Ask the RIOC: May I Park My Bike Tonight?

12:51 PM EDT on June 29, 2009

Mission accomplished? Plenty of room at the RI subway station rack. Photo: Roosevelt Islander

It seems the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation has altered its policy prohibiting overnight bike rack parking. In an effort to keep them clear of abandoned bikes, the RIOC previously announced that any bike found on the public racks by the subway and tram stations between 2 and 5 a.m. would be confiscated and, if not claimed within 48 hours, donated to the island thrift store.

Now, reports Roosevelt Islander, the RIOC is making allowances for late-night cyclists -- providing they let the agency know who they are ahead of time.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Director [Keith] Guerra advises that bikes maybe locked up at the tram and subway bike racks during the 2-5 AM hoursbut there has been no change in the policy that prohibits overnightstorage of bikes on a regular basis. The intent of this policy is toallow late night commuters to use the bike racks, not to allowresidents to use these bike racks as a permanent storage area as somehave previously been doing. As of now, contact the Public Safety Departmenteach day you plan on having your bicycle locked up at the Subway orTram bike racks during the 2-5 AM hours and it will not be removed. Ifyou need your bike locked up during these hours on a regular basis,advise the Public Safety Department of your situation. They willattempt to work out a solution.

Does this sound like a viable step to meet regular island cyclists halfway -- or is it, however well-intentioned, another obstacle to getting around by bike? We're especially interested in hearing from cyclists who have, or will be, "registering" with RIOC.

Brad Aaron @

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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