NYPD Can Now Remove All Bikes Locked to Signposts
photo by Martha Cooper c/o Gothamist
Okay, so looks like the NYPD didn’t sell your bike on ebay or give ‘em away to kids. Gothamist has word that bike owners can pick them up between the wonderfully convenient hours of 4am and 12pm at the 7th Precinct. But don’t think you can just walk in and claim that Huffy!
We were told that bike owners can appear as early as 4 a.m., and that there is “a special way” of determining that each bike is returned to its lawful owner. Cyclists will be asked to describe their bikes, but the cop who spoke with us said you should also bring a photo of you with the bike.
But here’s the best part. When asked if there were any signs that told cyclists not to lock their bikes up on the President’s route yesterday, a cop responded defensively, saying, “You’re not supposed to lock you bike to signposts anyway, they have those new bike racks you’re supposed to use.”
Fantastic news! That sounds like the NYPD considers itself authorized to steal any bicycle not locked to a city-sanctioned bike rack and bury it fifteen deep on the back of a truck.
Think that rule applies to bikes loaded up on fences at the Waterfront shows? Let’s hope not!
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on this blog before, but I’m a long-time reader. I’m sorry my first time commenting is to disagree with you but… the NYPD are not out to get you. They are hard-working guys with personalities and families and consciences, and the people who lock their bikes to signposts know they aren’t supposed to. I’m also betting the majority of bikes they’ve taken were locked to their respective public property for a long time if the NYPD managed to snag them. And are those hours really that inconvenient…? Do you really expect NYPD to pay people to sit there and hand out illegally parked property around the clock? Frankly, I’m surprised they aren’t charging an impound fee. If your bike was taken, then you should just accept that you did something illegal and take the consequences.
Zach,
A. There are not enough bike locks in the city to warrant throwing every bike locked up to a sign post, of which there are many, on a truck.
B. It’s one day, only one day, and before noon. So yes.
C. No, but they could’ve put up the flyers that say something to the effect of, “Don’t park here on Thursday because the fucking President is here.”
D. I hope your bike gets taken.
Thanks for reading!
Hi Brian, you don’t have to worry about my bike. I have never seen the need to lock my bike to a signpost so I don’t think I need to worry about the cops taking it. I was just reflecting that it is kind of fortunate they only did this the one time – they could be dicks and just go down the street trolling for bikes every day (and they would be within their rights to do so), but instead they waited until the one time they thought it was necessary.
Thanks for blogging
One other thing – I lived in Munich, Germany for several years, and if you ever locked your bike to a signpost there – God help you. You’d probably be fined, thrown in lockup for a night, and asked to leave the country. And forget ever seeing your bike again…
that is totally messed up. why does NYPD insist on fucking with bicyclists while at the same time the fucking mayor and government are supposed to be encouraging non-motorized transit???
fuck the NYPD. for every bike they STEAL, a cop car should be stolen. Stand up for yourselves!!!!
i bet the whole bomb in the bike frame idea was a last minute thought that had no time for a 24 hour “no bicycle parking” posting. The least they could have done was post a “Your bike is here and why”. My hope is next time, they will be more prepared with postings so no one even parks there, save taxpayers money and discriminating against bicyclists.
Side bar: imagine if they did this with cars – which are parked on public property.
If anything, the city needs to teach bike awareness through public policy stop including …stop building dangerous bike lanes in manhattan and using them for public vehicles and enforce laws on stupid delivery guys going wrong ways with no lights.
Zach, do you live in NYC? Are you aware of how little public bike parking there actually is?
This is terrible. Bikes are no nuisance to signposts, but it’s the law. OK. Abide by the law. Clearly the city believes that there are ample parking places for bikes, and that there is no reason for a biker to chain to a signpost except laziness or a malicious attitude towards the law, right?
Maybe with all the fines they’re collecting on bicyclists, they’ll provide more racks in all the highly bike-trafficked areas. Yeah.
In sincerity, the solution is for all the bikers to rage for more racks throughout the city… Start with a minimum demand: one for every car parking space would be fair, no?
p.s. my captcha for this post was “government cynics.”
Education: According to Transportation Alternatives, the alleged illegality of locking bikes to signposts etc., is an inaccurate interpretation of the law; the issue at least, is not explicitly addressed in existing law. I don’t know whether the relevant law’s been changed, rather than interpreted according to convenience of the interpreter. But, according to Transportation Alternatives:
“There is no City or State law that prohibits or affirms people‚Äôs right to lock their bicycles to public street
fixtures According to New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 24, Section 1115, one
may not alter, knock down, cover, remove, or interfere with the operation of public traffic signals
and signs and other street fixtures. It is against New York City law to lock a bicycle to a tree
because the bicycle and lock could harm and potentially kill the tree.
A bicycle resting on the sidewalk, locked to a traffic signal pole or signpost, lamppost, parking
meter, bus stop poles and other public street fixtures does not interfere with the operation of these
things and, thus is not against the law. Locking to non-bike rack fixtures is not ideal, but due to
the lack of DOT-installed racks, it is often the only viable option.”