Homeless in Vancouver: An olden golden bicycle

This morning at the McDonald’s at West Broadway and Granville I could see something on the other side of West Broadway that was glittering but was certainly not gold.

It was an old bicycle that had been spray-painted gold—almost every inch of it.

I suppose, it was a kind of graffiti art now, insomuch as it was both visually striking and a slightly annoying act of vandalism.

Beauty's in the eye of the beholder

Someone had locked up this old bike to one of the city’s free-standing bike racks—I don’t know when—I  didn’t notice it on Saturday. And I don’t know if it was put there by the same person who spray-painted it.

I sincerely hope someone didn’t just spray bomb another person’s classic old bicycle.

The bike looked fine at first glance—the tires weren’t flat and the seat looked brand new—but it wasn’t quite in ready-to-ride condition. At least the chain was off the drive train.

Judging from all the over-spray on the sidewalk the bike was spray-painted after it was locked up, and quickly.

It’s undeniably interesting to look at (shiny!) and if it is intended as a kind of permanent art installation, then cyclists can just treat it as part of the bike rack and lock up around  it, through it or just to it, without worrying about inconveniencing anyone else.

Eventually a city crew will cut it free and haul it away, unless someone claims it or someone else steals it.