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Cops were breaking out the heavy machinery again and revving up the chainsaws—it's bike removal time once again on Bedford Avenue. Greenpoint resident Ben Running started shooting video of the cops removing bicycles in another fiery scene on Bedford and North 8th in the heart of Williamsburg. Police make it clear that they don't want him shooting because as Running says, "They don't want you to videotape and put it on the internet." So like any decent citizen journalist, Running did just that.
While Running said that the bikes looked like ones that were currently in use, an officer from the nearby 94th Precinct in Greenpoint told the Post that the bikes removed have been there for at least three months. Officer Cole Pletka said, “From a distance, they might have looked like they were rideable, but the bikes were on top of each and both wheels were bent."
The local community board around Williamsburg has advocated for a “tag and clip” policy, where inactive bicycles would get a sign posted on them warning them that they are in danger of being taken by cops. Running said, “Bikes shouldn’t be removed without some kind of notice.”
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The constant animosity against the NYPD is one of the most tiring parts of Gothamist (and it's readers) - as someone who works in the system and ALSO reads gothamist, there is such a disconnect between the way you guys report and what is actually happening. I guess it would be too much to ask for a little understanding towards the people who have one of the hardest, most demanding, and least rewarding jobs in the city.
Wait, you mean you want me to think that all police officers *aren't* cold-hearted scum? No way!
That being said, enough is enough. Sure, it's reasonable to video record something (and I think this is fine), but don't think you are serving some glorious purpose of enlightening the masses of the evil that NYPD officers spread. If you don't want your bikes to be removed forcibly, don't 'secure' them in a place where there is any chance of them being removed.
I disagree.
The NYPD needs to learn that they are supposed to be servants of the people... not the all-powerful bullies they often act like.
Raising attention to the baloney they do (I'm not talking about this particular incident) is an effective start.
If you think that being a member of the force is thankless, you should look around at how you treat law abiding citizens (again, not talking about this particular incident) and figure out why.
If you think the job is too hard or demanding, find another line of work.
So, please Gothamist, don't stop with these stories.
It's clear that Gothamist counts on those readers (and frequent hysterical commenters) who are childish douchebags with authority/parental issues and delusions of fighting the power. And yes, it is tiresome.
It's easy to hate NYPD because they make it so easy to hate them. Most people who have ever had to deal with cops will tell you about the arrogance and disdain they have to suffer from them. The people I've noticed who dependably praise cops either want to be one or have friends or family who are cops.
You may have a point.
Unfortunately for those of us not working in the system most of our involvement with the system is negative.
Negative because of the circumstances and because of the attitude many people in the system display.
Besides, this is news.
"one of the hardest, most demanding, and least rewarding jobs in the city."
Face it. No one, absolutely no one, believes that
any one of those three terms hold true.
And that includes the cops, if they are honest with themselves.
Hardest, most demanding, least rewarding? I would guess being a cook in Chinatown would qualify. Standing on your feet for eight hours or more, in heat, smoke and splattering grease, no customer mentioning you except maybe to complain that something was cooked badly, doing the same things day in and day out without any change, being paid somewhere around minimum wage for all this. A cop's job is easy by comparison.
I saw signs up earlier this week and last week, posted by the NYPD about the impending bike removals...
Can hipsters not read?
this isn't really a bad thing. many of the bikes locked up around the bedford L stop are abandoned and taking up valuable parking real estate. try getting a spot within a block of the station on a weekday after 11am. it's impossible.
although a tag and clip policy is probably better than unexpected chainsawing.
Most people won't have to worry about getting a spot then, seeing as how they are at work.
You forget that hipsters don't wake up until 11am and then they have to put on their funky rasta hat to work at art galleries. It ain't easy crashing in dad's loft condo.
ah, two very predictable responses from the peanut gallery.
begrudging those who do not follow the official culture's lifestyle guidelines is one of the marks of a small mind.
ok chief. "the official culture's lifestyle guidelines?"
Tell me how to pay rent without going to work, and I will spend half my new found free time reserving you a bike parking space. Something tells me you don't drive the night bus, so keep your condensing white whines to yourself.
whoops - that's condescending - damn auto spell.
I don't know what this guy does - but believe it or not there are tons of jobs in this city that aren't in offices, and start at different times in the day.
You know all those people that are at work at night when you're done with work for the day? they didn't start their day at 9am that day.
As far as money is concerned - I work an office job and don't make shit compared to my friends that work as bartenders or waiters pulling in $300 cash a night.
yeah this is so NOT news. They are just removing trashed bikes. So what. Stupid unenlightening video. I get sick of seeing all those dead bikes forever abandoned. SOmeone has to remove them. I cut a bike off our front stoop that was there for months, and I had put a sign on it for a few weeks. Sometime they create hazardous conditions as well.
Maybe its a slow news day?
Whenever I walk by a locked-up bike that's tipped over I try to straighten it up and put down the kickstand. It's a chicken-or-the-egg thing, but I suspect bike abandonment often starts when the bike gets tipped over and the wheels or frame get bent up from being stepped on, driven over, etc. Why the bike over says "Ah to hell with it" after that is another matter.
I am curious as to how much time has to go by for a bike to go from "parked" to "abandoned". If you're collecting parts or scrap metal, can you legally cut the chain yourself after x number of days?
Clearly not a chainsaw. Try to get at least the headline right.
What a brave cameraman! He is just like the hero blocking the tanks in Tiananmen Square.
Give me a break. Go tape a drug dealer or dirty come or something tough guy.
dirty cop that is.
Another exciting news flash from Gothamist.
Chainsaw?! That's not a chainsaw! I guess Billy Parker's never seen a chainsaw.
I'm disappointed. I only watched the video because I wanted to see how someone would manage to cut through u-locks or chains with a chainsaw.
Anytime something like this goes down in the 'burg, it feels sooooooo good
I wish they would hit several other spots you can barely pass through , with a midday Sawzall job by the NYPD. I miss the days when we had to walk our bikes up to our apartments.
Hey, it buzzes like a chainsaw. That's good enough for Billy. I mean, come on, has any NYC resident really seen a chainsaw in person? The closest they come is seeing it in some kind of slasher movie.
Neither a chainsaw nor a Sawzall (which is a reciprocating saw). It's a gas-powered cutoff saw.
Maybe the officer did not want the cameraman to be hit with the sparks that were flying towards him? What's the big deal?; the guy was able to film from a location a little further back.
Big deal. Hipsters get up in arms about the dumbest things. If only there was a time machine...in the old New York, cops would've just removed them without signs. That's if, the bikes were still there. Whatever happened to NYrs being touch and streetsmart enough to not leave their silly trendy single track out there all month?
Man, I don't even here NY accents here anymore. Just these whiney-entitled midwestern drones like the one in the video. Recycle their bikes into retaining walls.
I managed to fleece salvage a few seats and tires from
some of the bikes before they were stolen confiscate secured by
police. Craigslist, a stolen property free advertiser, is helping me to sell profit distribute
them to unsuspecting needy bike riders. I appreciate the mob's NYPD's efforts in pointing out which bikes were available to pilfer abandoned.
The Boriqua just walk down the street and slash tires and cut the seats into shreds... kick the rims and smash them to smithereens.... and then people trip on the collapsed piles of garbage they turn into...
The Wisconsin CheeseHead Hipsters are just "fighting the man". They are stopping the abusive Pigs from waging war on them by cutting bike locks. Dont you get it ??? this is a movement.. a struggle against the PIGS !!! Posting these videos on YouTube is essential in ending the Human Rights Violations these Pigs are committing.
Where is AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL when you need them ??? Maybe the "Whale Wars" captain and the crew from the Steve Irwin can come to Williamsburg next. Fight the Man !!!! Stop the lock cutting NOW !!!! End the occupation by these oppressive PIGS !!! End the Eco-Terrorism from those gas powered "Chain Saws" NOW !!!!
>>>>>>
NEW DORP MAN!!!
nypd stole mah bike bike bike