Phone on handlebars: what would you have done?

[jefmcg]

A few weeks ago, @vickster and I independently noticed a woman cycling past while we were on a coffee break. A few minutes later we headed in the direction she'd been cycling, and saw her bike locked with the phone holder still on the handlebars. I thought this was odd, so touched it and realised that her Samsung Galaxy was still in the holder. She'd forgotten it!

I wasn't concerned about being called a thief, but decided to leave it. As we knew she was on her own, there seemed no good outcomes that justified our interference. If she'd been with someone, I would have seen if she'd locked her phone and if not, tried recent calls to contact her ride partner. But as she was alone, that would have only got her mum - or whomever. She would have eventually got her phone back, but only after much aggravation and cancelling of contracts.

We quickly decided to walk away, as we were apparently in a bike theft hotspot in the greater London area, and staring at the handlebars is only going to increase attention to a smart phone abandoned in a public space.

So, did we do the right thing?

 

[swee'pea99]

Tricky one. TBH I think I would probably have taken it, tried to call anyone in the recent calls history, and otherwise waited for the thing to ring, whereupon I'd explain the situation and agree the best way to reunite it with its owner. Not that I'm criticising...just saying I think that's probably what I would have done.

 

[Jason]

I would have taken the phone, and rung someone on her contacts list if it's unlocked. Better she get's her phone back from an honest/courteous passing cyclist, than some oik

 

[Welsh wheels]

A few weeks ago, @vickster and I independently noticed a woman cycling past while we were on a coffee break. A few minutes later we headed in the direction she'd been cycling, and saw her bike locked with the phone holder still on the handlebars. I thought this was odd, so touched it and realised that her Samsung Galaxy was still in the holder. She'd forgotten it!

I wasn't concerned about being called a thief, but decided to leave it. As we knew she was on her own, there seemed no good outcomes that justified our interference. If she'd been with someone, I would have seen if she'd locked her phone and if not, tried recent calls to contact her ride partner. But as she was alone, that would have only got her mum - or whomever. She would have eventually got her phone back, but only after much aggravation and cancelling of contracts.

We quickly decided to walk away, as we were apparently in a bike theft hotspot in the greater London area, and staring at the handlebars is only going to increase attention to a smart phone abandoned in a public space.

So, did we do the right thing?

I would have probably have done the same thing as you to be honest. You didn't help her but then also you weren't at risk of being accused of stealing the phone. I might have tried to find a policeman to care of it, but unlikely there would be one nearby. Alternatively I might have taken it into a cafe nearby and left it with them, and then maybe left a note on the bike to explain where the phone was.

 

[vickster]

Blimey, still thinking about this?!!

I’d forgotten...not surprising given my other thread about addled memory due to pregabalin!

 

[raleighnut]

Bait bike ?

 

[jefmcg]

Blimey, still thinking about this?!!

I’d forgotten...not surprising given my other thread about addled memory due to pregabalin!

Lol. No, not still thinking about it. I had an open window on my browser that had the embryo of a post. I was going to forget it, but remembered @Shaun's request for new threads!

 

[vickster]

Bait bike ?

We did see her ride past so unlikely I’d say!

 

[jefmcg]

Bait bike ?

Definitely not. We saw the cyclist go by us.

Edit: TMN to @vickster. She must be so proud.

 

[growingvegetables]

So, did we do the right thing?

No idea .

Me? I'd be terrified of picking up the damn thing, and either trying to call or answer an incoming call - but that's my technophobia.

• Wait till she returns? Hmm - 5 very long, very boring hours later .
• Pop it into a nearby "mom-and-pop" shop - leave a note wrapped round her lock? Risky .
• Remove, and leave a note with your phone number? Yebbut, how many people have panniers filled with paper and pens (I do, but that's weird!) . And your phone number ain't going to be much use .

Dunno .

 

[NickNick]

I made that mistake a few weeks back was running late for a concert i was meant to be helping to setup/soundcheck at the museum in Birmingham city centre.

Locked my bike up on one of the fairly central stands by town hall, swapped my shoes and rushed into museum. Didn't realise i'd left phone on handlebars till I'd been in museum for 10min. I had a panicked run back to the bike and somehow it was still there, must have been unattended for 20min.

My phone's always locked so calling contacts wouldn't be an option, but even if it was not sure how I'd feel about that and it could all get very complicated depending on who you got through to! Think I'd have preferred the note on the bike and leaving it somewhere safe/you holding on to it.

 

[snorri]

Half an hour later two guys came in to the restaurant and said that an app had told them the lost phone was in the building, so I was able to return it to its owner.

I had to go to quite lot of restaurants, but that's how I got my smart phone!

 

[Sandra6]

I sometimes leave my key in the bike lock, I'd be quite put out if I came back and a well meaning person had locked the bike and taken the key. Likewise if I'd left my phone. Chances of someone else spotting it and then stealing it would generally be quite low I'd have thought. I would've just left it and it's her lesson to learn.
I hate on our local "spotted" page when someone "finds" an item and takes it home to post a photo of it to locate the owner. If I lose something, I retrace my steps to find it. Can't do that if you've got it in your house!