Although it is procedure for the bike store to film the removal of all bikes for record-keeping, they had not filmed the removal of her bike.
“The description didn’t match any of the bikes we took from that particular rack,” Berlinger said. “We furbished a bike for her and gave her a free lock. I think we did well by her.”
While Scopa was satisfied that the store replaced her bike, she said she was unhappy with the way the situation unfolded.
“They’re taking students’ bikes and selling them back to the same people. I wouldn’t say Quad Bikes is stealing bikes,” Scopa said. “But there is confusion and Quad Bikes is capitalizing on this confusion, which shouldn’t be allowed.”
Quad Bikes, founded by Timothy D. Ledlie ’02, has had their bike removal policy since opening in 2003. Harvard University permits the store to remove abandoned bikes on University property.
—Staff writer Julia K. Nguyen can be reached at julianguyen@college.harvard.edu.