Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Digital Dario on June 7, 2010 at 2:14pm

I think a few pull down menus on the home page that allow us to search the database by type, make, model, year/era, neighborhoods and not only by keyword or zip code.

Permalink Reply by Laura on June 8, 2010 at 2:02am

This would all be great!


H3N3 said:

My number one desire would be to be able to color-code the gmap view balloons either by lock type or by age of theft, in order to show trends--and also to be able to filter by same. Let's say you wanted to get a sting operation going- the map view would be the best way to see where the hottest spots are, but you'd really want to be able to view only the last 3 or 6 months. You might also want to look at the map in different time windows (e.g. 0-6 months old, 6-12 months old, 12-24 months old) to spot trends.

Also we've recently had a number of requests to output thefts by police beat or district for people to take to their beat meetings to ask for attention.

Permalink Reply by igz on June 8, 2010 at 2:50am

to add to what Ruben is saying (and maybe its saying the same thing) (and mind you, im not a tech guy), but filtering options...much like in MS Excel, a complete filtering tool that breaks down each category (which could ultimately correlate back to the balloon map and vice versa).

Ruben Dario Fernandez said:

I think a few pull down menus on the home page that allow us to search the database by type, make, model, year/era, neighborhoods and not only by keyword or zip code.

Permalink Reply by Amy on August 31, 2010 at 9:53am

I'm not sure how you would execute these ideas, without cluttering the site... but I think a little more info for the "lister," might help those of us involved in recovery. For example:

Why do we ask for your phone number? Because WE WILL CALL YOU if we find your bike. Moreover, YOU NEED TO BE ON ALERT/STANDBY. ANSWER YOUR PHONE! This is especially important for those who have not provided us with a serial number - when we find your bike, you will need to be available to identify your bike personally. Not being able to reach someone or reaching them too late can be the difference between "finding" a bike listed on the CSBR and "recovering" it.

When your bike is stolen, file a report ASAP with the CPD (and keep your copy on hand)! It provides evidence that your bike was reported stolen. For those without serial numbers, it may help you create a history of ownership.

If you do not have a serial number, you should amass as much information on your bike as possible (photos of bike, of you on bike, receipts, service info, the guide that came with your bike, the reflector that broke off and left a piece on the bike, the light/computer for the mount that may/may not still be on your bike, etc. etc.). You might also print out your CSBR listing and/or make up a "stolen bike flyer" with photos, etc. - which aren't proof of ownership, but if it works, lucky you! In sum, while nothing can replace having a serial number, these things might help sway your case should your bike be found and we need you to come identify your bike personally.

For the description of your bike on the CSBR, do a visual survey of your bike from pedals to bars. Do not assume that people know what "stock" means or that your bike has been stripped. People often forget the obvious (handlebar type/color, toe clips, pedals, #speeds, breaks, shifter type, cage, water bottle, rack, kickstand) and the less obvious (remaining mounts, including lock mount, stickers, store i.d., scrapes, tears, sticky gears, etc.). Too general a description makes it harder for us to identify.

As far as searching the registry, yes, more filtering options. That said, when you find a bike, you sometimes need to back it up and go broader when you don't find the "specific" bike. Last weekend I had the experience of searching "Schwinn," "Shwinn," "green cruiser," "green Schwinn," etc. That's often because people don't know the make, model, or type of bike they have, and of course, there are spelling mistakes!

Also, I don't always understand the "date" system and the order in which bikes are listed (when you scroll from top to bottom). Seems that when people make editorial changes, things switch around - but, I can't be sure. I need to look more closely at that.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 31, 2010 at 10:23am

I don't like the idea that other people are taking responsibility for a third party's property.
"We" should not undertake to call them or search for their stolen property and should not represent that we will. We have the sticky Lee Diamond post for "what to do when your bike is stolen," we should really have a sticky post, "what to do before your bike is stolen;" i.e write down your serial number; take photographs; make notes of attached accessories; save your receipt; put a business card inside the handlebar or seat tube where only you know it is located; lock it with a newer u-lock (or two).

Judging from the thread of a couple weeks ago regarding the Chicago Police Bike Registry, my guess is fewer than 10% of the people on this site know what their serial number is.

It would be nice to be able to search excluding listings that don't have serial numbers OR police reports.



Amy Abramson said:

I'm not sure how you would execute these ideas, without cluttering the site... but I think a little more info for the "lister," might help those of us involved in recovery. For example:
Why do we ask for your phone number? Because WE WILL CALL YOU if we find your bike. Moreover, YOU NEED TO BE ON ALERT/STANDBY. ANSWER YOUR PHONE! This is especially important for those who have not provided us with a serial number - when we find your bike, you will need to be available to identify your bike personally. Not being able to reach someone or reaching them too late can be the difference between "finding" a bike listed on the CSBR and "recovering" it.
When your bike is stolen, file a report ASAP with the CPD (and keep your copy on hand)! It provides evidence that your bike was reported stolen. For those without serial numbers, it may help you create a history of ownership.

If you do not have a serial number, you should amass as much information on your bike as possible (photos of bike, of you on bike, receipts, service info, the guide that came with your bike, the reflector that broke off and left a piece on the bike, the light/computer for the mount that may/may not still be on your bike, etc. etc.). You might also print out your CSBR listing and/or make up a "stolen bike flyer" with photos, etc. - which aren't proof of ownership, but if it works, lucky you! In sum, while nothing can replace having a serial number, these things might help sway your case should your bike be found and we need you to come identify your bike personally.

For the description of your bike on the CSBR, do a visual survey of your bike from pedals to bars. Do not assume that people know what "stock" means or that your bike has been stripped. People often forget the obvious (handlebar type/color, toe clips, pedals, #speeds, breaks, shifter type, cage, water bottle, rack, kickstand) and the less obvious (remaining mounts, including lock mount, stickers, store i.d., scrapes, tears, sticky gears, etc.). Too general a description makes it harder for us to identify.

As far as searching the registry, yes, more filtering options. That said, when you find a bike, you sometimes need to back it up and go broader when you don't find the "specific" bike. Last weekend I had the experience of searching "Schwinn," "Shwinn," "green cruiser," "green Schwinn," etc. That's often because people don't know the make, model, or type of bike they have, and of course, there are spelling mistakes!

Also, I don't always understand the "date" system and the order in which bikes are listed (when you scroll from top to bottom). Seems that when people make editorial changes, things switch around - but, I can't be sure. I need to look more closely at that.

Permalink Reply by Amy on September 1, 2010 at 3:30am

What about a FAQ's section?

Thanks for the clarification, Howard. I get it now.

Permalink Reply by christopher ball on September 13, 2010 at 3:52am

It would be great if there was a search function to enter:
Make/Model:
Frame Size:

That way if someone sees a bike, they could enter: the make or model and the frame size to narrow the search list more easily. There could be an output that would list on a single line:

[Make/Model] [Frame size] [color] [serial #] [link to entry]

At the Swap-o-Rama, if I saw a Trek 7000, I had to click through many listings in which the frame size or the color was wrong. It really drew down my iPhone battery.

Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on September 14, 2010 at 4:23am

Any kind of way to see the listings in a database view would be great. Make, Model, Color, Then Size, Serial would be great to start with links to the full report.

Also, it would be nice to note to people creating reports that the more descriptive they can be, the better. Reasons for that could be that bike shops and people who see suspicious bikes can check the directory...and that people buying used bikes can check the directory to make sure they aren't buying used stuff.

Anyway, it's great to have this resource!

Permalink Reply by Seri97 on September 20, 2010 at 9:22am

Think about changing the Name of the Site from Chicago Stolen Bike Registry to Stolen Bike registry or Illinois Stolen Bike registry. This suggestion is slightly loaded with additional storage space and opens it up to others outside of Chicago listing their stolen bike. I live in Park Ridge IL. Although my bike was stolen in Chicago, it would be great to know that the site was open to all stolen bikes not just Chicago Stolen Bikes.

Permalink Reply by jlj on January 24, 2011 at 3:25pm

I've been playing with the idea of the date ranges and have found a possible way to do this easily if the calendar could be exported to a google map.  (current issues with export to .ics make this difficult)

http://chadnorwood.com/gcm/

 

The above link leads to a Chicago gentleman whom created a google mashup to enter calendar entries from google maps and then view placemarkers based on date ranges.

 

I've reached the end of my tech abilities in trying to make this happen, can someone else make this work?

H3N3 said:

My number one desire would be to be able to color-code the gmap view balloons either by lock type or by age of theft, in order to show trends--and also to be able to filter by same. Let's say you wanted to get a sting operation going- the map view would be the best way to see where the hottest spots are, but you'd really want to be able to view only the last 3 or 6 months. You might also want to look at the map in different time windows (e.g. 0-6 months old, 6-12 months old, 12-24 months old) to spot trends.

Also we've recently had a number of requests to output thefts by police beat or district for people to take to their beat meetings to ask for attention.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 25, 2012 at 5:55am

Resurrecting the thread to discuss the Drupal upgrade mentioned here: http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/comrade-cycles-may-have-re...

A drupal upgrade can be non-trivial, but it isn't exactly rocket science.

Is bikegeeks no longer a thing? Or are the drupal people no longer available?

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on July 26, 2012 at 5:55am

Sorry I wasn't Following this and forgot that group messages don't show up on the front page.

I do not know drupal per se, but I've worked on sites that use it and on a couple of occasions did a drupal upgrade on those sites. It was tedious and a PITA, but I got the job done.

If you are looking for volunteers, I'd be happy to give it a shot, especially if you are at the point of hiring the job out - but I'm pretty swamped so I would not be able to get to it in a very timely manner.

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