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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, News

Bicyclists Beware: Be Careful Where You Park Your Ride

Wed, Oct 13, 2010

Bicyclists Beware: Be Careful Where You Park Your Ride

Bicyclists who secure their rides to any place other than a bike rack in the village can expect to be told to move it or lose it, in a manner of speaking.

At Tuesday's village Board of Trustees meeting, Mayor Sue McVaugh announced the village had planned to cut the chains of any bikes chained to utility poles, traffic signs and trees and have them delivered to Colgate's Campus Safety offices. She said that having bikes secured anywhere other than a bike rack looked "crappy," and wanted them removed, especially if they blocked the sidewalk.

That plan, discussed earlier in the day at the village staff meeting, was abandoned following discussion with the trustees.

McVaugh said bike owners should ask their andlords to provide an adequate bike space, just as they provide parking for tenants. The mayor also acknowledged it can be difficult to carry one's bike up the stairs to a second or third floor apartment.

Trustee Suzanne Collins was the voice of the opposition. She asked why when so many other communities are enouraging bicycle riding to conserve energy, reduce pollution and save money, Hamilton would be discouraging that.

New Police Chief Rick Gifford, not officially on the job until Monday, did not hesitate to enter the debate. He asked if the village had an ordinance regarding bicycle parking. Discussion cooled when it was learned there probably is none.

Gifford also offered a "kinder, gentler" approach: secure a tag to each offending bike asking the owner to remove it and find a suitabale place to park it.

He also suggested his department would might also have to deal with a rash of stolen bike complaints if the village removed offending bikes unannounced.

No action was taken but an appropriate warning tag will be created.

Wednesday morning, a survey of Lebanon Street found a total of nine bikes were on the sidewalk: seven were chained to trees and street signs and two were fastened to the decorative bike rack in front of the Barge. There also were three bikes secured to poles at the northern portion of the village green.

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Comments(1):

  1. Rediculous!!

    Thursday, October 14, 2010 Jackie

    This has to hit near the top of my list on reasons to not live in Hamilton. What the hell kind of rule is this? There's not even really any bike racks in town for anyone to chain their bike up to! Our mayor is just making up dumb new rules for this town that is becoming more and more like a prison. I agree with the new cheif. Just put some kind of tag or something on the bike and put a bike rack at almost every business and they wouldn't have to chain their bikes up to trees and street signs. You cannot punish people for something they can't avoid because of things you lack to give them. Are you serious?