So there was my trusty commuter bike properly locked to a post on Bedford Row when a Canada Post truck driver chose to back up—on the sidewalk. It’s a delivery zone but they jump the curb there all the time. Convenience or carelessness? I’m not sure. But he crunched my bike. Destroyed the front wheel. 50 bucks in damage. Did the driver leave a note of concern and apology? Nope. But hail Brad, a courier, who did leave a note in my bike pack under the seat, complete with the licence plate and truck #s! Thank you. Samaritinism still lives, in Halifax! Of course the manager at the head office didn’t care about this note. Oh, we’d have to investigate and you took too long reporting it! So, enter a certain Constable, HRM Police. Oh yeah, it was more than just 50 bucks to me now. It was a challenge. That was last fall. It took a whole winter. But this cop was persistent. And he called me regularly with updates on his run-around with Canada Post HQ in Ottawa. Wow. Unheard of service. This week, I just got notice payment is on its way. And then, a final call from the cop to see if “there was anything else he could do for me.” Amazing. Kudos to the cop! And the community-minded eye witness. And even the bike store on Barrington who were ready to speak up with evidence.
Seems it takes a village to get Canada Post to deliver. —HRM Bike Commuter
This article appears in Mar 15-21, 2012.
I feel like this should be a love. It has a good ending ya know.
So let’s hear the name of the police dude. They get enough flak for their shortcomings so let’s spread the love…
I LOVE THIS STORY! Kudos to citizen and copper……..yeah!!!!!! rah rah shish kuhm bah……yeah…..made my day
Great bitch/love, OP. I’m glad everything worked out for you.
Good for you OP, too bad it took so long and the Post Office dragging it’s feet. Hope you get your payment sooner then later.
it’s called snail mail for a reason.
the only thing they seem to do quickly is get off kilter and reload their sniper rifles….
There are definately officers who fit perfectly into the ‘pigs’ definition & there is no dispute about that with most people I have ever spoken to about this subject…but there are some really good police men & women, those who truely seem to want to follow the motto “Serve & Protect” I wish there were more of those & fewer with the motto’s “Harass & Infuriate” or “don’t give a shit, fuck off”
Great story, OB.
There ARE people who help, but sometimes the wheels do turn.
Wp
Crazy….Canada Post probably spent $1,000 or more in time and resources trying to avoid paying out the $50.
Seriously, what a fucking waste of police resources. An entire year chasing someone down for a bent bike tire. Priorities are clearly in place.
If they “jump the curb there all the time”, why did you park your bike there? Better yet, why did you chain your bike to a post close enough to the road that this was able to happen in the first place? Another case of someone too lazy to store their property properly, wasting valuable resources on frivolous stupidity. Take ownership for your decisions, and responsibility for your laziness. There are bike hitching posts all over the city with that purpose in mind, god forbid you have to walk a half block.
if you know who did it, go after the company, if not, call the cops on it. and by the way, maybe he was a striking bus driver, doing part time work and decided to take out your bike on purpose.
Im impressed +100 to halifax police. Canada posts score can’t get any lower in my books so they stay the same.
Sounds like a whole lot of tax money was spent to get u your 50 bucks. I’m still glad you got it though, can’t believe Canada post would be suck dicks about it. Kinda dumbfounding
It was only a waste of police resources because Canada Post wouldn’t own up to it. Good for you OP for persevering and I’m glad it paid off.
Whoa Stephen Harper…dial back that attack! Do you own a bike? Have you any idea how much thought some bike riders put into good spots to lock their bikes? Maybe that block is missing a bike rack.
Have you ever wanted to park your car as close to where ever you’re going as you can, because, hey, it’s easier? What if some dumb-ass postal employee crushed your bumper because they jumped the curb while parking?
Yeah, like you wouldn’t pursue those buggers.
Thanks for the great story OP, it made my heart grow 3 sizes! Nice to know there’s still some compassionate people out there.
And good on ya for not letting bureaucratic bullshit stop you.
Are you kidding me, BGR? My car doors are full of 50 dollar dings because I’m too lazy to park in the far reaches of the parking lot where nobody else parks, and yes, on tradein day the value will be affected. Do you hear me whining? I also have a bike, and for 10 years the same bike. Guess what? No damage.
Apparently you just refuse to see the good in the story, Harper as Devil. It must be terribly frustrating to be as cranky as you seem to be.
Considering all the shit police resources DO get wasted on, I think this is win situation.
Call it glass-half-full…