Story by Fungai Jachi
BENEATH the scorching Lowveld sun, a rusting bicycle stands motionless on a parking rack in Triangle, silently defying the passage of time.
For nearly three years, the bicycle has remained chained to the same spot, not because it is secured by a lock or guarded by security personnel, but because nobody appears willing to take it away.
What began as an abandoned bicycle in 2023 has evolved into one of Triangle’s most enduring local mysteries, drawing curious glances from residents and visitors alike.
Despite occupying a public space, the bicycle remains untouched. Its tyres have weathered, rust has begun to creep across its frame, yet it continues to stand exactly where it was left.
The story surrounding it has become part of local folklore.
According to residents, the bicycle was allegedly stolen in 2023 before being returned a few days later under unusual circumstances. Community members claim the alleged thief brought it back after experiencing a string of unexplained misfortunes.
Since then, the bicycle has acquired an almost mythical status.
“We have seen the bicycle here for a long time, and no one dares to take it away because of the stories surrounding it. People are not afraid to park their own bicycles next to it; the belief is that the problem only affects anyone who tries to remove it from its spot,” a resident said.
Others insist there is nothing unusual about touching the bicycle. The alleged trouble, they say, begins only when someone attempts to take it away.
“I have been working here for years, and I have touched the bicycle many times, but nothing has ever happened to me. However, there was a man who took it recently. A few days later, his mother brought it back, claiming that something mysterious had happened after he took it,” a worker said.
As the bicycle continues to age in plain sight, some residents believe the time has come for authorities to step in.
“If possible, the authorities should make arrangements to remove the bicycle because it is taking up space and is no longer a pleasant sight. The bike is now old and rusty, and it appears that no one is coming to claim it,” a community member said.
For others, the bicycle serves as more than a curiosity.
“Seeing this bicycle here and hearing the stories surrounding it serves as a reminder not to steal, as there are always consequences for wrongdoing,” a local resident said.
Whether it is simply an abandoned bicycle forgotten by its owner or the centrepiece of one of Triangle’s most persistent legends remains open to debate.
What is beyond dispute is that nearly three years after it first appeared, the bicycle continues to capture the imagination of an entire community.
And as the mystery deepens with each passing day, one question still lingers over Triangle:
Who will be brave enough to remove it?
