# 53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868 "2017-07-09T19:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 149
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2962 "2018-05-20T15:32:04Z")
I need some clarification on these answers. > [@](#): > > Were the people doing the stupid thing the ones who died? > > PEOPLE? NO. PERSON? YES. One person was doing the stupid thing? One person died? > [@](#): > > Did the people doing the stupid thing intend to kill the people they were trying to hurt? > > YES. PERSON, NOT PEOPLE, THOUGH. One person intended to kill? They were trying to hurt one person? > [@](#): > > Were the people doing the stupid thing trying to hurt other people physically? > > YES. PERSON. One person doing the stupid thing? Trying to hurt one person physically? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2963 "2018-05-20T16:11:28Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I need some clarification on these answers. > > One person was doing the stupid thing? NO > > One person died? YES (each time stupid thing was done, not that this was a one-time occurrence). > > One person intended to kill? YES (each time) > > They were trying to hurt one person? YES > > One person doing the stupid thing? NO > > Trying to hurt one person physically? YES (each time) KK ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2964 "2018-05-20T16:30:11Z")
O.K., the thing that is stumping is me is the multiple methods of death. How could one activity lead to death by being hit by an object, poisoning, falling or drowning? Did the person who died in each case want to commit suicide? Did the stupid activity assist in the suicide in some way? Did it assist physically? Did it assist mentally (encourage or motivate the person to commit suicide)? Was the person who died in each case terminally ill or suffering from a painful condition? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2965 "2018-05-20T17:28:15Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > O.K., the thing that is stumping is me is the multiple methods of death. How could one activity lead to death by being hit by an object, poisoning, falling or drowning? **Good question**. > > Did the person who died in each case want to commit suicide? **NO** > > Did the stupid activity assist in the suicide in some way? **Assist? No.** > > Did it assist physically? **NO** > > Did it assist mentally (encourage or motivate the person to commit suicide)? **SORT OF.** > > Was the person who died in each case terminally ill or suffering from a painful condition?\*\* NO\*\* KK ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2966 "2018-05-20T18:01:10Z")
Did the people who were doing the stupid activity cause the death of the person who died directly, without the person who died having to take some kind of conscious action on his/her own? (That is, the people doing the stupid activity were trying to hurt someone, and hurt that person so badly that they died, while the person who died didn’t participate or have any choice in the matter.) Did the people who were doing the stupid activity cause the death of the person who died indirectly, through some action taken by the person who died? (That is, the stupid activity caused the person who died to do something else that lead to his/her death.) Were the people who were doing the stupid activity in direct physical proximity to the person who died (in the same room with them, or if outdoors, within the distance that they could speak to each other)? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2967 "2018-05-20T19:30:03Z")
More questions I thought of while I was in the shower (this one has really gotten into my head): Are the people doing the stupid activity lying to the person who dies? Does this involve hazing (ritual activities as part of initiation into a group)? Does this involve formal social groups at all (fraternities, gangs, secret societies, etc.)? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2968 "2018-05-20T20:25:21Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Did the people who were doing the stupid activity cause the death of the person who died directly, without the person who died having to take some kind of conscious action on his/her own? > > NO > > Did the people who were doing the stupid activity cause the death of the person who died indirectly, through some action taken by the person who died? > > YES, if I understand this right. The stupid activity that was banned indirectly lead to the death of the person who died. > > Were the people who were doing the stupid activity in direct physical proximity to the person who died (in the same room with them, or if outdoors, within the distance that they could speak to each other)? > > Ever?? YES. > > At the time of death? PROBABLY NOT. NOT SURE. IRRELEVANT. > [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > More questions I thought of while I was in the shower (this one has really gotten into my head): > > Are the people doing the stupid activity lying to the person who dies? NO > > Does this involve hazing (ritual activities as part of initiation into a group)? NO > > Does this involve formal social groups at all (fraternities, gangs, secret societies, etc.)? > > NO It may seem distant, but everyone is doing really well. No need for any hints, either. You’ve all made decent progress and I bet this one will be solved with no help from me or anyone else. Just need a few “clicks” to happen in the brain and stuff will start coming. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2969 "2018-05-21T00:04:15Z")
Were people doing something which appeared to be safe, but which was actually dangerous if done improperly? Were people doing something which appeared to be safe, but which was actually dangerous even if done properly? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2970 "2018-05-21T01:00:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Were people doing something which appeared to be safe, but which was actually dangerous if done improperly? > > Were people doing something which appeared to be safe, but which was actually dangerous even if done properly? No to both. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2971 "2018-05-21T09:43:56Z")
Is Slenderman relevant here? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2972 "2018-05-21T12:28:38Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Is Slenderman relevant here? No. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2973 "2018-05-21T17:03:42Z")
Is the weather at the time of the doing important? Did it involve water? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2974 "2018-05-21T17:34:02Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Is the weather at the time of the doing important? > > Did it involve water? No to both. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2975 "2018-05-21T18:53:25Z")
Was there a time gap between the people doing the activity and the person dying (i.e. the activity ended, the people involved dispersed, and then the person died)? Would you characterize the activity as bullying toward the person who died? In the various instances, the person died by widely varying methods; however would you characterize the physical activity of the people doing the activity as essentially the same in each case? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2976 "2018-05-21T19:45:53Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Was there a time gap between the people doing the activity and the person dying (i.e. the activity ended, the people involved dispersed, and then the person died)? **YES** > > Would you characterize the activity as bullying toward the person who died? **NO** > > In the various instances, the person died by widely varying methods; however would you characterize the physical activity of the people doing the activity as essentially the same in each case? > > **Yes, I would describe the physical activity of the banned activity essentially the same in each case. I assume that is what you meant.** kk ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2977 "2018-05-21T21:42:59Z")
Did the person who died in each case know that the people doing the banned activity wanted to hurt him/her? If the person did not know, would they still have died? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2978 "2018-05-21T22:29:12Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Did the person who died in each case know that the people doing the banned activity wanted to hurt him/her? YES > > If the person did not know, would they still have died? XXX KK ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2979 "2018-05-21T23:12:54Z")
Did the people doing the now-banned activity choose their victims at random? Did all of the victims have a particular characteristic (all women, all a certain profession, all engaged in a particular activity, etc.)? Is the motive for hurting the victims or the method of choosing them relevant to the deaths? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2980 "2018-05-21T23:43:05Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Did the people doing the now-banned activity choose their victims at random? > > Did all of the victims have a particular characteristic (all women, all a certain profession, all engaged in a particular activity, etc.)? > > Is the motive for hurting the victims or the method of choosing them relevant to the deaths? I can’t answer until you re-write considering this Q I’ll give you. **Were there any “victims”? NO (at least not as I understand the word victim).** You can ask all of those again considering that if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/2981 "2018-05-22T00:13:47Z")
So, to be clear, the people who died weren’t victims? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=148) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=150)