Who’s Afraid of Indoor Bike Parking?
In a story about the scarcity of secure parking for bike commuters, the Times captures the irrational phobia of bikes that most landlords and building managers seem to share:
"Bicycleracks are available outside for the convenience of bike riders," saidMaya Israel, a spokeswoman for Tishman Speyer. “Bicycles are notpermitted inside, for the safety of all our tenants and visitors."
While the supposed hazards posed by bikes inside a building remain unspecified, the scarcity of protected space is a known deterrent to would-be cyclists. The lack of secure parking is one of the main obstacles New Yorkers cite when asked why they don't commute by bike, according to a 2007 Department of City Planning survey [PDF, p. 19]. Not to mention, as Times reporter Colin Moynihan implies, that it's hardly "convenient" (or secure) to park your bike outside when only about 5,000 racks are available for 131,000 daily riders.
The piece, which omits the New York Times Building's own anti-bike history, culminates with a quote from bike commuter Robert Kotch that skewers the policies of commercial property owners:
“They work inside these fancy buildings where there’s this inexplicablehostile attitude towards bicycles,” he said. “It’s an arcane policythat says bikes are like the bubonic plague.”
Bike-friendly zoning regs can't come soon enough.
Photo: ynotbike/Flickr
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Wednesday’s Headlines: Another Big Day at City Hall Edition
Today is going to be another busy day for the livable streets crowd. So get ready with today's headlines.
Reporter’s Notebook: Will Eric Adams Ever Publicly Embrace Congestion Pricing?
The governor, the head of the MTA and the city's leading transit thinkers all celebrated congestion pricing on Tuesday as an historic moment while Mayor Adams spent Tuesday failing to live up to it.
Eyes on the Street: ‘Daylighting’ NYC Intersections Needs More Than Paint and Signs
We're gonna need more than paint and signs.
Tuesday’s Headlines: Gridlock Alert — And Gridlock Abort — Day Edition
A "Gridlock Alert" day is a perfect day for supporters of congestion pricing to rally in Union Square! Plus other news.
‘Crazy Nonsense’: City Now Allows (Cough) Plateless Vehicles to (Cough) Break Idling Law
City environmental protection officials are now refusing to punish owners of commercial vehicles for idling if the trucks don't have license plates — a move that has enraged citizen enforcers.
