…to your bike because, it’s not really yours, it belongs to all of Ferrara. Just face it, chances are it will get stolen.

I scoffed. I didn’t believe it, but it’s true. In this tiny, and normally incredibly safe city, I have become the victim of its most prevalent crime, bike theft. This evening after a wild night of watching a movie at Carter’s apartment, I left to come home, turned the corner around the side of the building, only to find that my bike, my wonderful, adorable, useful bike of which I had grown so fond, was no longer locked where I had left it merely two hours before. As I realized that my bike was gone, I barely believed it. I even stood for a few moments in the spot where I left it, just to be sure.

The strangest thing is that all week, the topic of bike theft has come up A LOT. I talked to at least three different people about it, and one of those people was actually a proud bike thief. His theory is that no one owns bikes here; bikes are for anyone to take. While I wish that was true, it definitely isn’t. I had a monetary stake in that bike (not to mention, we had grown close over the last month), and while it would be convenient to get my lock-picking friend to help me *ahem* acquire a new bike for free, I would hate to make anyone experience that same sinking feeling of realizing that, yes, it’s gone…no, no one just hid it nearby as a funny prank… yes, you have to walk home across town now.

Luckily, I was a gorgeous night in Ferrara. The rain that threatened the afternoon was nowhere in sight, and Carter gave me some cookies for the road. I guess I have something to do tomorrow now… to the used bike shop I go!

(?)

Picture from a great tee at www.threadless.com check it out!