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June 9, 2009

Time Limit to Bike Parking?

Does anyone know if there's a limit to how long a person is allowed to keep his bike locked up to a public bike rack? It's an admittedly small gripe in the grand scheme of things, but someone locked up this Ross in our preferred parking spot in Dumbo a few weeks ago and has yet to return for it. Bike parking's at a premium around our office building and at a certain point this violates the social contract, no?

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Comments

Is there a reason you can't lock another bike to the other side???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 9, 2009 10:03 AM

You can--but it simply reduces the number of already scarce parking spots...

Posted by: brownstoner at June 9, 2009 10:07 AM

Boo-hoo.

Posted by: Yllebdael at June 9, 2009 10:09 AM

these bike racks are where old bikes go to die (and slowly get stripped). Most I see only hold remnants of what once might have been a bicycle. Eyesores really.

Posted by: Petebklyn at June 9, 2009 10:10 AM

these bike racks are where old bikes go to die (and slowly get stripped). Most I see only hold remnants of what once might have been a bicycle. Eyesores really.

Posted by: Petebklyn at June 9, 2009 10:10 AM

Parking meters work perfectly well, too.

Posted by: Kris at June 9, 2009 10:10 AM

This is what happens when a project is not fully thought out for the longer term ramifications.

Couldn't the City Council pass a law on this? Then new "bicycle maids" could be hired and they can chalk the tires and issue tickets on the honor system.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 9, 2009 10:13 AM

I guess it's not impossible that the owner fell ill (or worse). Eh, what are you gonna do.

Posted by: heck_of_a_job_brownie at June 9, 2009 10:16 AM

I think the owner of this bike ate some food at Bubbys and is still recovering.

Posted by: billyboomer at June 9, 2009 10:19 AM

The solution is more bicycle parking, not ticketing of parked bikes. Also, I don't see how you are actually blocked from using this spot -- you can lock on the other side for example.

If you've been to Amsterdam, you've seen the piles and piles of bicycles locked up everywhere possible. That's what it looks like when bicycles become a significant part of the transportation network. That should be our goal in NYC. The more bikes locked up all over the place, the better.

Posted by: southbrooklyn at June 9, 2009 10:20 AM

Lock it up to the other side, Your Brownness. Problem solved.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at June 9, 2009 10:25 AM

The photo shows a bag over the meter, so in this case with a broken meter the Ross parked there won't get a violation.

Posted by: Bklnite at June 9, 2009 10:45 AM

quote:

"our preferred parking spot"

:-/

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 10:46 AM

This is a very frustrating problem. Currently the city has no good way to deal with this. If you call 311 they will tell you that this is a local precinct problem. You need to call your local precinct and, if they feel like being responsive, the cops will come and tag the bike with note then return a week or so later to clip the lock. But if your precinct is like most precincts you will have to make multiple phone calls to get the police to lift a finger.

Over at Livable Streets Initiative we are actually building a geo web app that will, among other things, allow New Yorkers to post photos, notes and locations of abandoned bikes on a web-based map to make it easier for city government to just send someone out once a week to all the locations and address the problem in a more centralized manner. You'd also be able to use this map to request new bike racks in your neighborhood. More here:

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/05/bike-racks-coming-to-a-neighborhood-near-you/

Posted by: Streetsblog at June 9, 2009 10:48 AM

"Over at Livable Streets Initiative we are actually building a geo web app that will, among other things, allow New Yorkers to post photos, notes and locations of abandoned bikes on a web-based map to make it easier for city government to just send someone out once a week to all the locations and address the problem in a more centralized manner"

Now I've heard just about everything. :(

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 9, 2009 10:52 AM

Hey does anyone know what to do when someone has left there bike chained infront of you house.

Posted by: stonehill at June 9, 2009 10:52 AM

I don't think it's such a small gripe - that is annoying. It's also a potential for you to discover and observe this other, secret cyclist. Who are they? Where have they been for so long that they didn't need their bike? Why do they come to DUMBO? Yet another story in the naked city, yes?

Posted by: infinitejester at June 9, 2009 10:54 AM

sell it on craigslist, stonehill

and i wish people would stop bringing up amsterdam. we are NOT amsterdam and most of us dont WANT to be some flakey 4th world european city. barf!

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 10:55 AM

I understand what a social contract is, but can you explain how this violates it?

Because if you can't, it seems you don't like it when another is using a resource that you're used to enjoying. Maybe someone else feels that same way about you when you're always hogging up this spot when you bike to the office.

In any case, after enough time people will assume it's abandoned and nature (and thieves) will take its course.

Posted by: tower at June 9, 2009 11:01 AM

the social contract..... is that a Karl Marx quote?
at least you have a parking spot
my landlord who owns a block or two around Taaffe Place with hundreds of apartments doesnt provide sh** and prohibits using objects on the sidewalk....

Posted by: dutchman at June 9, 2009 11:01 AM

rob, i wish people would stop claiming that new yorkers love the traffic jams, poor air quality, and degraded street life that come with dedicating too much public space to automobiles.

Posted by: southbrooklyn at June 9, 2009 11:03 AM

Rob you really need to get over that chip on your shoulder about Europe.

Posted by: dittoburg at June 9, 2009 11:06 AM

Really????

Wow, someone's got some serious free time...

Posted by: TownhouseLady at June 9, 2009 11:06 AM

im not even pro car southbrooklyn, dont go there. i dont even have a license. cars as transportation could all disappear for all i care as well. just because i find bike issues annoying doesnt mean i am pro car.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 11:07 AM

bicycles are part of the solution to cars, rob. you seem to be annoyed that people need a way to get around. i understand you get around well on all fours, but that's just not for everybody.

Posted by: southbrooklyn at June 9, 2009 11:09 AM

bicycles are part of the solution to cars, rob. you seem to be annoyed that people need a way to get around. i understand you get around well on all fours, but that's just not for everybody.

Posted by: southbrooklyn at June 9, 2009 11:09 AM

How do you know it's been there continuously?

Posted by: mopar at June 9, 2009 11:11 AM

"Social contract" is I believe from Hobbes.

Posted by: infinitejester at June 9, 2009 11:20 AM

"Over at Livable Streets Initiative we are actually building a geo web app that will..address the problem in a more centralized manner"

Actually, that sounds like a good idea. Or, one could apply a bolt cutter at a strategic time (late at night) and do some "removal." Not that I'd ever do anything like that, I'm just saying.

Rob, "brownies" are legal in Amsterdam, among other things. I think you'd like it there. It's really a nice place.

Posted by: East New York at June 9, 2009 11:21 AM

Streetsblog is awesome! That's a great, great application. Thanks, guys!

"Hey does anyone know what to do when someone has left there bike chained infront of you house."

Seriously, I don't understand why people think it's okay to do this. It damages the ironwork, which isn't free to fix. Of course, what do jerks care, they don't pay for it, right?

When anyone chains a bike to your property, I assume you have a right to cut the chain. And probably to remove the bike from your property.

Posted by: bkrules at June 9, 2009 11:34 AM

Oh! Thats where I left my bike! I've been wondering where I left it for the past 3 weeks.

Posted by: Huffy at June 9, 2009 11:38 AM

Hey Rob, before dissing Amsterdam, you might consider actually going there first. In the meantime, I respectfully ask that you shut your piehole.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at June 9, 2009 11:41 AM

I agree with Rob re all the Amsterdam refeences, even though I guess I count as European (sort of, most of us don't want to be).

"the social contract..... is that a Karl Marx quote?'
Rousseau wrote the book and is most closely associated with the phrase, but the idea is older than that.

Posted by: etson at June 9, 2009 11:43 AM

Why do bicycles bring out the worst in people? Seriously, for each person who uses their bike to get to work in the morning, that's one less person on the already overcrowded subways. NYC should be doing more to encourage bicycle riding.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 11:44 AM

Isn't it possible this individual just moved to the area, has parked his/her bike there, and uses it when you are not around?

Just because you don't see it moved doesn't mean it doesn't.

With my schedule sometimes my vehicle might appear to never move because I leave after others and return before they do and get the same spot....

... also, why is the transportation debate always "car or bike" and nothing in between? How about powered 2 wheeled transport? Motorcycles and scooters. Just like Europe....

Posted by: christopher at June 9, 2009 11:50 AM

DH hit the nail on the head.

I've been to Amsterdam (and can somehow even remember parts of the trip) and I believe New York can learn a few things from that city, not least of which is how to make a city more bicycle friendly. Yes, it is a much less populous place, as is Copenhagen and other similar bike friendly cities, but there are still certain concepts in transportation we should be trying to implement here.

Posted by: Biff Champion at June 9, 2009 11:50 AM

Eurotrash

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 9, 2009 11:51 AM

That's my line, Dave.

Posted by: East New York at June 9, 2009 11:54 AM

"also, why is the transportation debate always "car or bike" and nothing in between? How about powered 2 wheeled transport? Motorcycles and scooters. Just like Europe...."

Isn't it even harder to find parking for a scooter in the city? You either have to park in between cars and hope they don't knock it over, or park it on the sidewalk, remove the license plate and hope some over zealous traffic cop doesn't tow it.

I agree though, also good alternatives.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 11:55 AM

> How about powered 2 wheeled transport?

Speaking of, anybody seen that guy zipping over the bridge on his Segway?

Posted by: SnarkSlope at June 9, 2009 12:11 PM

This thread is funny. I am positive that threads in Amsterdam are not this funny.

Posted by: Nomi at June 9, 2009 12:18 PM

"Speaking of, anybody seen that guy zipping over the bridge on his Segway?"

Snark, yes, I see him all the time. He's a bit portly with a beard and glasses (and portly still when he shaves and wears contacts). One of us usually passes the other at some point along the way, depending on how lazy or energetic I peddle.

Posted by: Biff Champion at June 9, 2009 12:22 PM

Livable Streets is watching YOU! Maybe they should change their name to Chairman Mao's Glorious Street Controllers.

Wow, what an overreaction to a mundane problem. Damage the ironwork? Puhhlease! What about dogs peeing on your railing? Electrify them and kill them, I say.

Posted by: cmu at June 9, 2009 12:30 PM

"piles and piles of bicycles locked up everywhere possible. That's what it looks like when bicycles become a significant part of the transportation network. That should be our goal in NYC. The more bikes locked up all over the place, the better."

What a miserable vision of the city you have.

Posted by: northsloperenter at June 9, 2009 12:30 PM

"Why do bicycles bring out the worst in people?"

Primarily, because on an asshole scale of 1-100, the average NYC driver rates about 70, and the average NYC biker rates about 98.

True story: A guy pushing a baby carriage across Atlantic is heading toward a car about to make a right hand turn and a biker accelerating along the side of the car.

All three about on a course to get pretty darn close to each other.

Two of them stop to make sure nothing unpleasant happens to anyone.

One of them doesn't stop.

Guess which one?

(hint: He was wearing spandex and would have been maimed had the car not stopped).

Posted by: northsloperenter at June 9, 2009 12:37 PM

solution: chain to other side, or walk 20ft (gasp!) across street and chain to that light pole.

NY bike thieves are the policing solution to bikes that get left out for too long.

Agree we could use more bike racks in SOME areas, but I've never had a problem finding something to lock mine to (light pole, street sign, fence, etc.).

Posted by: goldie at June 9, 2009 12:39 PM

"Over at Livable Streets Initiative we are actually building a geo web app that will..address the problem in a more centralized manner"

That sounds really smart, actually. For instance, maybe they can do something about those recurring "pot holes" on the corner of Dekalb and Washington place, which are basically a giant sinkhole under the road. They just patch it up with asphalt instead of reinforcing the road from underneath. Man, one day when that thing gives way and there's a massive car pileup, I hope i'm not walking on the sidewalk nearby . . . .

And maybe add some garbage cans to Ft Greene park for the weekend. . . . the overflow is ridiculous, and totally a sign of stupidity and lack of management.

As far as bikes go . . . I would take a saw to the lock, and if anyone asks, just say "It's my bike -- I just lost the key to my U-lock." Either you'll get yourself a nice bike, OR the owner will magically appear, as they often do when their totally abandoned and neglected property is suddenly threatened -- wasteful jackasses deserve to be robbed.

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 12:41 PM

northsloperenter, you gotta be kidding me. You have a problem with bicyclists based on that? Of course the baby carriage guy should slow down and/or stop. I'm so sick of parents literally shoving strollers into the street without looking, sometimes from in between parked cars, as if willing their little bundle of joy to be killed (subconscious breeder-remorse?). Come to think of it, I'm sick of baby carriages -- if it's too small to walk, you should be able to carry it; if it's big enough to walk, don't make it a friggin cripple in a babified wheelchair -- but that's a whole other issue. Bikes are the future (hopefully) and the sooner their numbers grow, the safer biking, walking and breathing will be; and in turn, the more their numbers will grow. It's a good vicious cycle. Unlike the automobile concept, which was never such a bright idea (see headlines).

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 12:47 PM

"Rob you really need to get over that chip on your shoulder about Europe."

First he has to go there, or at least get to PA or VA, or even the Gowanus Canal.

We could have alternate parking for bikes., ANother revenue source!

Posted by: denton at June 9, 2009 12:52 PM

NSR just cracked the code for me: if a cyclist is wearing spandex and trying to chanel Lance, chances are likely they're an asshole.

If they're in a suit with legwraps or on one of those old school French models, they'll probably actually allow you to cross when it's your turn.

Mr. B, sorry but SOMEBODY is responsible for all the bike hating.

Posted by: infinitejester at June 9, 2009 12:53 PM

iz,

Your mid-twenties jealously of children is one of the most boring tropes on the internet.

My son is 19 pounds. He cannot walk. I can carry him, but not from Park Slope to the Brooklyn Flea and back. Also, he enjoys getting to see the neighborhood.

The bicyclist in question was not a threat to me, but if the car had not stopped to allow me to cross (in the cross walk, with the light), the car would have hit the biker who was zipping alongside the car at top speed and apparently assumed the car was going straight (which it wasn't). Just example 150,289 of stupid biker tricks I've seen.

I use to commute through the Herald Square/Greeley Square area for many years. The number of dangerous, rude, obnoxious, and downright stupid things I saw bikers do was nearly limitless.

Bikes have their uses, but I gave up riding one on the city streets as it is too dangerous imo. Bikes are not the future. Bikes are for healthy energetic people.

Our society is aging and living longer, and despite the wishes of many, we do not kill off our sick and handicapped citizens.

We need more elevators and escalators at subway stations and more buses. THAT is the future of urban transportation.

Posted by: northsloperenter at June 9, 2009 1:00 PM

"Primarily, because on an asshole scale of 1-100, the average NYC driver rates about 70, and the average NYC biker rates about 98."

Since many parts of Manhattan/Brooklyn are so biker unfriendly, it is often safer for the biker not to follow traffic laws to a T. And since so many drivers have this preconceived "asshole scale" regarding bicyclists - good luck trying to use hang signals in order to cut across traffic in order to make a left hand turn.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 1:00 PM

i've been hit by a bike at LEAST 10 times living in nyc. ive yet to be hit by a car. coincidence? no. and like i said, i am NOT pro car!!!!! i just can't stand bike culture. just walk to wear you have to go, that's why we have legs you know! and public transportation. the last friggin thing i want to do is wait for 20 bikes to pass me as i get to cross the street. BARF!

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 1:02 PM

I don't see so many trouser clips nowadays. No pride.

Posted by: dittoburg at June 9, 2009 1:04 PM

nsr-
i bike every day which gives me ample time to observe myself and other bikers in relationship to pedestrians....

both pedestrians and bikers cross against red lights all the time....

the difference is that, when i cross against the red, i actually give right of way to the pedestrian (and cars obviously) who deserve it.

I cannot count how many times some pedestrian has stepped out in front of me without looking (when I have the right of way) or even worse, SEEN me and crossed in front of me anyway. What the f#$k is that!?

And that doesn't even begin to touch on all the cars parked in the bike lanes.

anyway, i think bikers would be more courteous if pedestrians paid a bit more attention/gave right of way when required.... i know the only time i've yelled at anyone is when they almost got both of us seriously injured by walking literally right in front of me when i was going 15 mph...

all that (tangent) being said: dude: just lock on the other side of the bike rack! or use a sign!

Posted by: young archi at June 9, 2009 1:06 PM

"Bikes have their uses, but I gave up riding one on the city streets as it is too dangerous imo. Bikes are not the future. Bikes are for healthy energetic people."

"just walk to wear you have to go, that's why we have legs you know! and public transportation. the last friggin thing i want to do is wait for 20 bikes to pass me as i get to cross the street. BARF!"

Thanks, that reminds me....time to take the bike over to the shop for a tune-up.

Posted by: East New York at June 9, 2009 1:10 PM

rob chill out. bikes are awesome...but in nyc, it just seems too congested to truly enjoy cycling. cycling to me is meant for country roads and villages.

Posted by: infinitejester at June 9, 2009 1:10 PM

"Bikes are not the future. Bikes are for healthy energetic people."

Of course, encouraging biking (as well as walking) creates healthy energetic people. Bicycle ridership has risen dramatically in NYC in recent years, while injuries to cyclists have fallen. Safety in numbers. Other cities in the USA and around the world have successfully dramatically increased the number of biking commuters as part of comprehensive transportation reform away from automobiles. There's no reason NYC cannot do the same.

But the cranky shall remain cranky. Why not -- it's kind of fun to rant, isn't it?

Posted by: southbrooklyn at June 9, 2009 1:11 PM

"And since so many drivers have this preconceived "asshole scale" regarding bicyclists "

I'm not a driver.

Like most people who have problems with cyclists in the city, I'm a pedestrian who takes the bus and subway and expects to be able to cross streets in crosswalks with the light without getting hit by 250 pounds of speeding bike and flesh by someone who has decided that he "not to follow traffic laws to a T".

Frankly, if I were in a car, bikers doing stupid things wouldn't bother me so much, because then *I* wouldn't be the one in danger of getting hurt.

Posted by: northsloperenter at June 9, 2009 1:11 PM

I love these arguements, as they pop up in all the NYC blogs and it's always the same BS.

Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists don't follow every law that's in place.

I can't even express how many people cross against the light when there are no cars coming causing me to either slam on the breaks or swerve out of the way. Oh, and then there are people who throw open their car doors without even looking if someone is coming - getting "doored" is not very fun. I typically go out of my way in Manhattan to utilize the bike lanes that have been installed recently, but that's no good as there are usually people double parked in them (Grand St anyone?)

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 1:17 PM

"just walk to wear you have to go, that's why we have legs you know! "

Maybe we have legs so we can peddle?

I don't ride a bike because the last time I did I got hit by a car (driven by fireman who had just gotten off of working a double shift).

I don't understand why this is coming down like an all or nothing argument (or why anyone is even arguing about it in the first place).

Can bike riders ride in a very entitled and annoyingly agressive manner? Hell yes.
Can some stroller moms do the same with their strollers thereby giving the term stroller mom a negative connotation? Hell yes.
Do a good number of pedestrians do the same exact thing when they step out in traffic before the light changes green or after it's gone red? Oh HELL to the yes.

You must chill peoples, there's good and bad in everything.

The only thing I'm getting a chuckle at is the very overly involved approach Liviable Streets Initiative is taking. It's just so way over the top in my humble opinion. Whatever though, live and let live.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at June 9, 2009 1:18 PM

dirty hipster -- I completely agree that riding a bike in NYC is a dangerous activity.

Posted by: northsloperenter at June 9, 2009 1:18 PM

nsr

i think as the bike becomes more prevalent bike regs will become more stringent and it will balance itself out...

you have to admit though, that pedestrians do stupid, dangerous sh$t too (which puts bikers at risk)...

Posted by: young archi at June 9, 2009 1:20 PM

pedestrians have the RIGHT of way to walk where they want. that is how i feel. that is how we were made. to walk with our feet. not to ride around on wheels with attitude. and yes when im walking around, i will walk right in front of a bike im NOT moving out of the way for you. same with cars. they get the finger when they dont like im crossing when it's green. boo hoo wheel people!

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 1:28 PM

THL's points are very good. There are bad drivers, bad bikers and bad pedestrians.

My problem with some of the bikers that post here is the sense of moral surperiority that they exhibit. Many seem to assume they are somehow improving the city simply by biking, whereas I just see it as their own personal preference.

Posted by: etson at June 9, 2009 1:29 PM

also people who use a bike SHOULD Be forced to by accident insurance. how is it any different from a car? if you are using the road and on wheels you need to pay up. plus it would be great much needed revenue for the city. also you should also have to purchase a bike license (if you use the street that is)

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 1:33 PM

Oh, I agree. Biker, pedestrians, and drivers all do stupid dangerous shit all over the city.

Car drivers are the worst, by far, primarily because they are more of a danger to others and there are more of them. Some of the things drivers do on Flatbush should be classified as attempted murder.

But there is no one proselytizing car driving, and the growing number of bikes on the street makes them the leading cause of new problems. And in their enthusiasm, many of bicycling's supporters either don't see or refuse to acknowledge some of the problems of increasing bikes on the streets without revamping regulations and infrastructure (and the latter would likely need serious funding).

Posted by: northsloperenter at June 9, 2009 1:34 PM

"that is how we were made"

Uh oh, are you now invoking the creator? Better watch out with that one. He/she made you without clothes as well did he/she not?

Posted by: dittoburg at June 9, 2009 1:35 PM

"pedestrians have the RIGHT of way to walk where they want. that is how i feel. that is how we were made. to walk with our feet. not to ride around on wheels with attitude. and yes when im walking around, i will walk right in front of a bike im NOT moving out of the way for you. same with cars. they get the finger when they dont like im crossing when it's green. boo hoo wheel people!"

and rob's mentality is one of the biggest problems.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 1:44 PM

"Many seem to assume they are somehow improving the city simply by biking, whereas I just see it as their own personal preference."

When a person opts to ride a bike INSTEAD of driving an automobile, they are improving the city, because they're preventing additional air pollution. But that doesn't give them the right to break traffic laws. However, as THL says, bikers, drivers and pedestrians ALL routinely break the law.

I walk, own and ride a bike, and own and drive a car. Bottom line, there is no "better" or "worse" among the groups. We're all in this together. Safety on the streets is the primary goal, and that takes everyone working together, not pointing fingers. It's not going to happen any other way.

Posted by: East New York at June 9, 2009 1:45 PM

> rob's mentality is one of the biggest problems.

Additionally "rob's mentality" is one of the biggest oxymorons.

Posted by: SnarkSlope at June 9, 2009 1:50 PM

"When a person opts to ride a bike INSTEAD of driving an automobile, they are improving the city,"

I actually bike in order to eff the MTA.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 1:53 PM

"When a person opts to ride a bike INSTEAD of driving an automobile they are improving the city"

But the vast majority of cyclists seem to be biking as an alternative to public transport rather than private cars. Arguably supporting public transport through higher ridership driving higher revenues is better for the city.

Posted by: etson at June 9, 2009 1:57 PM

"Arguably supporting public transport through higher ridership driving higher revenues is better for the city."

Maybe in a normal situation - but in this bizzaro-universe that is the MTA, higher ridership = bad = higher fares.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 2:01 PM

When a car breaks the law, it kills. When a bike breaks the law, it hurts. When a pedestrian breaks the law, he/she blames everybody else.

Barf. Burp. etc. . .

yrs trully, the enviously unvirile non parent.

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 2:03 PM

oh please like bikes dont add to air pollution? just think of all those stinky vegan farts that are expelled into the air while people are on bikes!? gack! tho i guess it's better into the air then on a train. and etson makes a GREAT point!

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 2:03 PM

barf

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 2:05 PM

I've never heard any data re: vegan bicyclist farts adding to air pollution. Interesting hypothesis though.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 2:08 PM

Actually from my 20 something's dating experience (which, parenthetically, has resulted in absolutely NO PROGENY!!!! ZERO BABIES!!! NOT A ONE SINGLE ITTY BITTY LITTLE FETUS!!! natch!!!!!!grrrrrr!!!) vegan farts are not at all smelly. It's the meat eaters you gotta watch out for (my dogs, fr instance).

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 2:10 PM

dipster, you DO know what the holes in ozone are from right? cow farts. and vegan farts are almost identical to cow farts (im seriously NOT making this up!)

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 2:10 PM

haha rob - i actually heard about that re: the cows. too funny.

and i second iz's experiences re: "Clean in, clean out"

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 2:13 PM

quote:

vegan farts are not at all smelly.

perhaps. but vegans themselves usually are. (and i totally disagree with you though on the one ;) )

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 2:19 PM

IZ also that is cool. did you know that not having children is THE single MOST "green" thing you can do for the environment? people never seem to like to talk about that for some reason.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 2:20 PM

"Bikes are for healthy energetic people."

Rubbish. As a fairly regular older biker (non spandex and think that 15mph is speeding) I use my bike to get around. And I don't mind pedestrians even if they "jump in front of me" (which honestly has never happened, if ou can't see when a ped is about to get in your way, you're either blind or going too fast.)

Now I could only get my over-45 friends to bike, cycling would become a normal activity.

Posted by: cmu at June 9, 2009 2:20 PM

I love you cmu!

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 2:29 PM

Rob, that explains why you have been hit ten times. Maybe you need insurance.

Posted by: denton at June 9, 2009 2:31 PM

From the very first post, this has been an assinine thread.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 9, 2009 2:48 PM

People don't have the room to store a bike in their apartment. This bike probably belongs to someone who lives or works nearby and they just haven't needed it since they locked it that day.

Posted by: rustydevon at June 9, 2009 2:52 PM

srsly dibs, agreed. this thread has gone completely nutburgers. I'm glad I refrained from commenting about my own recent bike vs. car // bike vs. pedestrian issues. (ps. got the MRI results today, and I get to look forward to surgery. Screws. In. My. Foot. blerg.

Will I be the threadkiller?!? :)

Posted by: CG_ups at June 9, 2009 2:52 PM

CG ups, I'll pipe up just so you aren't accused of being a threadkiller. Good luck with the MRI and ensuing recovery.

"From the very first post, this has been an assinine thread."
DIBS, it's all your fault for immediately providing a reasonable solution. Had you held on to that little bit of common sense, we might still have been trying to solve the problem rather than discussing the effects of cow farts on the ozone layer.

Posted by: Biff Champion at June 9, 2009 3:04 PM

what did you expect to happen in a thread about mrb not finding a bike parking spot (lol) that got to 100 posts? there were def. lots of good posts in this thread tho. sorry i brought up cows and the ozone layer.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 3:17 PM

*Rob* says "i've been hit by a bike at LEAST 10 times living in nyc." how did you accomplish this? Do you stand in a bike lane facing backwards with your eyes closed?

this *Rob* character seems to be a real bundle of joy. He hates cars. He hates children. He hates vegans. He doesn't like Amsterdam (who the hell doesn't like Amsterdam?). He REALLY hates bikes, and especially bike culture.

newsflash...in urban environments, bikes ARE the future. I say this as a sometime driver, stroller pusher, pedestrian, and cyclist. Don't like it? I hear the Unibomber is selling his cabin.

Posted by: juaniflaco at June 9, 2009 3:45 PM

You've all got it wrong, everyone is posting because they know Mr. B will read the thread to see what we think. We're all showing off.

Posted by: infinitejester at June 9, 2009 3:45 PM

When it starts to rust, take a sledgehammer to it.

Posted by: dannyhellman at June 9, 2009 3:56 PM

juaniflaco, when the Unabomber RENTS his cabin, call Rob. He doesn't believe in buying.

Posted by: denton at June 9, 2009 4:20 PM

The day a bicyclist stops at a red light will be the day I stop trying to run them over.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at June 9, 2009 4:33 PM

The day you stop chasing us, reilly, we'll stop running lights.

Posted by: iz at June 9, 2009 4:36 PM

Look at me!! I'm all big and macho in my 3,000 lb car trying to run over people!

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 4:44 PM

Look at me!! I'm all snooty and hip in my 200 pound overpriced hunk of metal trying to run over people!!

circle of life. some pedestrians like to stomp pigeons (not me tho)

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 9, 2009 4:47 PM

Rob!! Calm yourself! You don't want to be placed on time-out again ;)

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 9, 2009 4:52 PM

'I'm all snooty and hip in my 200 pound overpriced hunk of metal trying to run over people!!'

what are you talking about? a motorcycle?

Posted by: young archi at June 9, 2009 8:43 PM

Mr. B, your bike rack is empty tonight.

Posted by: NorthHeights at June 9, 2009 10:45 PM

« 111 Lawrence Tops Out, Gets Name Walkabout with Montrose: What's in a Name? »

June 9, 2009

Time Limit to Bike Parking?

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