A light bicycle wheel that’s on the loose can be an emergency solution, but a broken bike chain can leave you stranded in traffic for days.
That’s exactly what happened to a bike-wearing commuter in Santa Cruz, California, when he was stuck in traffic on Interstate 5 on Thursday night.
According to KQED, a local station, the bike chain broke off on his bike when he went out for a ride.
When he went to grab his bike and pull it into a parking lot, he realized he was stranded and called police.
Santa Cruz police told KQES they believe the chain broke after a collision with a truck.
“It broke off and we don’t know where it went, but we’re not sure of the severity of the damage,” Sgt. Andrew Ritchie said.
The Santa Cruz Police Department told KVUE that the chain was in the shop’s frame, and it wasn’t in the frame when the accident occurred.
It is believed that the bike was stolen in Santa Barbara, California.
“We don’t believe it’s stolen from the shop,” Sgt Ritchie told KUER.
“He’s not sure if it’s the shop or someone else.
If we do have to pursue this, it’s not the type of person that’s going to get out of it.”
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said they are investigating the accident, which happened just before 7 p.m. on I-5.