# 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:** 181
**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:** [June 10, 2019, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3602 "2019-06-10T20:05:32Z")
**To be clear: The question about ethics was a factual question, but reasonable people might still disagree about the answer. Correct?** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3603 "2019-06-10T20:22:51Z")
Was the request that you leave and not come back related to your legal or regulatory ability to be present? ---
**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:** [June 10, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3604 "2019-06-10T22:55:16Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it connected to the Tobacco industry? \*\*No \*\* ---
**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:** [June 10, 2019, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3605 "2019-06-10T23:14:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **To be clear: The question about ethics was a factual question, but reasonable people might still disagree about the answer. Correct?** \*\*I think I gave the wrong answer. The correct factual answer to the question to me is not debatable, so reasonable people and unreasonable people would probably not disagree. I meant that reasonable people might disagree if they do not know the answer I intend. But once they do know the answer I intend they could not reasonably disagree. Sorry. It is difficult. Say I tell you I was born in Richmond and I ask you where Richmond is. You could say Virginia, Indiana or California. All are right. Reasonable people could give different answers to my question. But only one is the one I intended. I meant it sort of like that. \*\* ---
**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:** [June 10, 2019, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3606 "2019-06-10T23:16:55Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Was the request that you leave and not come back related to your legal or regulatory ability to be present? **Yes, sort of.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3607 "2019-06-11T00:02:02Z")
Is the riddle related to voting? ---
**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:** [June 11, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3608 "2019-06-11T03:23:29Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Is the riddle related to voting? \*\*No \*\* ---
**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:** [June 11, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3609 "2019-06-11T17:56:10Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > \*\*I think I gave the wrong answer. The correct factual answer to the question to me is not debatable, so reasonable people and unreasonable people would probably not disagree. I meant that reasonable people might disagree if they do not know the answer I intend. But once they do know the answer I intend they could not reasonably disagree. Sorry. > > It is difficult. Say I tell you I was born in Richmond and I ask you where Richmond is. You could say Virginia, Indiana or California. All are right. Reasonable people could give different answers to my question. But only one is the one I intended. I meant it sort of like that. \*\* Here is a better example. I am talking to a group of people and say I am from the South. Someone asks me where I am from and I say the south. Joe: You are from the south, where in the south? Me: I was born in Richmond **Joe: Where is Richmond?** Fred: Richmond is in Indiana. Sue: No, Richmond is in California. Bart: I have not heard of Richmond. Me: Richmond is in Virginia. Reasonable people could disagree about the answer to Joe’s question, but in the context given it is unlikely reasonable people should disagree. In the original puzzle it is given that none of the people know the answer to my last question but they know the context. So that was the kind of confusion I was trying to relay. Nothing more or less. And none of this is really important to solving the riddle anyway. Sorry for the distraction. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3610 "2019-06-11T18:17:40Z")
Is it about sports? ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3611 "2019-06-11T18:42:34Z")
Was the gathering some kind of official state business? Town business? Federal business? ---
**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:** [June 11, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3612 "2019-06-11T19:38:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Is it about sports? \*\*No \*\* ---
**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:** [June 11, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3613 "2019-06-11T19:39:56Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Was the gathering some kind of official state business? Town business? Federal business? \*\*No to all \*\* ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3614 "2019-06-12T20:13:45Z")
Did the group that was asked the questions have a specific identifier (i.e. they were not just a group of strangers, they were a group of people with a specific interest or occupation, or were present for a specific reason)? Would figuring out the nature of the group help to solve the puzzle? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3615 "2019-06-13T03:15:43Z")
**Answer to SpoilerVirgin** : Did the group that was asked the questions have a specific identifier (i.e. they were not just a group of strangers, they were a group of people with a specific interest or occupation, or were present for a specific reason)? **Yes** Would figuring out the nature of the group help to solve the puzzle? **Yes** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3616 "2019-06-13T04:09:17Z")
Did the people at the gathering all have the same or similar occupation? Did the people belong to a particular political party or affiliation? Did the people all support a particular political cause? Did the people belong to a particular protected class (race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc.)? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2019, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3617 "2019-06-13T07:06:16Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Did the people at the gathering all have the same or similar occupation? > > Did the people belong to a particular political party or affiliation? > > Did the people all support a particular political cause? > > Did the people belong to a particular protected class (race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc.)? **No to all.** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3618 "2019-06-13T15:41:50Z")
Did the people at the gathering all live in the same location (same city, or same street, or same neighborhood, etc.)? Is this relevant to the puzzle? Were the people at the gathering all members of a specific organization? Did the people at the gathering all have the same hobby or recreational interest? Were the people at the gathering all connected in some way to the same educational institution? Did the people at the gathering all receive services from the same organization? Is the connection between the people at the gathering related to a government entity or activity? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3619 "2019-06-13T16:13:29Z")
**reply to SpoilerVirgin** Did the people at the gathering all live in the same location (same city, or same street, or same neighborhood, etc.)? Is this relevant to the puzzle? **No** Were the people at the gathering all members of a specific organization? **No** Did the people at the gathering all have the same hobby or recreational interest? **Yes. Sort of I guess** Were the people at the gathering all connected in some way to the same educational institution? **No** Did the people at the gathering all receive services from the same organization? **No** Is the connection between the people at the gathering related to a government entity or activity? **No** ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3620 "2019-06-13T18:51:43Z")
Are the people at the gathering all interested in a specific form of entertainment (T.V., movies, video games, etc.)? Do the people at the gathering all do a specific type of activity (crocheting, woodworking, paint-by-number, playing an instrument, etc.)? Do the people at the gathering all have an interest in something more practical (they all need to repair their cars, or obtain medical services, or get haircuts, etc.)? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3621 "2019-06-13T20:12:54Z")
**Reply to SpoilerVirgin** Are the people at the gathering all interested in a specific form of entertainment (T.V., movies, video games, etc.)? **Yes** Do the people at the gathering all do a specific type of activity (crocheting, woodworking, paint-by-number, playing an instrument, etc.)? **No** Do the people at the gathering all have an interest in something more practical (they all need to repair their cars, or obtain medical services, or get haircuts, etc.)? **No** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=180) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=182)