Blind bicyclist, partner just want stolen tandem bike back

Chainlinkers, keep a lookout people!

 

This remind me of the stolen trike last year or the year before.

 

Suntimes article by STEFANO ESPOSITO Staff Reporter sesposito@suntimes.com April 6, 2012 6:06PM

Sheldon Atovsky and Terry Gorman ride their tandem bicycle near Irving Park and the lake on Tuesday. The bike was stolen Friday. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

Updated: April 7, 2012 2:06AM

 

There are times in life when Terry Gorman, who is blind, feels invisible.

Like when he walks into an elevator, says ‘hi,’ and — in the way of keep-to-themselves city folk — no one replies.

That’s why the 63-year-old Edgewater resident’s tandem bicycle, which he rides with his partner, Sheldon Atovsky, is hot pink — so that Gorman is sure to be noticed.

Unfortunately, thieves took notice of the bike Friday morning while it was locked up outside Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

“It’s very upsetting,” said Atovsky, 61, a retired DePaul University music professor. “It’s just so surprising. It was locked very carefully.”

That’s perhaps an understatement. Atovsky and Gorman used four different locks to immobilize the bike and secure it to a low, wrought-iron fence on East Huron, while Gorman went to a doctor’s appointment.

When they returned less than two hours later, the bike and locks were gone — stolen in daylight on a street where there’s almost always a constant stream of patients, doctors and other hospital staff.

The bike is worth about $3,800, Gorman said.

Gorman and Atovsky have called their insurance company; they’ve filed a police report; they’ve checked with hospital security to make sure someone didn’t confiscate the bike. They just want their bike back.

Perhaps you’ve seen Atovsky and Gorman — as Chicago Sun-Times photographer Al Podgorski did this week for a photograph that ran in Wednesday’s edition — riding along the lakefront. Last year, they logged 3,300 miles.

“I love the sound of the bicycle and the sound of the environment around us,” said Gorman, who has been blind since birth and takes the back seat — the “stoker” position. “You hear birds, you hear the sound of the wind, you hear traffic along Lake Shore Drive. You hear golf balls hitting this and that.”

Perhaps you’ve heard Gorman’s bicycle bell. It’s part of a little game the couple play: Whenever someone waves or smiles at them along the lakefront, Atovsky takes notice and tells Gorman to ring his bell.

“Sheldon is someone who doesn’t want to be noticed,” Gorman explained. “I want to be noticed.”

The missing bike is a “C-Motion Scout,” in a color that’s technically called pearlescent magenta. The bike is about eight feet long and it has no fenders.

If you see it, email Atovsky at s-atovsky@sbcglobal.net.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 7, 2012 at 11:54am

+1

h' said:

Would be nice if employees of certain health care systems would "keep a lookout" as well.

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on April 7, 2012 at 1:59pm

"The main lock which locked the rear tire and bike frame to the wrought iron fence was a Kryptonite Lock U New York STD 3000 4X& 500065.  This lock also went through a cable that passed through the rear seat, back tire and bike frame.  A heavy padlock and an OnGuard Akita #5043 cable also went through the wrought iron fence, the front tire and the front seat."   http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/192344

Sounds like it was a good locking job, the riders did all they could to keep the bike safe.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 7, 2012 at 3:01pm

+1

Jeff Schneider said:

There is a special place in hell reserved for whoever took this bike.

Permalink Reply by Vilda on April 7, 2012 at 7:31pm

NWM could really care less. I showed up to a Physical Therapy appointment and had forgotten the key to my U-Lock. Security passed the buck to the Operations Secretary who put me on hold for 15 minutes, then came back and said no. When I asked again she put me on hold for another 10 minutes and said no. "It's the policy of the building to not let bikes inside." I deliver to that building on a regular basis and they have explosive materials in the freight elevator all the time but my bike was an insurance risk. Fuck NWM and I really hope the folks get there bike back!

Permalink Reply by skipton on April 8, 2012 at 2:29am

Oh MAN! Does that suck!!

I saw them riding on the LFP Thursday or Friday morning.

What kind of animal steals a blind guys bike!?!?!

Permalink Reply by Anne on April 8, 2012 at 4:13am

Oh nooooooooooo! When I worked at Turin this bike was THE talk of the shop when it was ordered. We had a lot of fun getting it built and making sure they were comfortable. Terry and Sheldon are such nice guys, I do hope it's recovered. I will certainly help spread the word through the retails shop grapevine.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 8, 2012 at 2:34pm

I was wondering exactly the same thing.  I hope that he'll do more follow-up and perhaps get a positive answer.

h' said:

At one hospital I worked at security removed my bike from city property and put it in a store room without leaving any kind of note. The people working the shift that was on when I found my bike missing knew nothing about it.  I suspected what had happened and got them to check their various equipment storage areas, and there it was.  I'm not saying this is what happened in this instance, but I'm having a hard time convincing my 'gut' that this bike is not on NWM property as I type.

I wrote to Mr. Esposito two days ago to suggest he look into this but no response.

Permalink Reply by Green Machine Cycles on April 9, 2012 at 3:26am

Awful situation. We just tuned that bike up less than a month ago. New tires, cables, chains, the works. Nice and generous guys who really care deeply about their bike. 

Permalink Reply by Steve Courtright on April 9, 2012 at 3:30am

+1

James BlackHeron said:

+1

Jeff Schneider said:

There is a special place in hell reserved for whoever took this bike.

Permalink Reply by Banshee: 12-15mi on April 13, 2012 at 5:56am

What is amazing is that they took it under 2 hours going through 4 locks!!!!

 

"used four different locks to immobilize the bike and secure it to a low, wrought-iron fence on East Huron - When they returned less than two hours later, the bike and locks were gone"

 

I started using the two U-Lock system to lock up my bike.  But now, it seems useless compared to this.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on April 13, 2012 at 6:13am

This theft falls into the category of "if they really want to steal your bike..." Keep using two U-locks. Only 3 reported thefts to the CSBR (including this one) were locked with two u-locks. This bike was also locked to a wrought iron fence, which is a distant 4th on the list of "good things to lock to."

Steve said:

What is amazing is that they took it under 2 hours going through 4 locks!!!!

 

"used four different locks to immobilize the bike and secure it to a low, wrought-iron fence on East Huron - When they returned less than two hours later, the bike and locks were gone"

 

I started using the two U-Lock system to lock up my bike.  But now, it seems useless compared to this.

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on April 13, 2012 at 8:51am

For those of us that don't know, can someone explain why locking to a wrought iron fence is a bad idea?  I don't do it often but if there's nothing else it always seemed like a decent option, especially considering the apparent strength of iron and the ability the fence would give you to lock the frame and front wheel.

Really sucks this bike was stolen, but it's equally upsetting that somehow word got out that 4 locks were used.  It's a shame that some members here likely read that and felt discouraged from riding or afraid for their bikes.  

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