More than 40 bicycles belonging to Baltimore's Recreation and Parks department for a bike-share program were stolen this week, and the activity has been suspended indefinitely, city officials said.
The bikes, which included children's bikes and adult-size blue beach cruisers, were stolen on Monday during the city's Ride Around the Reservoir program in Druid Hill Park. Recreation and Parks spokeswoman Gwendolyn Chambers said staff had set up the bikes to lend out when a large group of youths began stealing them. One staffer was kicked by a youth, though the injury was not serious, Chambers said.
"We don't want our staff in harm's way so we don't engage in fights with them," Chambers said.
nder the Ride Around program, which began in 2006 and expanded from one day a week to four days a week, people can borrow the bikes and helmets and ride through Druid Hill Park. Similar programs also operate in Carroll Park, Lake Montebello and at City Hall for employees during lunchtime. The program is also part of the city's Camp Baltimore summer camp. All of those programs, which serve about 3,000 people each summer, will be affected by the loss of the bikes, Chambers said.
The city is asking for the public's help to recover the bikes, and residents are asked to call 911 if they spot one of them. Officials said the bikes can also be dropped off at any city recreation center or at Recreation and Parks headquarters at 2600 Madison Ave. with no questions asked.
"This loss is devastating to the Ride Around program, which operates completely on donations. It is a major blow to our agency and the thousands of residents we serve each year," Recreation and Parks Director Ernest Burkeen said in a statement. "We ask that if you see one of our bikes around town to notify us or the police immediately."
Chambers said replacing the bikes could cost thousands of dollars. Some residents have expressed interest in donating money to replace the bikes, and Chambers said donations can be made at baltimorecityfoundation.org under youth programs.
Liberal progressive democrat do-gooders forget what their giveaway programs have produced . . . . liars, thieves, cheats, and Godless, valueless, human's with no future.
Why shouldn't a man who has been unemployed for 4 years or more begin stealing what he needs first then what he desires next? It's become the American way.
From Obamaphones to Homophobes and all those other alliterated cliche' things off the shelves of the left facing population, we are headed down way down without a visible way up.
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