Police looking for man who redecorated bikes from Seattle bike share

Seattle police are searching for someone who rented two bright green bicycles from the Pronto bike share program and redecorated them. While the suspect could be in trouble with police, not everyone thinks the designs are so bad.

“I think they look kind of cool,” said KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney. “I thought it seemed a very winter, holiday kind of look.”

The suspect’s first design was apparently completed during a six-hour period on Nov. 13. The bike was rented at the station at Third Avenue and Pike Street around 5 a.m. and returned to the same location, but covered in scrawled messages and numbers written with permanent ink.

Police say the suspect rented another bike that same afternoon from a station at Westlake Ave N. and Republican Street. After two hours, the bike was returned completely covered in silver paint.

Tom hadn’t seen the bike with the scrawled messages, but was a fan of the one painted silver. He actually wouldn’t be opposed to more.

“I understand if it somehow immobilizes the bike or it’s bad on the bike, I guess we can’t encourage it,” said Tom. “But as long as it’s kept to a minimum, I think that’s a cool idea.”

The man reportedly used his credit card to rent both bicycles. Detectives are trying to locate him. Seattle police estimate the “damage” at $1250.