Locking your bike to railings

[Fullyplumped]

And of course, everyone knows that cars, motorbikes, vans, lorries, etc never ever park on the pavement, thus obstructing the unimpeded progress of all pedestrians do they? Nope, the issue so pertintently raised (originally by Dougal the yuppie mugger none the less) is that cycles attached to railings have blind people cowering in their homes afraid to walk outdoors cos of their fear of impending collisions with locked up cycles causing kidney failure. ffs

Bicycles stuck on the pavement don't cause blind people to cower in fear, but the fact of obstacles like this is a reason for many blind people to avoid venturing out of doors because they anticipate being hurt.

The fact that cars park on pavements doesn't mitigate the harm.

I saw a blind person recently walk into a lamp post, should we ban them as well

Well yes, I suppose. Lamp posts don't help blind people much, do they? A decent compromise would be to mount street lighting on the walls of city buildings.

The issue of cycle parking and the issue of mobility are quite separate, the only commonality being that they are beholden to the vocal car lobby who regard both groups with withering contempt. Pembrokestephen hits the nail on the head imo, when he said "majority of cyclists are just, like, people who ride bikes, and only want somewhere reasonably secure to park them in between times", not a lot to ask really, and with proper bike locking provision, we can make sure that cycles are locked up in places that don't obstruct other peds. Easy really innit?

The issue of cycle parking and the issue of mobility aren't separate for blind people who might prefer not to be hurt when walking on the pavement.

 

[Fullyplumped]

Oh dear. I really do hope you never have to do a Health and Safety Risk Assessment ...

I have had to, but I'm not doing one now!

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

The issue of cycle parking and the issue of mobility aren't separate for blind people who might prefer not to be hurt when walking on the pavement.

Quite, that's why i wrote that "with proper bike locking provision, we can make sure that cycles are locked up in places that don't obstruct other peds. Easy really innit?" - but fundamentally, there are two arguments going on here, one about cyclists having adequate provision made for them to lock their bikes up safely, securely and unobstructively, and the other about the mobility issues that arise for people with sight problems who are disabled by societal conditions.

You state that "The fact that cars park on pavements doesn't mitigate the harm." - i don't think i said it did, i was trying to make the point that all peds are inconvenienced in this such a situation, forcing all peds onto the road, which for a person with sight problems becomes a proportionately more dangerous experience. And this happens at least as often as cycles blocking free movement byway of being locked in an inappropriate location.

The point about the lamp posts was slightly facetious (although it was also a true experience) but was also intended to raise a wider point that, for people with sight problems, leaving the house currently represents something of a major challenge, far beyond simply pointing the finger at cyclists as a central factor to this issue. You yourself mention "Bumping into scaffolding, cars on the pavement, noticeboards on the pavement. All sore on the shins" so why not support the call for greater cycle parking facilities to remove the risk of collision?

 

[Fullyplumped]

...so why not support the call for greater cycle parking facilities to remove the risk of collision?

... if I did, would that mean bicyclists would stop leaving their bikes on the pavement?

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

... if I did, would that mean bicyclists would stop leaving their bikes on the pavement?

We live in hope, dearheart, we live in hope.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I think many blind people in the disability rights movement would acknowledge that where it comes to policy priorities and allocation of resources, cyclists come first. Cyclists get a whole national cycle way network through Sustrans, they get special lanes on city streets, and generally thay organise through reclaim the city bike rides and what not. They get taken very seriously. National politicians like David Cameron and Boris Johnson use the image of bicycling to try and gain credibility (and fail in Dave's case, but that's beside the point). Blind people get a daft wee tax allowance, cheap TV licences and occasional audio description on TV,

You're not the only one.

Still a big annoyance, based on exhaustive research on my part. Bumping into scaffolding, cars on the pavement, noticeboards on the pavement. All sore on the shins. But we're here talking about bikes.

Damn!! You slayed me with knowledge!

 

[Mrs Miggins]

... if I did, would that mean bicyclists would stop leaving their bikes on the pavement?

I think it would in the majority of cases. Most of us would always rather lock our bikes to proper cycle racks because you can lock you bike properly to proper cycle rack (IUSWIM!)

 

[Radar]

AND Westminster are one of the few councils NOT to alllow any other form of motorcycle parking (e.g. at right angles to the kerb at the end of other types of bay) http://www.motorcycleparking.com/

A few years ago I was helping out at a place in Berkeley Sq, I stopped it in the end as you could only get into a M/C bay before 8 in the morning or after 6 at night. High kerbs all around the bays don't allow riders to use all the available spaces, and god help you if your tyre is sticking over the line

Westminster and the COL can suck my cock over bike parking It's a fucking disgrace. The big knobs park wherever they want and never get moved, because the cunts can afford a driver to sit there all day. There's plenty of space to add additional bike bays, but will they ? Will they fuck The bastards closed the big bay on the south side of St James Sq a few years ago, I went back 6 months after the work was finished they still hadn't replaced the bay. Bet that did wonders for the ticket stats

It seems the same narrow minded "not one of us" sort of thinking that cyclists get all the time.

It's only the proles, who gives a shit

 

[Dougal]

And of course, everyone knows that cars, motorbikes, vans, lorries, etc never ever park on the pavement, thus obstructing the unimpeded progress of all pedestrians do they? Nope, the issue so pertintently raised (originally by Dougal the yuppie mugger none the less) is that cycles attached to railings have blind people cowering in their homes afraid to walk outdoors cos of their fear of impending collisions with locked up cycles causing kidney failure. ffs

I saw a blind person recently walk into a lamp post, should we ban them as well

The issue of cycle parking and the issue of mobility are quite separate, the only commonality being that they are beholden to the vocal car lobby who regard both groups with withering contempt. Pembrokestephen hits the nail on the head imo, when he said "majority of cyclists are just, like, people who ride bikes, and only want somewhere reasonably secure to park them in between times", not a lot to ask really, and with proper bike locking provision, we can make sure that cycles are locked up in places that don't obstruct other peds. Easy really innit?

Yuppie mugger? Some mistake surely?

 

[pogofish]

A cyclist is going to get their nice shiny new Trek removed from a set of railings at my work in a few minutes, as they have blocked a fire door. Not for the first time here either or that there are better places provided nearby.

 

[Dougal]

A cyclist once locked his bike to my courier motorcycle many moons ago. I was very cross and had to complete two deliveries on the tube and by foot. I slapped a d lock on both bikes and the git had the temerity to complain when I returned!

That said I find most cyclists pretty considerate.

 

[Crazy_diamond]

If you need to lock your bike in random places - take a can of freezing spray wherever you may roam.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/family_free_delivery/freeze spray.htm

As a bike user you may be subjected to unwanted locks impeding your lawful and non-polluting business.

A quick solution is to carry a lump hammer about your person, and if you think you have been unfairly locked by some twat, spray the lock liberally with the aforementioned spray for about 30 seconds, then within 5 seconds, strike HARD with the lump hammer upon the offending lock, and if you have sprayed liberally and gratuitously, the lock should shatter, especially at this time of year when warm temperatures contrasted with a sudden spray-freeze would weaken the metal to such attacks.

If you don't have a lump hammer, get your handlebars filled with a lead/concrete solution, and make sure you cap them well with a dose of plumbers solder to make sure they will be heavy enough to kill a suddenly frozen lock should you need them to.
Invest in a £5 quick release system for the handlebars to do this, if your bike has no quick-release handlebar system.

Pick up all traces of the broken lock, so they can't claim insurance on it.

Finally, if you have time, find out who owns the company that locked you in the first place, find out where the MD parks their car, then slam/tip battery acid on the roof.

You can obtain battery acid from any regular car battery, how you choose to do this is up to you. Bear in mind battery acid is corrosive to skin, so don't be a cunt, just do enough to wreck the roof and/or the bonnet.

Best bet, if you're sure of your target, is to carefully remove the sealed terminals from a lead acid battery then slam/tip it upside-down on the roof of the offending car and leave it to drain all over the paintwork.

If you slam a big enough dent in the roof with the upturned battery, the acid will gather in a pool and melt into the interior.

They'll think twice before adding a second lock to your bike again, after that!

You love it. I hate getting my bike "clamped", as you can tell.

LOL

Maybe you should try this

 

[Radar]

A cyclist once locked his bike to my courier motorcycle many moons ago. I was very cross and had to complete two deliveries on the tube and by foot. I slapped a d lock on both bikes and the git had the temerity to complain when I returned!

I'll always lock to another bike when I'm parked up if there's no other securing point, but only through their own lock or chain so they can release themselves. It's a damn sight more awkward to simultaneously manhandle a bunch of bikes into a van rather than just the one, and I'm sick of funding the local bike thieves on an annual basis.

Dougal, shame you couldn't have rode off with his pushbike still attached Did he lock to your spokes rather than the frame ?

The worst place I've seen for this is the Youth Hostel at Vondelpark in Amsterdam. It's next door to a solicitors office with a huge steel set of railings. Each morning the caretaker open the gates, and proceeds to cut away any bikes he can find attach to their railings (That bit seems reasonable), then he takes the bikes inside the office, I'm assuming so the owners have to go grovel for them and pay a release fee (this bit seems a bit dodgy to me)

Problem is that many people arrive back at the hostel late, and if the bike sheds are full there's only so many other places to lock a pushbike and expect it to still be there the following day. At nighttime, it's also hard to see any warning signs.

That has to be a profitable little scam at EUR 50 a time

 

[Major Tom]

Then again, in the last three years I think I can count the number of times I've actually seen a bicycle parked there on the fingers of one hand...

Cycle parking where its needed would be useful.
I see tube stations where bikes are two deep chained to railings up and down the street, and then there are substantial facilities exactly where noone needs them, or even knows about them.
Can't see myself ever needing to chain my bike up in this aprt of the world.

And the times I've been in Central London when I've wanted to chain my bike up having to spend considerable effort trying to find parking. It would be handy if cycle parking, where it existed, was signposted or marked on the A to Z.