Bike Riders and Bystanders

Psychology’s Bystander Effect Theory got a bit of a workout on August 5th, when TikTok user OnlyOneXBox posted a video showing a thief stealing a woman’s bicycle in broad daylight and walking off with it, even as she screams for help from those around her. Bystander Effect states when there is only one bystander, the sense of personal responsibility is strong, while multiple bystanders create a diffusion of responsibility and ultimately, inaction. As it happened, SD on the QT was on the scene, and while we didn’t intervene, we did ask the people on the video about their refusal to help. Clockwise from upper left: 1. Man steals woman’s bicycle while she screams for help. 2. Woman walking dog: “Bike people are the worst. Entitled jerks who act like cars when they want to, and pedestrians when it suits them. One of them almost hit my dog the other day, and had the audacity to yell at me.” 3. Coffee couple: “Gotta figure the thief is homeless, stealing the bike for one of those sidewalk chop shops. If that’s the case, I’m pretty sure he needs it more than she does. Plus, how do we know he’s not the real owner, stealing it back? Are you assuming he’s the thief because he’s black? Are you racist?” 4. Man on porch:. “Dude, look at the sign right next to me: ‘No Loitering.’ And there I am, loitering. You think I wanna get involved and have to deal with the cops?”