Bicyclist in my building can strap their rides to a set of bike racks in the underground garage. We were restricted to one, initially, while the delivery guys at the corner restaurant used the other. When the restaurant went out of business, the commuters got the bike rack. Then a third was added. We cyclists, often crammed handlebar-to-handlebar, were living large.
This riding season, our first bicycle rack has been taken from us. Someone hung a sign on it that says “Please do not use this bike rack.” You can kinda see it above. Now, something it helps to understand: That bicycle rack isn’t attached to the floor. It’s not bound in cement. You can pick it up, you can move it. You can get rid of it. Presumably, whoever hung that sign could have moved the rack or thrown it out.
Instead, a decision was made to hang, on a bicycle rack, a very formal-looking sign that says “Please do not use this bike rack.” Think of a parking meter that says, “Do not park here.”
That’s not all. You’ll see there’s a bike locked up to the rack. Apparently in defiance. The bike’s been there for months. Months. Apparently, if you defy the sign, nothing happens to you.
I’m trying to figure out how all this came to be. Who in the building decided that the bike rack shouldn’t no longer be used, but under no circumstances must be disposed of and moved? So a sign forbidding its use turned out the be the only answer?
And who is the brave soul who decided to fight back against this administrative nonsense, in their own act of defiance?
It’s the point at which some combination of stubbornness, defiance and stupidity have come together. You be the judge which is winning.
Comments
mr g.
i know this bike rack and area very well, and you just reminded me that my bike lock is still attached to one of the pipes down there! if i give you the key, will you remove the chain and hold it for safe keeping? that puppy cost me $90.
ff
Posted by: fionda | May 23, 2007 10:09 AM
Sure thing, FF. You know where to find me!
Posted by: Mr. Guapo | May 23, 2007 10:58 AM
Maybe they don't want you to lock your bikes to it because it's not a bike rack, it's a steel barricade. Conceivably, they may want it to be free of bikes, but not want to throw it out, so that they can block a space or lane of traffic in the garage.
When deciding to lock your bicycle to a steel barricade, there are a nunmber of factors to consider:
(1) is it in use? Chain your bicycle to a steel barricade lining fifth avenue on Columbus Day, you're going to get yelled at by the cops or they'll just take it when they take the barricade.
(2) are there other bicycles chained to it? If there are a lot of bikes chained to it, somebody won't be able to just pick it up and toss it in the back of a van. See the steel barricades on 43rd street outside 1501 Broadway MC.
(3) Is it welded or bolted together? Some steel barricades have the bottom tube bolted on and the vertical tubes are simply stuck into holes at the top and bottom of the frame. Never chain your bicycle to a steel barricade like this for more than a couple minutes and make sure the tubes you choose are set firmly. Basically, given a little time, anybody could pry the tubes loose and slip the chain out.
Posted by: hellx | May 23, 2007 3:19 PM