Bike rescue in vancouver?

Question

i'm looking to buy a used road bike and i came across the website bike rescue, and organization that sells lost/stolen bikes if they can't be returned to the owner. i was wondering if anyone knows whether or not this business is legitimite? i dont want to be buying stolen bikes!

Answer 1

Most cities have an annual sale of found/recovered bikes.  The police either ARE the sellers (in Ottawa it's a police auction) or help supply them (e.g. recovered stolen bikes) to a city group who take care of the sale. They can't be returned to their owner because the owner couldn't prove they were the owner (e.g. no record of serial number), never reported the theft, the bike was abandoned, etc.

I can't speak for how it works in Vancouver, but most likely the sale is totally legitimate.

If you are worried -- and your caution is to be commended -- ask for proof the bikes are legitimately being sold.