had been
stolen, resulting in losses of about 460,000 yuan (US$55,000) to the city


Authorities in the Chinese city of Shanghai have called for greater
punishment for manhole cover thieves, after it transpired that eight
people
had fallen down uncovered holes and died since last June.
The attraction of stolen manhole covers is that they can earn the thief
about 33 yuan (US$4) from scrap dealers – about a day’s wage for
labourers

pk





Manhole terrorists. You don't even have to be smart enough to build a bomb.
Maybe they are building an art project that needs manhole covers??


--
Bill (not always politically correct) Baka