Streetsblog New York City

I don't even know what this new policy is supposed to achieve? Is there a huge shortage of commuter bike parking on the island? Were the old bikes home to families of raccoons?

Why not work with cyclists to solve the problem in a way that benefits the community? All that this policy does is sow is confusion and anger in the bike community and reduce the convenience of biking. Nice work RIOC!

Sounds like legalized bike theft.

Id hate to be out of town for a couple of weeks when this was announced.
I'm all for removing abandoned bikes, but this isnt the way.

The best way would be to tag the bikes that look abandoned (rust and such), leave the tag for a week, remove the bike, hold it for a week, and then donate it.

Isnt an easy solution to bike rack congestion....involve installing more racks?

Thanks, Eric, for the patient explanation.

I can see how it would be frustrating for regular commuters not to be able to find a parking spot because all the good racks were occupied with semi-abandoned bicycles: the kind the owner leaves locked up outside all winter.

I think Jass hit the right note. Tag for a week, then hold for a week.

After all, you don't see towed cars donated to the thrift store after 2 days....

Thanks to everyone for their comments and interest over all three Streetsblog posts about this issue. Roosevelt Island is run by RIOC, a state authority, with broad powers over how the island is managed.

We are slowly getting "home rule" in that we are slowing being able to elect individuals as nominees to RIOC's Board of Directors, who then are hopefully appointed by the Governor or Mayor to the Board after they are confirmed by the State Senate. Not exactly direct elections but the best, under the state law, we are currently being afforded.

Once the new Directors are seated I am hoping current policies like the overnight parking ban can be rethought and worked out in a manner that works for all sides.

So the solution to over-use of bike racks is not to install more bike racks, but rather to reduce the number of bikes using the racks.

Imagine if we applied this concept to car parking. Don't add more car parking spaces, just donate any cars that park too long to charity.

Two new things added to my "to do list":

1. Hit up the Roosevelt island thrift store for some bikes.

2. Do not vote for Senator Serrano.

Yvonne,
This has been terrible news for many R.I. residents. We are now afraid to use the bike racks for their intended purpose because if we stay out late or overnight, our legitimate (not abandoned) bikes will be removed and possibly claimed by a stranger (how are they verifying ownership?), not to mention our bike locks being destroyed.

I'm assuming you are supporting the goal, but not the methods being implemented to achieve it? I think you should word your comments very carefully, especially when speaking on behalf of a Senator. "gary fisher" obviously confused your support of abandoned bike removal for support of this particular method of ALL bike removal.

Understood, but we're commenting on the policy enacted by RIOC, not on the AccessRI report. RIOC's current policy is no use of the bike racks at all between 2am and 5am.

I like what's been proposed in the report. I very much dislike what has been implemented by RIOC, as it is in fact discouraging bicycle use.

I think it would be a good idea if the plan were implemented the way the AccessRI group envisioned it. Old abandoned bikes should be removed. It's just a quality of life matter. The person from the Senator's office was just making the point that they didn't support the removal of bikes left overnight, only bikes that were rusting and obviously abandoned.

And Gary, I dont think you'll be voting for anyone in this neighborhood, because according to your blog, you live in Greenpoint.

Here's the official answer I got directly from RIOC president Steve Shane (The Octagon rack reference is to a specific question about the rack at my building):

We are enforcing the policy as to bikes overnight at the Tram and subway only. We have nothing to do with the Octagon bike rack. The purpose of enforcement is to free up the racks for commuters so as to encourage bicycle ridership. Locking to street signs or other "fixtures" is not allowed. If you're out past 2AM, either plan ahead and take the bus or retrieve your bike from PS when and if it is taken from the rack. It's a strange parent that doesn't know their own child. Similarly with bicycles. We are always considering alternatives and want to thank you for your suggestions. The grace period was for the week when the policy was first announced and is not in effect. Enforcement is having a salutary effect. Witness the available spaces in the racks by the Tram and Subway.

Stephen H. Shane
President & CEO
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp.
(212) 832-4540 x 319
(212) 832-4582 (fax)

Basically they're saying "screw you" to legitimate cyclists who happen to be a small enough minority that it's easier to ignore them than to do things more sensibly..... and I have no idea what the "strange parent" thing means.

By non-legit bikes, I mean the ones they were trying to get rid of (abandoned bikes and essentially permanently stored bikes). I'm all for opening up rack space by removing these, but a nightly sweep is b.s.

At least they're not doing it elsewhere on the island, as they had originally declared. So visitors to the island should still be OK locking up late/overnight near where they're visiting.