bike parking closing--save your bike!

[juldea.livejournal.com]

The bicycle parking area at Davis Square station, College St entrance, along Middlesex Bank is roped off with "danger" tape and signs saying that as of Tuesday, May 31, that parking is closed. It will be torn up for renovations. There's no mention of what will be done with the two-dozen-plus bikes parked there behind the danger tape except that they will be "removed." My guess is that if one of those bikes is yours, you should probably come remove it yourself, first!

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thanks for posting this! I had meant to, but forgot. I'm surprised the bikes are still there, two days after the posted deadline.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I parked there on Tuesday, the apparent last date of service, and I don't remember seeing any signage or warning about the area closing. I might've just not been observant, though. I posted this after showing up earlier and seeing so many bikes still there. I guess the city is trying to be kind in not removing (and trashing) the bicycles until after a few days pass. I hope more people rescue their bikes from there!

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I guess the city is trying to be kind in not removing (and trashing) the bicycles

If they're tearing up the racks, it's easy for them to get bikes free beforehand without trashing the bikes, if they so choose.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Yes, but there's the question of what happens to the bikes after they're removed. Trashing seems as simple of a way for a bureaucracy to deal with them as anything else...

[ron_newman]

it's a state or MBTA project, not the city of Somerville. There were 8.5x11 inch white paper signs pasted up on and around that bike rack.

[elements.livejournal.com]

I would hope they would still surrender the unclaimed bikes to the city - now that we know the city has capacity to hang on to that type of thing while the owners are found.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I took a picture of the sign with my camera pic, but I have a headache and am not up to transcribing it, but if someone wants to its here:

http://twitpic.com/564p5t

[thespian.livejournal.com]

the sign (http://twitpic.com/564p5t) says Monday June 6th, not May 30th, so there's time and all.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Huh. The sign I saw *definitely* said May 31 on it. More time is better, though!

[ron_newman]

Me too! I guess they changed the sign today?

Message from Transit Police

[captain-trant.livejournal.com]

To facilitate a MassDot construction project adjacent to the College Ave headhouse, T Ironworkers will be on site Monday morning by 8:30am to start removing unclaimed bicycles. Gilbane staff will be on hand to photograph each bike removed.

Bikes will be stored in Charlestown and can be picked up by appointment only at:
21 Arlington Ave
Building 2
Charlestown, MA 02129
(map attached)

Contact for an appointment:
Deb Gray
(617) 222-3115

A visual description of the bike will be required. MBTA personnel will then bring out a single bike matching the description. If two bikes match the description, additional verbal description will be required.

As of this morning, there were only 27 bikes parked there and at least half of them were clearly abandoned.

Re: Message from Transit Police

[ron_newman]

Thank you for this post, Captain Trant. Can you arrange for the 'clearly abandoned' bikes to be donated to Bikes Not Bombs or a similar organization that can usefully strip them for spare parts?

Re: Message from Transit Police

[captain-trant.livejournal.com]

The MBTA Transit Police will have custody. I will forward them your suggestion.

Re: Message from Transit Police

[ron_newman]

Thanks. The LIFT Bike Project might also find them of use. (Edited to add: better link here.)