San Rafael, CA patient suffers theft of recumbent tricycle

San Rafael, CA patient suffers theft of recumbent tricycle Marin Independent Journal

A San Rafael, CA woman with Parkinson’s disease is hoping someone will help her recover her stolen recumbent Tricycle.

Marilyn Muyner, 72, who lives at a seniors’ community in Terra Linda, had the bike stolen earlier this month from a locked courtyard behind the apartments. A bicycle lock securing it was removed.

“She has been very depressed since it happened, and that’s not good for her given her condition; it affects her other motor skills,” said Janet Sandoval, who has been working as Muyner’s in-home health support worker since August.

Sandoval spoke on behalf of Muyner, who sometimes has difficulty making herself understood because of her disease. Sandoval said Muyner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when she was 50 and has had the same bike since. Sandoval said the tricycle was Muyner’s main form of exercise because of her difficulties with balance.

For people with Parkinson’s disease, exercise is a vital component to maintaining balance, mobility and activities of daily living, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Research has demonstrated that exercise and physical activity can improve many symptoms of Parkinson’s.

The red, ICE brand tricycle is valued at $4,000, and Muyner can’t afford to replace it.

San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink said bike thefts are a big problem in San Rafael and throughout much of the Bay Area. He said thieves often disassemble the bikes and sell off the parts.

Fink said that since January, San Rafael police have received 30 reports of stolen bikes and only six have been recovered.

The San Rafael Police Department is storing 36 bikes that came into its possession either because they were found or were in the possession of someone who was arrested, Fink said. The department will soon Donate 11 of the bikes to Trips for Kids, a national youth development bicycling organization founded in San Rafael in 1988.

The department uses police reports and serial numbers to try to return the bikes to their rightful owners before giving them away.

As for Muyner’s tricycle, Fink said, “we have no leads at this time.”

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