Locks Left On Bike Racks - Marking Territory?

kencoo

If you leave a lock on a rack is it then "yours"? Bike racks are a premium in work, first come first served with the late comers left to lock their bikes to whatever they can find or even the street. There are always locks left on the rack without the bikes- i assumed they were just too heavy to bring home...one whole rack is full of locks however if there is a space i take it as i did this morning.
Found a postit this evening on my saddle stating that i had parked on their lock and not to do it again.... before i parked i did make sure that the owner of the lock would still have access to take it off - albeit awkward.My view wont change- if you want a space get out of bed earlier, however is there an etiquette to this type of thing?

Idleater

Put a towel over said lock/bike tomorrow.

endacl

Oh, I'd make a point of locking up again in the same spot. And again. And again....

Tosser.

WillyFXP

kencoo wrote: »

If you leave a lock on a rack is it then "yours"? Bike racks are a premium in work, first come first served with the late comers left to lock their bikes to whatever they can find or even the street. There are always locks left on the rack without the bikes- i assumed they were just too heavy to bring home...one whole rack is full of locks however if there is a space i take it as i did this morning.
Found a postit this evening on my saddle stating that i had parked on their lock and not to do it again.... before i parked i did make sure that the owner of the lock would still have access to take it off - albeit awkward.My view wont change- if you want a space get out of bed earlier, however is there an etiquette to this type of thing?

lolwut, seriously?

porsche959

kencoo wrote: »

My view wont change- if you want a space get out of bed earlier, however is there an etiquette to this type of thing?

Only etiquette here is some people are ignorant tossers.

kencoo

I was a p***ed off but then got to thinking that if i had to climb over a rake of bikes to get at a lock it would be a right pain (albeit your own making). then i wasnt sure if they were cross because i took their space or because they had to climb over bikes to get their lock...

Limestone1

Depends on where I'd say. where I work there are ample spaces for everyone so most people leave the locks and park in the same place every day - no need to encroach and if you did, you might upset someone .
If you are talking about public spaces with limited parking then folk can't expect to reserve a spot. Though you may be encountering someone who has been there for 20 years though so maybe he has seen your like come and go ....

V Eight

Cover the said lock in marmalade and honey or anything else stickey to hand......

NomadicGray

I'd make it a point to lock up there every day even if every other space was empty

seamus

Look, everyone knows you can't reserve a spot. First come, first served.

The only real etiquette is to park your bike in such a way that you're not taking up more space than you have to, to not throw your bike against someone else's, and most definitely do not lock your bike to someone else's unless you know their bike and they know yours.

This guy sounds like a prize moron.

check_six

Quite a few locks left all over the racks in my place. Many without any owner.

Park where's convenient for you. Let the other punter worry about finding a spot afterwards.

Best thing overall is to actually join forces with the other cyclists (particularly an awkward flecker who would leave a postit) and lobby for more racks.

fixie fox

If it's a public space there they can't be reserved.
If it's a work space, ask whoever is in charge if that is possible.
Leave a note on the lock owner's bike advising them of this, and who to contact if they have a complaint ???
And if you want to be really cheeky, also leave your name and phone no. in case 'they have a problem' (maybe that depends on how big you are, but it's more easy to be a bully at a distance rather than face-to-face)

ZiabR

Can your work not provide more bike locking stations? There are not overly expensive. Have you approached your place of work to discuss?

seamus

fixie fox wrote: »

Leave a note on the lock owner's bike

That was going to be my next suggestion if the OP comes back to another post-it. Leave your own post-it on the other lock saying, "You appear to have left your lock in my parking space. Please remove this lock and refrain from leaving it here again".

smacl

Maybe before calling the lock owner a tosser, and adding post-its to their lock affixed with marmalade or honey, do a quick check that said owner isn't your boss, your bosses boss, or some evil yoke from catering that's likely poison your coffee.

Diarmuid

I would just ignore it. Escalating the situation, even if he deserves it, is not worth the hassle.

doolox

I once had a run in over a trivial matter like this on the way to work, turns out the opponent was in charge of travel arrangements at my workplace.

Tread carefully.

Wishbone Ash

Drury Street used to be great. Everyone who wished to leave their heavy locks had their own unofficial spot. I had the same one for a few years but now find myself having to work my way through several bikes in 'my' space to try to retrive my lock and cables and then find another spot.

kenmc

Diarmuid wrote: »

I would just ignore it. Escalating the situation, even if he deserves it, is not worth the hassle.

^^^^^ I think we have a suspect ^^^^^

Bloggsie

kencoo wrote: »

If you leave a lock on a rack is it then "yours"? Bike racks are a premium in work, first come first served with the late comers left to lock their bikes to whatever they can find or even the street. There are always locks left on the rack without the bikes- i assumed they were just too heavy to bring home...one whole rack is full of locks however if there is a space i take it as i did this morning.
Found a postit this evening on my saddle stating that i had parked on their lock and not to do it again.... before i parked i did make sure that the owner of the lock would still have access to take it off - albeit awkward.My view wont change- if you want a space get out of bed earlier, however is there an etiquette to this type of thing?

in my job (approx) 900 people of which there are about 100-200 every day cyclists regardless of weather & there is about 300 or spaces for bikes. over the last few weeks the number of cyclists has multiplied dramtically. One of my co workers mentioned that he overheard a few comments about people "thinking they own a spot/what gives the right to lock their bike in the same spot everyday" his response was "1st up best dressed, if you want a spot get in early" enough said.
As for reserving a spot, you dont have a divine right to one, should your company be decent enough to provide a space for secure bike parking, use it as you would with any other company privilege, ie dont take the P**s and annoy the sh1te out of colleagues.

Rant over, breathe again!

dave_o_brien

In my office, we have very few. One tenant struck an agreement with the landlord that he would pay for his own one, and installed a sheffield stand in a concrete kicker. As far as I'm concerned, that's his, and I'd be annoyed if I were him when he arrives this morning...

For public racks, the bang of entitlement described in the op is unreal.

dreamerb

dave_o_brien wrote: »

One tenant struck an agreement with the landlord that he would pay for his own one, and installed a sheffield stand in a concrete kicker. As far as I'm concerned, that's his, and I'd be annoyed if I were him when he arrives this morning...

That's a highly unusual situation though. Would love to be able to do that, as I detest the racks they have at my workplace, and am convinced that someday I'll arrive down to a wheel out of true or outright buckled. The better (or, less worse) racks also have a lot of corpse bikes clogging them up which haven't moved in months or longer. Must nag the building managers to get some moved...

@op: It's very rare for bike parking spaces to be allocated in any way in private office parking - you could check with your facilities management / building management / personnel if there is such a policy, but you'd expect that if there were, people would be informed of it.

I've sympathy for people who don't want to cart heavy locks to and from work daily (I do myself, but don't have far to go), but *if* you leave them locked to a rack, it's only good manners to do so in an unobstructive fashion, and (unless there really is allocation, which I doubt) it's outright obnoxious to leave passive aggressive post-its.

Diarmuid

kenmc wrote: »

^^^^^ I think we have a suspect ^^^^^

In before 8am! I've the pick of the rack but my spot is always free

Peter T

The post-it guy sounds like a right ejit. By his logic he could drive to work park his car in the staff car park, when his day is done back out the space open the boot and put a cone down to reserve his special spot for the next morning.

marketty

Idleater wrote: »

Put a towel over said lock/bike tomorrow.

Ah yes the little known towel/lock move in rock paper scissors

Wishbone Ash

Bloggsie wrote: »

in my job (approx) 900 people of which there are about 100-200 every day cyclists ....


.... "1st up best dressed, if you want a spot get in early" enough said...

500 staff in my work place and no bike racks. In saying that, there's only one cyclist! :pac:

I'd imagine it must be difficult in workplaces where there is an over lap with shift changes. That causes a problem in my workplace with car parking - the day shift staff have to arrive before the night shift leave and vice versa.

...and then there's the 'office'hours' staff who regularly complain that every spot is taken when they arrive.

ErinGoBrath

I've seen locked left on racks in our office.

I'm pretty sure that it's not to 'reserve' the rack but just to save the botheration of carrying a bulky lock home and back to work. i.e. Doesn't need a lock at home.

Green&Red

ANy update?

Danjamin1

ErinGoBrath wrote: »

I've seen locked left on racks in our office.

I'm pretty sure that it's not to 'reserve' the rack but just to save the botheration of carrying a bulky lock home and back to work. i.e. Doesn't need a lock at home.

I do this, I leave my lock in work on the rack but it's not to reserve a space, just to save me bringing it home. If someone's parked up in the space that's fine, I'll lock my bike elsewhere. Half the time I won't even bother to park my bike in the same space I left my lock in the first place.

NS77

Danjamin1 wrote: »

I do this, I leave my lock in work on the rack but it's not to reserve a space, just to save me bringing it home. If someone's parked up in the space that's fine, I'll lock my bike elsewhere. Half the time I won't even bother to park my bike in the same space I left my lock in the first place.

^ What he said! Pain in the arse bringing a Kryptonite for a spin twice a day. Easier to leave it on the rack!

CramCycle

NS77 wrote: »

^ What he said! Pain in the arse bringing a Kryptonite for a spin twice a day. Easier to leave it on the rack!

Always a risk that a scrote will half cut/weaken the lock, making it easier to steal when the bike is there, I would recommend moving the position of the bike away from where the lock was left.

Not sure if it happens anymore but i remember it being in a thread a few years ago.

NS77

CramCycle wrote: »

Always a risk that a scrote will half cut/weaken the lock, making it easier to steal when the bike is there, I would recommend moving the position of the bike away from where the lock was left.

Not sure if it happens anymore but i remember it being in a thread a few years ago.

True - luckily the rack in my office is within a security protected carpark

Wicklowrider

Worked in a place once where there was lots of spaces - more than were needed. I always left my lock and it wasn't in anyones way.
One morning there was a huge electric bike plonked right on top of the lock and I couldn't get my lock out.Must have been half dozen empty places and yer man puts his monstrosity on my lock. So I deflated the tyre to show my annoyance.
Went on in and showered and then felt bad about what I had done. Back out to the rack with my tiny mini pump and spent at least 15 minutes pumping back your man's tyre and worked up more sweat than the ride in.
Some things just aren't worth it.

tomasrojo

On a tangent, I have a mild but persistent wish that people would lock up with the drivetrain on the outside. If you like to Sheldon your bike it's the better orientation, but you get a handlebar clash if, as is mostly the case, your neighbour had parked drivetrain in.

I haven't ever left a note to that effect.

tomasrojo

If you google-image "sheldon your bike" you see all the bikes parked drivetrain out ... except from the image on the page Sheldon Brown made to demonstrate the technique.

Alek

tomasrojo wrote: »

"sheldon your bike"

quozl

Alek wrote: »

Seeing as the wheel isn't even bent there's no way that bike was Sheldon locked...

Lusk_Doyle

NS77 wrote: »

^ What he said! Pain in the arse bringing a Kryptonite for a spin twice a day. Easier to leave it on the rack!

Hello Clark Kent so.

budgemook

Peter T wrote: »

The post-it guy sounds like a right ejit. By his logic he could drive to work park his car in the staff car park, when his day is done back out the space open the boot and put a cone down to reserve his special spot for the next morning.

There's a guy on my road that does this outside his house. It annoys the hell out of me.

As for locks on racks, loads do it in my place but definitely not for reserving spots I wouldn't think. I always park on them anyway. The other day though I noticed some prick had parked their bike sideways taking up three spots, can you believe that??

italodisco

Lol just become the apha małe haha !
I had a similar issue so I decided to wait one morning for the pr**k and basically roar at him in front of a full car park that if he leaves a smart note reserving spots and being bullish about it I e more time that I will rip his f**king head off.

Worked like a charm, all are now mannerly and we'll behaved at the bike rack !!!

No Pants

budgemook wrote: »

There's a guy on my road that does this outside his house. It annoys the hell out of me.

Would that be considered littering?

A neighbour in Carlow used to use two or three cones in a similar manner. Anytime I saw them on my way home, normally the far side of 01:00, I'd pick them up and lob them into his garden.

Idleater

No Pants wrote: »

Would that be considered littering?

Off topic but
One of the residents where I live suggested putting a "residents only parking" sign where we all Park (not designated side of road public parking) to save spots close to our houses when we were chatting with the community guard a while back.
The guard simply asked if she was sufficiently insured to back up that assertion should there ever be a claim or incident.
Suffice to say, the idea never went further.

Santa Cruz

V Eight wrote: »

Cover the said lock in marmalade and honey or anything else stickey to hand......

"anything else sticky to hand" What do you do down there?

EmptyTree

tomasrojo wrote: »

If you like to Sheldon your bike......

When I first saw this I thought you were referring to the programme the big bang theory and that it meant someone parking their bike in a awkward or peculiar way......:rolleyes:

ThisRegard

Peter T wrote: »

The post-it guy sounds like a right ejit. By his logic he could drive to work park his car in the staff car park, when his day is done back out the space open the boot and put a cone down to reserve his special spot for the next morning.

Reminds me of when my sister in law lived in Drumcondra and one of her neighbours would reserve an area on the street with wheelie bins, I don't think they even owned a car. I'd move the bins from the street and park. I'd always come out to find a post it stuck to the car saying they put the bin there for a reason, but never state that reason. I'd put it back through their letter box every time until they eventually gave up.

HivemindXX

EmptyTree wrote: »

When I first saw this I thought you were referring to the programme the big bang theory and that it meant someone parking their bike in a awkward or peculiar way......:rolleyes:

I assumed it was a reference to this:

No Pants

ThisRegard wrote: »

Reminds me of when my sister in law lived in Drumcondra and one of her neighbours would reserve an area on the street with wheelie bins, I don't they even owned a car. I'd move the bins from the street and park. I'd always come out to find a post it stuck to the car saying they put the bin there for a reason, but never state that reason. I'd put it back through their letter box every time until they eventually gave up.

Definitely one for the council. You're only supposed to put your bin out after a certain hour on bin day.

happytramp

italodisco wrote: »

Lol just become the apha małe haha !
I had a similar issue so I decided to wait one morning for the pr**k and basically roar at him in front of a full car park that if he leaves a smart note reserving spots and being bullish about it I e more time that I will rip his f**king head off.

Worked like a charm, all are now mannerly and we'll behaved at the bike rack !!!

Everybody at your work hates you.

ThisRegard

No Pants wrote: »

Definitely one for the council. You're only supposed to put your bin out after a certain hour on bin day.

She was a bit of a fruit. Just remembered that soon after the post-its stopped, she began to ring the gardai to complain about mad parties in the house. There was 4 of us there one night when they knocked, we invited them in to inspect Sodom and they were told of her being a general nuisance, they more or less told us they themselves were fed up with her and they knocked into her then. Not sure what happened after that.

DaveyDave

I haven't been to many places where bike racks were a necessity other than when I went to college. The racks were usually full but that's down to people being too lazy to cross the road to the other building and use the rack there. As far as I know, big locks are left more for convenience than anything else as they weren't in the way and easy to access with bikes being locked.

When I lock the bike in Drury St I have locked it where there's various locks big and small, but that's down to it being full. I generally lock my bike in the exact same spot on Drury St that I considered my "spot" then one day someone was in it, so I just locked it in the next space. Just a personal preference really.

If you think leaving a lock saves your spot you're a twat. I see a space, I'm locking my bike there. If you want it, be there before me. Simple as.

beauf

Wicklowrider wrote: »

Worked in a place once where there was lots of spaces - more than were needed. I always left my lock and it wasn't in anyones way.
One morning there was a huge electric bike plonked right on top of the lock and I couldn't get my lock out.Must have been half dozen empty places and yer man puts his monstrosity on my lock. So I deflated the tyre to show my annoyance.
Went on in and showered and then felt bad about what I had done. Back out to the rack with my tiny mini pump and spent at least 15 minutes pumping back your man's tyre and worked up more sweat than the ride in.
Some things just aren't worth it.

Love that story....