There’s no free ride anymore in Olympia. At least, not on a hot-pink bike.

Olympia’s public bike project, like similar ones in Spokane and Portland, fell victim this month to humanity’s darker instincts, said Mike Cobb, project organizer.

Under the program, anyone could climb onto one of the project’s bicycles and use it before leaving it for the next rider.

But between 50 and 80 of the gaudy, rebuilt bikes have disappeared in the past two years, prompting organizers to quit.

“This has been a big waste of human energy and natural resources,” Cobb said.

Looking at the bright side, he said many of the missing bikes may be providing fun, clean transportation to their new owners.

“I can feel happy about this to some degree - if someone is actually riding the bikes,” Cobb said.