A specialized bicycle valued at more than $2,000 was stolen from a disabled graduate student earlier this month.
Architecture student Julie Grant, who lost the use of her legs in a car accident eight years ago, noticed on Oct. 21 that her silver Quickie Spirit 470 handcycle was missing. It was the first time she had checked on her bike since Oct. 9.
“I kept trying to tell myself that I left it in Seattle,” she said. “Then I saw pieces of the cable, and then I knew for sure that it was gone.”
Grant used a chain Kryptonite lock to secure her bicycle. When it was stolen, the bike was parked outside Graduate Village in a secured bicycle area that is only accessible by a resident’s key.
Grant filed a report with the Department of Public Safety and the Eugene Police Department.
She is also checking advertisements on eBay and craigslist to see whether the thief is trying to sell it.
Whoever stole it knew the bike’s value, she said.Grant purchased the bike two years ago using a settlement from her car accident. She can’t afford to replace it.
She won three half-marathons with the handcycle, but said she won’t be able to compete without the bike.
Grant said cardiovascular exercise is very important to her health. Besides riding her handcycle, “There’s no other way to get my heart rate up,” she said.
Grant said the bike helped her socially, too.
“You can be out doing normal things,” she said.
Anyone with information should contact the Department of Public Safety at 346-5444.
-Katy Gagnon