# 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:** 87
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1721 "2017-09-28T22:16:33Z")
I thought of a subway ages ago but the non-human animal clue put me off. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1722 "2017-10-03T22:56:52Z")
Been a few days, so here is one. Not my top stuff, but here we go anyhow: **Someone asks their neighbor to walk their dog for them that afternoon. The next day, both people change their apartment door locks. Why?** ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1723 "2017-10-03T23:53:53Z")
1. Did they somehow discover that their keys could unlock both apartments? 2. Did they somehow lose their keys? 3. Did they somehow temporarily lose possession of their keys (leading to the risk that the keys may have been duplicated)? 4. Did the dog swallow the keys? 5. Is the time of day relevant? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1724 "2017-10-04T00:11:27Z")
Were any items from either apartment missing after the walk? Were any items from either apartment destroyed after the walk? Did the dog’s behavior change in any way after the walk? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1725 "2017-10-04T01:07:32Z")
[quote=“Lord\_Mondegreen, post:1723, topic:790868”] 1. Did they somehow discover that their keys could unlock both apartments? [QUOTE] Yes. Sorry, this one was not up to snuff. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1726 "2017-10-04T03:31:25Z")
Sorry, that was just a really lucky guess. Didn’t mean to spoil the fun - I was looking forward to the challenge. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1727 "2017-10-04T13:52:19Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Sorry, that was just a really lucky guess. Didn’t mean to spoil the fun - I was looking forward to the challenge. It’s cool, I was just trying to keep this going and I heard that the other day. I can try and look for a better one at a later date. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1728 "2017-10-04T14:53:39Z")
Don’t know if this will go anywhere, but it is kind of interesting and was new to me… **Because a US President had a hobby, a boy supposedly died near the White House. Anybody know about this?** ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1729 "2017-10-04T18:27:31Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > **Because a US President had a hobby, a boy supposedly died near the White House. Anybody know about this?** Does “died” mean the end of life, as in what we typically call “dying” and becoming “dead”? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1730 "2017-10-04T18:33:56Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does “died” mean the end of life, as in what we typically call “dying” and becoming “dead”? Yes. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1731 "2017-10-04T18:47:05Z")
These seem to be a good start, in my mind: Did the boy die directly because of something the president specifically did? Did the boy die directly because of something someone helping the president with his hobby did? Did the boy die directly because of something that those protecting the presidents did? Did the boy die because of something the president didn’t do (or wasn’t present for)? Did the boy die because of something someone helping the president with his hobby didn’t do? Did the boy die because of something those protecting the president didn’t do? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1732 "2017-10-04T19:00:01Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > These seem to be a good start, in my mind: > > Did the boy die directly because of something the president specifically did? > Did the boy die directly because of something someone helping the president with his hobby did? > Did the boy die directly because of something that those protecting the presidents did? > > Did the boy die because of something the president didn’t do (or wasn’t present for)? > Did the boy die because of something someone helping the president with his hobby didn’t do? > Did the boy die because of something those protecting the president didn’t do? Did the boy die directly because of something the president specifically did? **No** Did the boy die directly because of something someone helping the president with his hobby did? \*\*No \*\* Did the boy die directly because of something that those protecting the presidents did? \*\*No \*\* Did the boy die because of something the president didn’t do (or wasn’t present for)? \*\*Yes. \*\* Did the boy die because of something someone helping the president with his hobby didn’t do? \*\*No \*\* Did the boy die because of something those protecting the president didn’t do? \*\*No \*\* ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1733 "2017-10-04T20:30:16Z")
Is this hobby, when engaged in correctly, dangerous to the hobbyist? Is this hobby, when engaged in correctly, dangerous to people other than the hobbyist? Is this hobby, when engaged in incorrectly (e.g., without proper safety precautions), dangerous to the hobbyist? Is this hobby, when engaged in incorrectly, dangerous to people other than the hobbyist? Was it widely known that this president engaged in this hobby? Is it relevant whether it was widely known that the President engaged in this hobby? Could a similar situation have occurred if the hobbyist were some other famous, respected individual? Could a similar situation have occurred if the hobbyist had been neither famous nor respected? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1734 "2017-10-04T20:34:04Z")
Just to try to ferret out any trickery (what, **Biotop** engage in trickery?): Was the “US President” the President of the United States? (as opposed, for instance, to a president of a company who happened to be American). Was the “white house” the Executive Mansion of the United States? In the phrase “a boy supposedly died near the White House.”: Did the boy “supposedly” die? Was the boy “supposedly” near the White House? Was the boy’s death “supposedly” because of the President’s hobby? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1735 "2017-10-04T20:49:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is this hobby, when engaged in correctly, dangerous to the hobbyist? > > Is this hobby, when engaged in correctly, dangerous to people other than the hobbyist? > > Is this hobby, when engaged in incorrectly (e.g., without proper safety precautions), dangerous to the hobbyist? > > Is this hobby, when engaged in incorrectly, dangerous to people other than the hobbyist? > > Was it widely known that this president engaged in this hobby? > > Is it relevant whether it was widely known that the President engaged in this hobby? > > Could a similar situation have occurred if the hobbyist were some other famous, respected individual? > > Could a similar situation have occurred if the hobbyist had been neither famous nor respected? Is this hobby, when engaged in correctly, dangerous to the hobbyist? **No.** Is this hobby, when engaged in correctly, dangerous to people other than the hobbyist? **No.** Is this hobby, when engaged in incorrectly (e.g., without proper safety precautions), dangerous to the hobbyist? **No. I wouldn’t have thought so. But I guess it could be.** Is this hobby, when engaged in incorrectly, dangerous to people other than the hobbyist? \*\*I wouldn’t have really thought so until I read about the supposed incident(s). It hardly seems risky. \*\* Was it widely known that this president engaged in this hobby? \*\*Not sure. I guess people would have had to have known. \*\* Is it relevant whether it was widely known that the President engaged in this hobby? **No** Could a similar situation have occurred if the hobbyist were some other famous, respected individual? \*\*Yes \*\* Could a similar situation have occurred if the hobbyist had been neither famous nor respected? \*\*Yes. \*\* ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1736 "2017-10-04T20:53:42Z")
Was the hobby napping? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1737 "2017-10-04T20:57:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just to try to ferret out any trickery (what, **Biotop** engage in trickery?): > > Was the “US President” the President of the United States? (as opposed, for instance, to a president of a company who happened to be American). > > Was the “white house” the Executive Mansion of the United States? > > In the phrase “a boy supposedly died near the White House.”: > Did the boy “supposedly” die? > Was the boy “supposedly” near the White House? > Was the boy’s death “supposedly” because of the President’s hobby? _Trickery_? Not this time. Was the “US President” the President of the United States? (as opposed, for instance, to a president of a company who happened to be American). \*\*Yes \*\* Was the “white house” the Executive Mansion of the United States? \*\*Yes \*\* In the phrase “a boy supposedly died near the White House.”: Did the boy “supposedly” die? **Yes.** Was the boy “supposedly” near the White House? \*\*Yes \*\* Was the boy’s death “supposedly” because of the President’s hobby? **Yes.** ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1738 "2017-10-04T20:59:02Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was the hobby napping? **No.** ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1739 "2017-10-04T21:10:57Z")
Is the hobby golfing? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/1740 "2017-10-04T21:13:48Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is the hobby golfing? **No.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=86) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=88)