# 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:** 164
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3262 "2018-09-04T00:24:30Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > 1. Just to clear up the pronoun ambiguity – is the arrested man also the recipient of the incorrect information? > 1a) Is the arrested man also the subject of the incorrect information (that is, “about someone”=“about the arrested man”)? NO > > 2. Was the arrest on drug charges? NO > 2a) If so: possession, dealing, or other? NOPE > [@Riemann](#): > > He is told that DNA tests show a baby is his, leading him to confess to rape? NO KK ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3263 "2018-09-04T00:25:33Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > 1. Just to clear up the pronoun ambiguity – is the arrested man also the recipient of the incorrect information? > ? YES (missed that one) ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3264 "2018-09-04T00:58:38Z")
1. Is this an okay summary so far? **A man was misled by law enforcement authorities, who intentionally told him incorrect medical information about a third party. As a result \< SOMEHOW \>, the man is arrested – for something he did actually do.** 2. Was the third party an individual person or a group of people? (I’m assuming “someone” means one person, but just checking.) ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3265 "2018-09-04T01:22:30Z")
Was the medical information related to an illness? ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3266 "2018-09-04T03:25:07Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > 1. Is this an okay summary so far? **A man was misled by law enforcement authorities, who intentionally told him incorrect medical information about a third party. As a result \< SOMEHOW \>, the man is arrested – for something he did actually do.** > > YES > > 1. Was the third party an individual person or a group of people? (I’m assuming “someone” means one person, but just checking.) Individual person > [@Biotop](#): > > Was the medical information related to an illness? YES kk ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3267 "2018-09-04T03:32:00Z")
Was the information that someone was sick? Was the information that someone was not sick? ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3268 "2018-09-04T03:40:43Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was the information that someone was sick? YES > Was the information that someone was not sick? NO More specific than just that, though. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3269 "2018-09-04T04:00:25Z")
Was the type of illness Terminal? Contagious? Related to pregnancy? Mental? Was the misinformation designed to lead the man to do something to cause his arrest? Was the information designed to lead the man to say something to cause his arrest? Did the man confess something to cause his arrest? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3270 "2018-09-04T07:31:08Z")
Was the arrested man already wanted for questioning? Was he an escaped prisoner? Bail jumper? Person of interest? Something similar? Did the false information cause him to come out of hiding? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3271 "2018-09-04T14:46:18Z")
Is this a case from real life or from fiction? If it’s from fiction, is the work _The Day of the Jackal_ by Frederick Forsythe? ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3272 "2018-09-04T17:52:02Z")
Ignore this post. I messed up on my phone. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3273 "2018-09-04T17:55:52Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Was the type of illness > > Terminal? DON’T KNOW > CONTAGIOUS? DON’T KNOW > Related to PREGNANCY? NO > MENTAL? DON’T KNOW > > Was the misinformation designed to lead the man to do something to cause his ARREST? YES > Was the information designed to lead the man to say something to cause his ARREST? KIND OF > Did the man confess something to cause his ARREST? NO > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was the arrested man already wanted for questioning? NO > > Was he an escaped prisoner? Bail jumper? Person of interest? Something SIMILAR? NO > > Did the false information cause him to come out of HIDING? YES > [@Ignotus](#): > > Is this a case from real life or from fiction? > REAL LIFE > > If it’s from fiction, is the work _The Day of the Jackal_ by Frederick Forsythe? KK ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3274 "2018-09-04T22:00:32Z")
At the time of the misinformation, had the man already committed the crime he was guilty of? Was the third party (the person the medical information was about) a real person? Was the third party related to the criminal? Was the third party an individual known to the criminal? Was the third party a friend, ally, and/or partner to the criminal? Was the third party an enemy, opponent, and/or rival to the criminal? ---
**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:** [September 4, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3275 "2018-09-04T22:15:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > At the time of the misinformation, had the man already committed the crime he was guilty of? YES > > Was the third party (the person the medical information was about) a real person? YES > Was the third party related to the criminal? NO > Was the third party an individual known to the criminal? YES > Was the third party a friend, ally, and/or partner to the criminal? NO > Was the third party an enemy, opponent, and/or rival to the criminal? YES kk ---
**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:** [September 5, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3276 "2018-09-05T02:16:45Z")
Was the person the medical information was about a law enforcement agent? Was that person another criminal? If the person had actually been sick, and the criminal was told that by the same person who told him, would that have still led to his arrest? If the person had actually been sick, and the criminal found that out through some other means, would that have still led to his arrest? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3277 "2018-09-05T03:12:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Was the person the medical information was about a law enforcement agent? NO > Was that person another criminal? NO > If the person had actually been sick, and the criminal was told that by the same person who told him, would that have still led to his arrest? NO > If the person had actually been sick, and the criminal found that out through some other means, would that have still led to his arrest? NO kk ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3278 "2018-09-05T05:39:20Z")
Did this take place in the 2000’s? 1990’s? 1980’s? 1970’s? 1960’s? 20th century? 19th century? 18th century? Earlier? Was the crime robbery? Murder? Violent? White collar? Related to war? Something considered criminal today? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3279 "2018-09-05T06:26:13Z")
Did the person who was supposedly sick catch him in the act? Did the crime involve doing something to the sick person? Or something that belonged to them? Or someone the sick person knew? And, just some wild ones: Are any of the people involved famous? Anything to do with the President or another government official? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3280 "2018-09-05T19:22:47Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Did this take place in the 2000’s? > 1990’s? > 1980’s? > 1970’s? > 1960’s? > > I’m not sure and I don’t have the cite here. Let’s say 1990’s or 2000’s. It’s recent enough and is from “modern times”. > > 20th century? Yes, possibly even 21st. > 19th century? No > 18th century? No > Earlier? > Was the crime robbery? NO > Murder? NO > Violent? NO(don’t think so) > White collar? NO > Related to war? NO > Something considered criminal today? YES > [@BigT](#): > > Did the person who was supposedly sick catch him in the act? NO > Did the crime involve doing something to the sick person? YES(to the supposedly sick person, you mean) > Or something that belonged to them? NO > Or someone the sick person knew? NO > > And, just some wild ones: > Are any of the people involved famous? NO > Anything to do with the President or another government official? NO KK ---
**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:** [September 6, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3281 "2018-09-06T00:42:20Z")
Did the crime involve sex? Did it involve deception? Did it involve money? Was the medical misinformation a deliberate ploy by law enforcement, in order to make the arrest? Prior to the medical misinformation, and absent any concern about the law or police ethics, were the police capable of making the arrest? Prior to the medical misinformation, and absent any concern about practicalities, were the police legally allowed to make the arrest? (to clarify those last two: If the perpetrator of a crime were known, but in hiding, the police would be allowed to arrest them, but unable. If they had a suspect, who was just sitting around at home, but the evidence was thin, then they’d be able, but not allowed, to arrest them). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=163) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=165)