Yes.

Here was my Bike Taken essay I wrote a few years ago on a few subreddits. On /r/buddhism it was praised. On /r/bicyling it was the most downvoted post I'd ever received, ever. Even when I bring up this story here occasionally, it's downvoted typically to -20. When I tell my friends this story, they smile.

My Bike was taken an hour ago. Good.

Yep, you read that right, Good.

And note I say "Taken." You did not steal it.

I've "owned" this bike for about 5 years. It's helped me lose ~45 pounds. It was given to me by my brother as he found he just never rode it.

And I never locked it.

It started just as an accident. I didn't have a lock, so I just put it next to a bar, and sat outside the bar, kept an eagle-eye on it.

Then it became an experiment. My friends said "Dude, you are in Portland, it'll be stolen within a week!"

But I never locked it. And soon after I started to forget about it. I started to think about all the time people take to put on their locks, take them off. Worry. Fret.

Mind you, I brought it into work in my office, and at home inside, so it wasn't always out there.

And then I started to think about: What would happen if it was taken. What is the absolute worst thing that would happen? I would just use my backup bike. Or I'd buy another bike. I've saved so much money over 5 years not having a car it's a miniscule expense.

And then I started to look into it as a charity. A gift, to the world. The world should be riding bikes. Spread the love. I'm not particularly hippy-ish, but lately I've been more Buddhist in leaning. Letting go.

And today was a wonderful opportunity to practice this.

The irony is that I parked the bike at a Yoga studio. The bike was right in front of me the entire hour. And I was so focused on the Yoga, with eyes closed, that they took it literally within 30 feet of my face. The windows of the studio were one-way, so I could have watched them, but they would have had no idea. It would have been interesting to witness them taking it, and letting them have it.

When I saw it was gone, my first reaction was a smile, then fear/hate bubbling up, then a smile. It had finally happened.

Dear taker: I hope you enjoy the bike. It was a decent Cannondale, just overhauled. If you sell it, I hope the money treats you well.

Enjoy!