Runaway Carts: A Frightening Epidemic

New Site for Runaway Carts on Facebook

2011-02-18T17:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Runaway-Carts/135703363163190

or just go to facebook and search for "Runaway Carts", can't miss it :)

WARNING: this entry contains graphic images. Viewer discretion advised.

2009-12-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

Folks...I can't express the pain in my heart over what I saw today in Hammonton, New Jersey. I wanted to look away, but for the purposes of this blog and chronicling the plight of carts nationwide (and worldwide), I had to document it.

This past weekend's snowstorm brought forth tragic consequences for the carts you're about to see. This is not for the faint of heart.

There are no words. Please, spare a moment of silence for those lost due to this historic snowstorm.

Caring for carts in inclement weather.

2009-12-21T16:48:00.000-08:00

If you live in the Northeastern United States, you are aware of the epic snowstorm we had this past weekend.

But you probably aren't aware of the unseen victims of this December blizzard.

Just one of several I saw over the past few days:

It appears it was waiting for a bus that never came...

Cart in the water...

2009-12-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

This cart was unceremoniously dumped in the Rideau river (under the Cummings bridge) in Vanier(Ottawa), Ontario

A month later....it is now submerged and is likely to remain there for it's eternal repose.

More carts on TV!

2009-11-21T12:31:00.001-08:00

Caught on MTV's "True Life: I'm Homeless."

Ronnie, who is homeless and hitching from New York to California, is seen here subjecting a poor lost cart to involuntary cart servitude!

I don't care if you are homeless, CARTS ARE NOT CHAIRS. We can't say this enough!!!

A three cart entry!

2009-11-15T22:46:00.000-08:00

Friday night was my birthday. I ate some delicious pho in Merchantville, NJ, bought some flavorful new teas at Teavana, but my night was marred by the site in the parking lot Pho 38 shares with an Asian supermarket.

These carts were heinously left out in the lot after the store had closed. Who knows what happened to these carts on that rainy, cold night?

Then, on Saturday, I went out to eat with my family. On the way back from the diner, I saw this guy in front of yet another sketchy Lindenwold apartment building:

It's getting close to winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the year draws to a close, keep these lost cart souls in your heart, please!

Lost souls!

2009-11-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

My cousin is the best cart photographer of all time-OF ALL TIME! :) Thanks Hunter!

A cart in the shadows, oooh...

Carts prefer unfried KFC chicken!

This one is my favorite!

Carts on TV

2009-11-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

So I was watching "Property Virgins" on HGTV, and spotted this:

This poor cart has resorted to squatting in basements!

Where the Wild Carts Are

2009-11-06T10:31:00.001-08:00

That's right ! They are hiding in the woods by the Rideau river in the Ottawa neighbourhood of Vanier...

This one is nicely rusted

Abandoned cart at the Goodwill!

2009-11-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the crappy shot, but my phone's camera can only do so much at night!

Here's a cart I saw in the parking lot of the Goodwill in Stratford, NJ.

Seeking assistance, perhaps?

Sorry for the lull in posts lately...

2009-10-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a cart I saw waiting for the bus on the White Horse Pike in Lawnside, New Jersey.

Sicklerville, NJ

2009-10-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to the Cape May County Zoo with my family. On the way home, we stopped at Checkers in Sicklerville, NJ on Cross Keys Road and I saw this guy in the parking lot:

Carts on Google Street View

2009-10-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

Soooo....

Ottawa finally got Google Street View.

My first thought on this was "Hey, maybe this could help us locate lost carts !" Well, it did ! In a very short time I had identified 2 lonely carts captured by the street view cameras. Sadly the driver did not stop to offer assistance. Both of these where found In the neighborhood of Vanier in Ottawa, Canada.

Blossom

APPALLING

2009-10-07T16:24:00.001-07:00

This picture is a bit different, as the cart has not left the parking lot...

HOWEVER! A cart in a parking lot shouldn't be treated in so callous a manner!

This poor cart...he really is just one step up from being used as a chair.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR CARTS!!

Cart Updates!!

2009-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I ride by places I've seen carts which have been featured here at Runaway Carts. More often than not, these carts go missing. It's a sad, sad thing. So many carts go missing, never to be heard from again.

This entry is an update of the cart spotted on September 9, the one spotted in the senior residence facility in Blackwood, New Jersey.

As you can see, it's still there! I see it on my way to class nearly everyday. It's heartbreaking. Someone stole this cart from it's corral and then proceeded to abandon it! Who does that??

Also related to the September 9 entry...the sketchy apartment building featured in that entry is now runaway cart free! I'm not sure what happened...I hope there wasn't a raid!

Lindenwold, NJ: Haven for Cart Crime

2009-09-30T18:40:00.001-07:00

This is a really bad picture, and I apologize, but I've seen this cart in Lindenwold along the White Horse Pike on my way to school every day this week.

It's been carelessly discarded near these sketchy apartments (Lindenwold is full of sketchy apartments, FYI).

When will people wake up??

Introducing the Feral Shopping Carts ( my first blog post, evah !!! )

2009-09-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Blossom here.

I live in Canada's capital, Ottawa. I founded a group called the Feral Shopping Cart Society in order to track the infamous feral cart(mostly in my neighbourhood of Vanier, but elsewhere as well). I have been doing this on Facebook for almost a year now and have compiled an extensive research portfolio that I will be sharing with you periodically. This is my first blog post ever so bear with me if the formatting is a little wonky.

Welcome to Vanier, a neighbourhood in the centre of Ottawa Canada that has a large feral cart population.

Thanks for letting me share with you

and.....

Ye Olde Shopping Cart, Candid Cart Wrangler Photo Op, Exciting News

2009-09-23T19:26:00.001-07:00

I feel fortunate to have seen the below photo of what appears to be an ANCIENT SHOPPING CART. It was at a local elementary school...I could have gotten a better photo but I was afraid of seeming creepy (kids were still being dropped off for school, etc). As you can see, this cart is constructed of pieces of wood, instead of the newer steel or plastic!

Speaking of creepy, I was able to inconspicuously capture this photo of a local shopping cart wrangler. I know he's just a kid trying to make some money, but I still wonder if he ever feels bad for forcing these carts into their corrals, loading them up with groceries, etc.

Lastly, some exciting news! Fellow runaway and wild carts awareness group, The Feral Shopping Cart, may soon be contributing to the Runaway Carts blog! Runaway Carts is excited to partner with another fine group to help bring about change in the lives of carts everywhere.

Can one cart make a difference?

2009-09-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

This New York based cart seems to have found a way to contribute to society as a Nanny! Perhaps this represents the seeds of a new generation that will be able to accept and value carts?

Is your home a prison for runaway carts?

2009-09-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

I hate to play the blame game, but it seems that condominium and apartment dwellers are turning a blind eye to shopping carts that have gone astray. Surely these residents notice the runaways on their way out the door or when checking the mail! You have to act people, be an advocate for the poor defenseless carts in your neighborhood!

Here we are at Palm Terrace Condominiums, where I was shocked to find a shopping cart turned upside down right outside the entrance to the homes...

Next I arrived at Country Club Apartments. How appalling, no real "country club" would wait idly by as not one but TWO lonely shopping carts sit outside in the rain...

Disgusted, I packed up my camera and headed home. On the way I saw this runaway cart attempting to get to the other side of road and escape the grocery-carrying abuse it had endured at the hands of Publix employees...

I pulled over and pushed it the rest of the way across the street, hugged it goodbye and told it to enjoy it's new life of freedom!

Runaway Carts Internationale

2009-09-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

It's official: Runaway Carts is HUGE in Mexico.

The following countries need to up their game: Oman, UK, Italy.

Raising awareness!!

2009-09-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I are pleased that our message of hope for runaway carts is spreading!

My friend Aly sent me this photo of a troubled cart attempting to escape oppression at a Sam's Club in Lady Lake, Florida.

When I see this poor cart...desperately trying to escape servitude...trying to attract the attention of a nearby automobile...well, it just tugs at my heartstrings. When we will wake up and bring forth change in the lives of these troubled carts??

Thanks for helping to spread awareness, Aly!

2009-09-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

This apartment building is a HOTBED of runaway cart trafficking. I will attempt to capture all of them on film tomorrow and tell their tale, but for now, here's one I saw out front of the building.

Blackwood, NJ has a serious runaway cart problem!!

2009-09-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

Here's one I saw tonight on my way home from school. It was in front of the TD Bank at Little Gloucester Rd and College Drive in Blackwood, NJ. It was by the side of the road, no doubt hustlin' or waiting for the bus.

CVS Employee resting on a defenseless cart (Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach)

2009-09-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

It was a very productive weekend for capturing stray cart photos.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Carts are not chairs!:

A hungry K-Mart cart heading over to the Boston Market drive-thru:

Another K-Mart cart, apparently unconscious...

A rare, outcasted blue K-Mart cart attempting to make it to the main road and escape prejudice:

More disturbing evidence of cart servitude outside a business in Deerfield Beach, FL:

A second cart at the Deerfield Beach business...

A mixed color cart couple found along the road in Deerfield Beach:

I'm just a cart in the world...

2009-09-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Gwen Stefani, mocking the plight of runaway carts everywhere:

First Ever Texan Runaway Cart!

2009-09-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

I proudly present to you RunawayCarts first Texan shopping cart!:

RunawayCarts is proud to represent wild Texan carts, in addition to those in Florida and New Jersey.

Good work Kathleen! :)

A Disturbing Trend: Involuntary Cart Servitude!

2009-09-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

On my way home from work I noticed TWO INSTANCES of people using carts as chairs! Using a wild cart as a chair is not only insulting, it's immoral!

Yes, you have a long wait for the bus-but DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THE CARTS, SIR!! As my cousin Hunter says-"this is a time for change!!!"

The woman pictured above is casually reading a book, totally oblivious to the suffering of the cart beneath her. Please, photograph and report instances of such abuse to runawaycarts whenever possible! And remember-CARTS ARE NOT CHAIRS.

Two more lost cart souls! Coral Springs, FL

2009-09-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

I saw this little guy in an apartment complex across the street from Chik-fil-a. He's a little leafy and it looks like his wheels are getting stuck in the grass, a perfect example of what happens when people get tired of their carts and stop taking care of them! It probably wasn't necessary to put an arrow in this photo, but I like drawing arrows.

Another cart, this one laying on it's side!! How people can just walk by this poor creature and do nothing to help it is beyond me!

More runaways from the Garden State!!

2009-09-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here are two more I saw on my way to school today!

This one was in the parking lot of a sketchy apartment building in Lindenwold, NJ.

And one in the parking lot of a seniors residence in Blackwood, NJ!

Sometimes carts are forced into a lifetime of involuntary servitude. I was unprepared, but I witnessed a man dragging a cart from behind some bushes and forcing it to carry his groceries!

Runaway Carts of Broward County!

2009-09-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

I was watching a very special episode of "Police Women of Broward County" when I noticed this little guy hanging out at a suspects house. Kind of feels like cheating to take the picture from a TV show, but it IS my county, and this blog is all about putting the spotlight on troubled carts.

Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach FL

2009-09-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Another sad runaway cart on Atlantic Blvd., near the Wendy's. He was probably just trying to find some change or runaway french fries.

Atlantic Blvd & SE 24 Avenue, Pompano Beach

2009-09-05T11:41:00.001-07:00

It took three u-turns to get this picture! I've finally learned that you can't take a good photo just driving by, so from now on I'm turning into the cross street...then taking the pic as I turn right to get back onto the main road.

This is a problem for the whole nation!

2009-09-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here's one that was spotted at the PATCO High Speedline station in Lindenwold, New Jersey.

These carts were raised in the projects...

2009-08-28T17:51:00.001-07:00

On my way back from lunch with my mom, we made a u-turn in a partically busy area of Pompano, near some apartment complexes. It turns out this was another hotspot for runaway carts! Here we are approaching one cart to get a photo...

And the cart! :)

A plethera of news and photo's!

2009-08-28T17:32:00.001-07:00

Today I received a mini shopping cart from my Aunt Kathleen! The superhero and villain action figures love riding in it....

But I find some of it's other actions so far very irresponsible:
Exhibit A: Shopping cart crashing into Memaw's car!

Exhibit B: Shopping cart running over Hunter's foot! :O

Thanks Aunt Kathleen!! :-)

In other news, the blog has it's first follower-Hunter! Woo.

Lost carts in the workplace!

2009-08-25T15:01:00.001-07:00

Found an old Eckerd's cart in the warehouse at work, of all places! I must agree with Jessica that this cart looks as though it's fallen in with a rough crowd.

A rare gray Walmart cart., Coral Springs FL

2009-08-24T16:40:00.001-07:00

I wasn't even out looking for a random shopping cart, but I saw one!! Hidden in this trash-bin walled off area next to Bonefish Grill.

The runaway next door!

2009-08-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes runaway shopping carts can be as close as your grandmother's neighbors house! This cart appeared in their yard about two weeks ago, and we figured kids left it there. It's still around though, and I'm still wondering what they need it for! At least it was easier to get a picture of, though!

Hammondville/Martin Luther King, Jr. Road, Pompano Beach FL-again

2009-08-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

It will take more than flooding to keep me from photographing stray carts!

Hammondville/Martin Luther King, Jr. Road, Pompano Beach FL

2009-08-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

It started raining some, unfortunately, but I still managed to get an OK photo of this cart. Was mostly concerned with all the people in the neighborhood catching me being a cart stalker.

Old people communities=lots of carts

2009-08-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

A good shot of my arm also. Never attempt to drive and photograph shopping carts at the same time, always have help like I did. :)

Lovers on the run!

2009-08-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable luck-a sighting of two shopping carts out on the run together. I learned that this area near Oriole Garden's (55 and up community) is a hotspot for random shopping carts!

1st wild shopping cart sighting in South Florida!

2009-08-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

This was taken somewhere along NW 31 Street ve

1st wild shopping cart sighting in South Florida! NW 31st Street, Coral Springs FL

2009-08-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

This was taken somewhere along NW 31 Street in Coral Springs, FL. Everyone in the car was ecstatic to find a wild shopping cart so quickly. Believe this to be a Sears cart, but can't be sure!