Ridiculous note on Berkeley Place
I was walking my dog along Berkeley Pl betwen 6th and 7th last night around 11 pm and came across the following ridiculous typed note taped to a bicycle seat. The bike was locked to a street cleaning sign next to the street.
"Please chain your bike to a different location," the note read in 18-point Times New Roman. "We've checked and we are liable if anyone trips over your biked and falls on our property. Thank you for your understanding."
Is it just me or is this totally absurd? First of all, the bike was in no way obstructing anyone's passage on the sidewalk in front of the two buildings it was straddling (which begs the question: whose property is this bike on, anyway?)
I was tempted to throw myself over the bike and scream for help and threaten to sue the owners of the building(s) since I felt they deserved such an inconvenient consequence for having such a stupid issue with this bike. Instead, I peeled off the note from the bike's seat and took it home. Alas, the note was REPLACED (this time with even more tape) by the time my husband walked by the same spot this morning.
Does anyone else think these people are INSANE? This is in front of 109-111 Berkeley. Is this what PS is turning into? Would these people prefer to see more cars than bikes? Or, are they saying they'd rather this person park his/her bike in front of a neighbor's house instead of theirs? I don't think that's very neighborly at all.
"Please chain your bike to a different location," the note read in 18-point Times New Roman. "We've checked and we are liable if anyone trips over your biked and falls on our property. Thank you for your understanding."
Is it just me or is this totally absurd? First of all, the bike was in no way obstructing anyone's passage on the sidewalk in front of the two buildings it was straddling (which begs the question: whose property is this bike on, anyway?)
I was tempted to throw myself over the bike and scream for help and threaten to sue the owners of the building(s) since I felt they deserved such an inconvenient consequence for having such a stupid issue with this bike. Instead, I peeled off the note from the bike's seat and took it home. Alas, the note was REPLACED (this time with even more tape) by the time my husband walked by the same spot this morning.
Does anyone else think these people are INSANE? This is in front of 109-111 Berkeley. Is this what PS is turning into? Would these people prefer to see more cars than bikes? Or, are they saying they'd rather this person park his/her bike in front of a neighbor's house instead of theirs? I don't think that's very neighborly at all.
Comments
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People are so territorial. Presumably the bike will be stolen soon enough and that will put an end to this conflict.
This reminds me of when I lived on 7th Street years ago when my daughter was a toddler. One day we were out for a slow walk on the block and she decided to investigate my neighbor's stoop, which opened directly onto the sidewalk (no gate). She was on the first or second step when my neighbor came out and told me to get her off his steps -- because he didn't want me to sue him if she got hurt. It was not very neighborly. I don't think people like this are really afraid of litigation -- I think they're just protecting their turf. -
Rose wrote: People are so territorial. Presumably the bike will be stolen soon enough and that will put an end to this conflict.
On the other side of the coin: When I was a teenager a good friend of mine was riding his bike out of my driveway, skidded on some wet leaves and got some sort of nasty spiral break (please do not hold me to that as an official medical description) on his lower leg, he was in a cast for months. His parents did in fact make some initial efforts to sue my parents, but my father dug his heels in and sort of dared them to prove that the skid started on our property (My friend ended up in the middle of the road - glad I discovered him, because he wasn't going to be moving anywhere). I guess they couldn't or they didn't intend to and the letter from the attorney was an extortion attempt because nothing further came of it. Point is, they were our neighbors that lived across the street, we had known them for years, etc. and the last thing we expected was to be threatened with a lawsuit, but there you have it.
This reminds me of when I lived on 7th Street years ago when my daughter was a toddler. One day we were out for a slow walk on the block and she decided to investigate my neighbor's stoop, which opened directly onto the sidewalk (no gate). She was on the first or second step when my neighbor came out and told me to get her off his steps -- because he didn't want me to sue him if she got hurt. It was not very neighborly. I don't think people like this are really afraid of litigation -- I think they're just protecting their turf. -
my friends parents got sue once, some kid went over to their front yard and hurt themselves. jackass parent of the kid sued. people rather want to be safe than sorry.
it seems stupid but some people might think omg i might get sued.
stupid kids play in my front yard all the time. this bike thing is silly.
just to avoid this park it near where you guys live. -
I think its less of a "somebody might get hurt" thing and more of a "keep your bike in front of your house" thing. If you live on a block with all private houses you should put your bike in your yard, or inside your house. Its just bad form to chain it to a post in front of someone else's house. The injury thing is just subterfuge
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homeowner wrote: I think its less of a "somebody might get hurt" thing and more of a "keep your bike in front of your house" thing. If you live on a block with all private houses you should put your bike in your yard, or inside your house. Its just bad form to chain it to a post in front of someone else's house. The injury thing is just subterfuge
Agreed. To me, this isn't much different than the recent thread about the people with their crap in the hallway. Whether you pay rent or you pay a mortgage, it's your home and you don't want to see other people's shit layin' about. -
I see nothing wrong with this-I mean, people are lawsuit crazy-why should these people take a chance of getting sued for someone else's bike? And, WTH are people leaving their bike in fornt of someone else's house anyway? Leave it in front of their own house!
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do we even know how long the bicycle had been parked there? i might understand if the bicycle is always parked there ...but if it was there b/c someone was hanging out somewhere near by perhaps for a few hours, what's the big deal?
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I caught something similar happening in Prospect Heights:
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whoa. we live in a city and it's a BICYCLE for god's sakes. Not someone's recliner & TV...bicycles are healthy & good for the air quality (which is really bad here)...This thread is so bizarre. We shouldn't have to look at people's BICYCLES? Are you all serious? I don't leave my bike out because i'd be worried it'd get stolen, but i could care less if anyone else does. You should all move to CT, you can have perfectly sterile yards there with your perfect cars and bags of leaves that you've raked up and placed neatly in specific leaf bags to be taken away, and never have to look at anything belonging to anyone else...
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findcate wrote: whoa. we live in a city and it's a BICYCLE for god's sakes. Not someone's recliner & TV...bicycles are healthy & good for the air quality (which is really bad here)...This thread is so bizarre. We shouldn't have to look at people's BICYCLES? Are you all serious? I don't leave my bike out because i'd be worried it'd get stolen, but i could care less if anyone else does. You should all move to CT, you can have perfectly sterile yards there with your perfect cars and bags of leaves that you've raked up and placed neatly in specific leaf bags to be taken away, and never have to look at anything belonging to anyone else...
Wow. 9 posts for the inevitable "OMG MOVE" to show up. I'm chalking it up to the long weekend.
Seriously, though - nobody is obligated to share your notions of what life in New York "should" be in order to live here. And just to prove my non-sterility, might I recommend that a good dog-squeeze smearing be given to any bikes left in an inconsiderate place for an unreasonable period of time. -
findcate wrote: This thread is so bizarre. We shouldn't have to look at people's BICYCLES? Are you all serious?
Maybe you've misread. I don't give a rat's ass if they leave them out, either - I just don't want it chained to my fence/home/building/property that I'm responsible for. It's less about looking at somebody else's possessions, and more about them being inconsiderate of your possessions. -
The bike was locked to a street cleaning sign next to the street.
Sounds like public or city property, no? even if it is in front of someone's house... -
You're responsible for the sidewalk in front of your home, even though you don't technically own that property.
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You're responsible for keeping the sidewalk in front of your house or building clean. I would think the Dept. of Sanitation might give you a ticket for having a bike chained there indefinitely. As I recall, legal liability if someone gets hurt on the sidewalk in front of your property depends on the size of the building. If it's a one- or two-family building, the city would be liable if someone was injured on the sidewalk, even though it's the homeowner's responsibility to maintain the sidewalk. For bigger buildings, the property owner is liable for injuries that happen on the sidewalk in front of the property. (can't remember where I got this factoid, so don't rely on it!)
Upon reflection -- I would be annoyed if someone parked their bike permanently in front of my house. I get annoyed when my neighbors put out their garbage in front of my house. :roll: -
"Wow. 9 posts for the inevitable "OMG MOVE" to show up. I'm chalking it up to the long weekend.
Seriously, though - nobody is obligated to share your notions of what life in New York "should" be in order to live here. And just to prove my non-sterility, might I recommend that a good dog-squeeze smearing be given to any bikes left in an inconsiderate place for an unreasonable period of time."
Yep, I agree actually--just making a point. That's the whole idea of a city, different people living together in a small space=compromise. Or it all breaks down= smearing. That's just gross and uncivilized. I still think it's ridiculous for anyone to be annoyed with someone chaining a bike to a street cleaning sign. We have to look at cars--how are bikes any different? We should be glad people ride bikes, it benefits everyone if more people do so. Saves tax money on obesity costs, gives us more air to breathe...seems like a good thing overall. And I definitely think anyone who gets annoyed with a bike on the sidewalk really needs to get a life. -
Anyone live in a building with no street signs or trees out in front? Are those people supposed to carry their bikes inside?
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Subject: hard to know in this climate of our 'society'
i think it's really hard to know what's "right" in our society today because the idea of personal property trumps everything and litigation is at a premium. how can anyone know what the thing to do is? a bicycle on the sidewalk chained to a street sign should not be a problem and neither should a toddler walking up a stoop. but i had a neighbor complain that my doormat outside my door was blocking her way in the hallway and she might trip, despite the fact that she was the only one walking through and it wasn't very tall. she convinced the landlord that this was an issue. we are living in such a crazy world that i just don't think we have any way of knowing where the boundaries are, since up is down and right is wrong and backwards is forwards. -
findcate wrote: And I definitely think anyone who gets annoyed with a bike on the sidewalk really needs to get a life.
Again, it's not about a bike, it's about a bike on MY property. I don't mind it being on some other guy's property, just not mine. If you want to let other people store their bike on your property without your explicit consent, that's great - I'll even help you bolt down a couple of these in front of your house (you do own your home, right?), free of charge.
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Drano wrote: [quote=findcate]whoa. we live in a city and it's a BICYCLE for god's sakes. Not someone's recliner & TV...bicycles are healthy & good for the air quality (which is really bad here)...This thread is so bizarre. We shouldn't have to look at people's BICYCLES? Are you all serious? I don't leave my bike out because i'd be worried it'd get stolen, but i could care less if anyone else does. You should all move to CT, you can have perfectly sterile yards there with your perfect cars and bags of leaves that you've raked up and placed neatly in specific leaf bags to be taken away, and never have to look at anything belonging to anyone else...
Wow. 9 posts for the inevitable "OMG MOVE" to show up. I'm chalking it up to the long weekend.
Seriously, though - nobody is obligated to share your notions of what life in New York "should" be in order to live here. And just to prove my non-sterility, might I recommend that a good dog-squeeze smearing be given to any bikes left in an inconsiderate place for an unreasonable period of time.
I think i found the poop smearing person!!!!!
in all seriousness if its a problem just move the bike onto front of your building. no point in starting something. beef no good MMM kay! -
"Again, it's not about a bike, it's about a bike on MY property.
YOU don't own the sidewalk, nor the street sign to which the bike's is attached. Legal responsibility for sidewalk spills doesn't entitle you to enjoin its fair use by your neighbors. If there were any legal basis for this complaint, the cops could handle it. But they'd only laugh at a complaint like this.in all seriousness if its a problem just move the bike onto front of your building.
Many buildings don't have any street signs or trees out front. -
Subject: ridiculous note on Berkeley Place
ok everyone, I just want to update you on a new development. But first I'd like to respond to the comment that the bike owner should park the bike in front of his own house, not someone else's. It is quite possible that 1) the bike owner is actually a tenant of that building or 2) the bike owner is visting someone in the building. I mean, that's like saying one should only park one's car in front of one's house at all times. I would love to do that but it's just not feasible. It's also like saying that if there is an ugly car that you consider and "eyesore" in front of your house you have the right to file a "quality of life" complaint. Of course, this may be your right but if you take advantage of it you SUCK and there's no two ways about it.
So here's the new development: The owner of the bike wrote back on the note, saying that he would like to know exactly how to find this information that was "researched" by the complainers and provided his email address. The complainers wrote back some information directing the bike owner to the part of the law they were referring to. They also said they called the city and the city recommended they also file a quality of life complaint. It also appears that the lock on the bike has been CLIPPED although there is now another one - this time a U-lock instead of a chain lock - securing it to the same spot. The clipped chain lock is left on the ground under the bike. That was a $40 or $50 Kryptonite chain lock.
I hope that everyone will join me in the effort of riding your bike to this location and parking it there in an act of solidarity. -
One last thing: there is nothing that suggests this bike is a "permanent" fixture of this location or that it has been abandoned there by its owner. Just wanted to clarify that. Sometimes I leave my car in the same parking space for 6 days at a time. What gives?
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I called 311 the other day about a party on the sidewalk. They informed me that it's illegal to place any obstructions (like grills and tables) on the sidewalk. How is a bike any different? Also, if you own a property, you are responsible for the upkeep of the sidewalk, not just liable if there's a spill. If it snows and you don't shovel, you can get a ticket. Shit, if there's a full recycling bag in front of your house that's not properly sorted, you'll get a ticket.
Hammond Maxwell wrote: Many buildings don't have any street signs or trees out front.
Tough. Hang it from the ceiling in your living room or don't buy a bike. Your lack of resources, or resourcefulness, isn't my problem. -
Subject: Re: Ridiculous note on Berkeley Place
more-eggs-please wrote: One last thing: there is nothing that suggests this bike is a "permanent" fixture of this location or that it has been abandoned there by its owner. Just wanted to clarify that.
Well, it's there enough for a series of notes to be written back and forth on the seat... :roll: -
Subject: Re: ridiculous note on Berkeley Place
more-eggs-please wrote: I hope that everyone will join me in the effort of riding your bike to this location and parking it there in an act of solidarity.
You first.
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Tough. Hang it from the ceiling in your living room or don't buy a bike. Your lack of resources, or resourcefulness, isn't my problem
The guy writing the note is the guy with the problem. It sounds like his problem just got worse, since vandalism is a misdemeanor, and parking a bike on the sidewalk isn't. -
Subject: property rules argument needs more nuance.
what is YOUR property?
people can't see when they've taken in societal 'norms' that are above & beyond.
I don't believe people have the right to chop down trees for no reason on their so-called property. who "owns" a tree?
a bicycle is a good living choice so the "quality of life" argument could work both ways.
it's really hard to tolerate this 'i have property so i rule' argument. -
The guy writing the note is the guy with the problem. It sounds like his problem just got worse, since vandalism is a misdemeanor, and parking a bike on the sidewalk isn't.
Agreed! And I'm just flat out confused about this hanging your bike from the ceiling thing. That's perfectly reasonable if you're storing your bike at home but since bikes are often used as transportation (one that I think we can all agree is cleaner and less intrusive than fossil-fuel burning vehicles) it is not always a viable option. Sometimes, you need to PARK.
Also, I don't know how to make this any clearer: the bike is in no way obstructing the sidewalk. That chances of hurting yourself tripping over a TWIG in front of these buildings is thousands of times higher. The bike is on the curb.
Another thing that annoys me about these people is that they see no problem with allowing their children to design sidewalk art with chalk in front of their building. Normally, this is something I support wholeheartedly. But since they are so sensitive to "eyesores" they should consider that some people who must pass on that route might think their kids are sh***y artists. And how's that affecting THEIR quality of life? -
Two things:
1) I wasn't serious about the smearing. It was a riff on another thread.
2) Bike culture is not for sale. -
it's really hard to tolerate this 'i have property so i rule' argument.
Agreed. Sounds like someone's pissed about their steep mortgage, and thinks maybe it buys them extra rights. WRONG!
Good neighbors don't bitch about things as unimportant as this; cutting the guys lock reveals the psycho mindset of the complainer.
We live in New York City. Westchester's thataway.
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