NOTE: Edited due to postponement of Bike to Work Day to Friday, May 29th.
Friday, 5/29, is the postponed date for Bike to Work Day in San Diego and many other places across the U.S. (Of course, there’s no reason that every day can’t be bike to work day but that’s largely reserved for the ultra-awesome.) I’m going to be hosting a “pit stop” on behalf of BikeSD in Golden Hill at the corner of B Street and 28th Street. The pit stop will be open from 6 AM to 9 AM.
Up for grabs – official T-shirt, Clif Bars, Zico coconut water, Suja juice, magazine, bike lights, and more!Stop by our pit stop, get 25% off at SD Bean Bar Downtown (next to Central Library). Sweet!
You should come by and enjoy free shirts, snacks, drinks, and other goodies. There is potential for rain in the forecast so I’m also packing extra tents you can relax under while enjoying the cool morning with other fun people. I’ll also be tallying everyone stopping by the pit stop so help me represent and top the attendance list. (No, I don’t think there’s a prize for that but I’m crossing my fingers for official bragging rights.)
Check out these photos for a sampling of what’s waiting for you at 28th & B on May 29th. Even if you’re not going to work, cruise on over and hang out for a bit! May is also “Bike Month” in San Diego and BikeSD is hosting a Bike Month Bash party on May 30th to celebrate. If you’re not already biking this month, start today and you’ll have something to celebrate on the 30th. Register today!
Some quality reading material you can read while pretending to work!I organize the annual Bikes & Beers SD event so you can score a free sticker and glass. Exclusive to 28th & B pit stop!
With the rise of Amazon, Etsy, and other Internet businesses there has been a marked increase for many in the amount of package deliveries. The convenience of home delivery and the vast array of products online, many at discount prices, has been a boon for customers around the world. Unfortunately, these deliveries have also presented a new easy target for theft in many places. That has been the case in my neighborhood, so I wanted to share some tools I use to reduce the risk of theft.
This man wants to steal your packaged trinkets. Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saxonmoseley/288741595/
Sign up for package delivery alerts
FedEx – Create and account, “My Profile”, via the link at the top right for a multitude of options regarding your packages. Use the “Delivery Manager” to set specific actions for when a package arrives so you don’t miss it. My method is to receive a text message when the package is delivered – it usually arrives within a minute of the package delivery. You can also do other things like set a Vacation Hold to avoid packages sitting on the porch while you’re gone.
UPS – Create an account via link at top “New User” for options similar to those available on FedEx, though I find the FedEx site more polished and with more options. Use “Delivery Alerts” to set specific actions for package deliveries. As with FedEx, I use text alerts when a package arrives. If you prefer to know in advance, you can get email or text alerts the day of or day before a package arrives.
USPS – USPS does not currently have the same breadth of tools as UPS and FedEx, but you can still create an account with some useful tools. Use the “Register / Sign In” link at the top right to start. I primarily use USPS to hold mail delivery while we’re out of town. Hopefully they’ll add package delivery options in the near future.
OnTrac – In San Diego, OnTrac completes a fair amount of deliveries for Amazon though it seems recently that USPS is doing more of that work. Their website options are very limited, and from conversations with company representatives they do not have similar tools to those for other delivery providers.
Know your neighbors
No one knows your habits and schedule like your neighbors. Creepy, right? Exchange your contact information with your neighbors and be a nice person and they’ll probably be happy to pick up a package that’s sitting on your porch if you’d like. If you have the delivery notifications mentioned above set up, you can even call them when there’s a package at your place. Your neighbor probably doesn’t have a formal registration system, but cookies are usually a good starting point.
Install a security camera
I installed a security camera above our front door to record anyone coming to our home or passing by. It’s also visible from the street so hopefully acts as a deterrent to those considering approaching with ill intent. I opted for the Dropcam Pro due to ease of installation, price point, and low monthly fee structure (which is optional). It cost me $149 plus $10 per month for 7-day online recording, so I can review the tape and save clips if anything happens. The price per month per camera decreases quite a bit if you add additional cameras.
Our front door camera and grumpy old man sign.
Report thefts that do occur
If you do have a package taken, or other items stolen make sure to report it to the police. Chances are that you won’t get your item back, but the theft will be entered in the official system and may result in increased patrols or better data for the police to address area issues. If they don’t know, they can’t help.
Have you had packages stolen from your property? Have other tips to avoid this problem? Share them, I’d love to hear. Cheers!
