BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

1) Leave a note 2) Prop her bike up nicely again so it doesn't look like it's abandoned.

find a torch and burn the lock off

I'd say leave a note asking them to please not lock to her bike. Give them a time table to get their bike moved maybe a day and if they don't move their bike in that time you will cut the lock.

I can't even believe how mad this would make me. I would have already cut the lock if I were you. That is incredibly inconsiderate.

Agreed, that's a level of inconsiderate you don't see that often. And yes, I do have an oxy acetylene torch or a 7" cutoff wheel if you want to set that bike free.

Lock their bike with your lock, cut theirs, and leave a note.

Lock his bike up with your ulock & leave a note with your phone number. If it’s not resolved in a day, I’d take Jacob up on use of his torch.

If that were me, I would get a hacksaw (or sawzall) and cut the top tube of the red bike. Then leave a note.

Leave note, park the bike somewhere else the next time it is free

Also, remember the poop rule!

is it just me, or does the red bike look tool-ish? Not just for being locked to another person's bike, but... Something about the matchy yet uncomfortable looking seat.

I'd have left a note a long time ago. Maybe it's an antisocial method of flirting? Maybe they think they're locking to a friend's bike? Maybe they are that oblivious?

Mr. Rodgers would disapprove of the remaining comments swimming in my head, so I'll send them off without public transcription - but there's a LOT of teaching opportunities there.

poop rule?

Discussed a week or so ago in this thread.

Go to the hardware store.

Buy an angle grinder.

Circle the line reading "angle grinder" on store receipt.

Write "you have 24 hours" on the receipt.

Tape receipt to lock.

Wait 24 hours...

^that, but tape a photocopy, in case you have to repeat the procedure at a later time.

Haha great idea with the receipt!

Thanks, everyone! I'm very glad that the part of me that has no tolerance/sympathy for this is in good company.

Ryan, we did straighten it up last night when it was unlocked; the picture was from a few days ago.

She doesn't ride her bike very much which might explain this total lack of consideration if they figure this would be yet another few days when it's not in use. But she actually was going to use it this weekend, with the beautiful weather etc. and it was an inconvenience.

I left a note* this morning and I'm hoping that the red bike is gone the next time I see it (with a profuse apology, if they have any class whatsoever). My next step would tend to be locking in the red bike rather than an angle grinder, but this is getting to be obnoxious.

Pierce, I appreciate your idea but it feels like accommodating the bad actor too much.

Perhaps I'll write my next note on the back of a printout of the Home Depot angle grinder selections.

* Text of the note: "I’m sorry the bike rack is full but this is not an acceptable solution to that problem. Please find another place to secure your bike before 7:00 p.m. EDT, June 25, 2012."

I'd also add, contact building management to get another bike rack

if its only locked to her bike, unlock hers and take the bikes somewhere else. leave a note in their place. this is unacceptable.

@ejwme Actually, that looks like one of the new seats I was contemplating at Thick yesterday (until sticker shock made me reconsider). If so, it felt super comfy.

I'm another vote for locking the red bike in and leaving a note. It's better than a passive-aggressive note by its lonesome without being as aggressive-aggressive as the angle grinder.

It need not be passive aggressive. Why not just commute exactly what and why you want something to be done.

"Hey, I notice you're locking your bike to my bike. Although I may not use it often, it's frustrating when I do want to and you're connected to it and then I cannot leave. Please lock to something else."

Sorry but if you don't have the common sense to not do that, you deserve to get your shit broken. Just like if you're not smart enough to not park in front of driveways, you deserve to get your car towed.

Looks like the offender moved his bike as of a few hours ago. I'm hopeful that this is a one-time situation.

I'd be interested to hear the explanation. First time might have been a mistake, but not the second time. But, maybe the red bike owner mis-identified the blue bike as belonging to a friend/roomate or something.

I dunno, but fighting being a prick with being a bigger prick is not usually the greatest strategy, especially when it's a neighbor.

Also, what pierce said. Go to the building management and tell them you need more racks.