Vancouver man warns other cyclists about TransLink bike parking security after new bikes were stolen this week.
Victor Ying told Global His News that on Monday he purchased his $400 black Devinci tree.
READ MORE: $20,000 stolen bike seized from Vancouver rooftop 'storage'
That same day, he locked it in a bike rack inside the TransLink bike lot at the Main Street Science World station.
When he returned Wednesday, it was unlocked and his bike was gone. No one was going to take responsibility for the theft, he told Global News.
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I went to Compass Card customer service in Chinatown on the 11th and spoke with a representative there, but was eventually told that...they couldn't do anything, the traffic police weren't responsible for the CCTV footage, and no one invaded the bicycle parking lot. I had to contact the traffic police because I couldn't confirm whether they did or accessed it," he said.
“I contacted the traffic police, but their response was also very negative. Told me:
Operated by TransLink, there are 11 bicycle parking lots throughout the transit system, called 'day storage' facilities.
Users must sign up for the program and pay from $1 per day up to $8 per month for access. The parking lot is monitored by his CCTV cameras and users must be enrolled in the program to access the area by tapping a compass card.
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Read More: Vancouver Police Stolen
Yin said TransLink had installed surveillance cameras and a tap-in process to secure the parking lot's security features. He said he was particularly frustrated because it was advertised as
"Why are we paying for this supposedly safe bike parking when no one can access the CCTV and monitor who actually enters the parking lot? he asked.
"If you are serious about offering or promoting bicycle use in this area, you would rather not advertise as safe and secure bicycle parking if there is no proper response or follow-through.
TransLink's Bike Parking Website contains a disclaimer stating that TransLink is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.
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Global News said he requested an interview with TransLink but instead received a written statement .
Spokesperson Dan Mountain said the company was "sorry to hear about this person's experience," but acknowledged the city had a problem with bicycle theft.
"For bike parking, it's for day use and in a locked, well-lit facility that requires a compass card, so it's safer than locking your bike outside," he said.
TransLink referred questions regarding the robbery investigation to the Metro he Vancouver Traffic Police.
The transit agency did not respond to follow-up emails asking for statistics on the number of bikes reported stolen from parking lots.
Global News also requested an interview with the traffic police but did not receive a response.
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But after Global News contacted police on Thursday, Yin said investigators contacted him and told Coast Mountain He said he would contact the Bus Company. They told him they were in charge of the security cameras.
Yin said the whole situation disappointed him.
READ MORE: Project 529 Helps Return Nearly One Stolen Bike A Day In Vancouver
I found the bike on the Stolen Bikes Vancouver Facebook group, but I'm not sure how many other people have had a similar experience of being disconnected from a very expensive bike lock, actually.
"There has been no response from TransLink or the traffic police, and they are investigating the footage... basically, releasing all these bikes to the public," he said. We're just making it available to people without taking any steps.”
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