I have to be sure when I walk out that door
Yesterday morning, I rolled up to Reading railway station (in a train). I hopped off, dumped my bag in my cycle's basket, donned hat and gloves, unlocked the bike... and discovered it was ensnared in the neighbouring bike's lock. I could have broken it out, but it would have required dismantling part of my brakes. I didn't have the tools on me, and I would have been reluctant to take it on anyway - my brakes are a bugger to set correctly, and they are currently right for the first time in about 18 months.
I left a note saying "Please be careful!" on the other bike, and got the bus to the office. Last night, my bike was still captive, and my note still poked out jauntily from the gear changer.
This morning, the offending bike had departed and my note had migrated to my bike's basket. On the back of it is written an extremely profuse apology, and an offer to refund me any money I might have had to spend on a bus or taxi. It's signed with a name and a phone number.
Faiths in human nature restored: 1
(It's one of life's little ironies that yesterday I was somewhat bitter that some inconsiderate bastard had forced me to stump up for a return bus fare. Now that I've been offered a refund, I concede that £3 is not a huge deal to me, and feel it would be somewhat churlish and petty to demand it back :)
I left a note saying "Please be careful!" on the other bike, and got the bus to the office. Last night, my bike was still captive, and my note still poked out jauntily from the gear changer.
This morning, the offending bike had departed and my note had migrated to my bike's basket. On the back of it is written an extremely profuse apology, and an offer to refund me any money I might have had to spend on a bus or taxi. It's signed with a name and a phone number.
Faiths in human nature restored: 1
(It's one of life's little ironies that yesterday I was somewhat bitter that some inconsiderate bastard had forced me to stump up for a return bus fare. Now that I've been offered a refund, I concede that £3 is not a huge deal to me, and feel it would be somewhat churlish and petty to demand it back :)