Seized Bikes Are Waiting For You at 7th Precinct

In addition to keeping on the NYPD for an answer on compensation for damage when there was no prior notification, the logic behind the decision needs to be seriously brought into question. Here in DC, Obama's motorcade, Biden's motorcade, and the motorcades of the world leaders du jour are driving around this town every day, and no one ever take bikes off the routes. When the NYPD says, "No, they just did this because the president was coming and they didn't want anything on the sidewalks," the spokesman needs to be more specific about who "they" are. Seems unlikely it's the Secret Service or anyone else on the President's detail, because they don't give a shit if bikes are on the routes back home, which would put the entire boneheaded move on the NYPD.

God I HATE the NYPD with every fiber of my being. My wife gets beaten and robbed in our own building lobby, it takes a WEEK for detectives to even come by and ask questions! The fat ass cops wouldn't let her use their cell-phones to call me after, they told her "the precinct has a phone you can use". Bloomburg's Gestapo is f-ing evil, corrupt, and almost useless for anything but keeping the good people of New York under their f-ing thumbs. I hope they get theirs one day. Karma's a bitch!

SO if I just call, I can get a free bike. SWEET!

I think they should just use the system from "Homer vs the City of New York". If your vehicle (bike) is illegally parked in the borough of Manhattan, it will be thrown into the East River at your expense!

Mine's the one on the bottom!

I'll be sure to go down to the 7th and get back my brand new Bianchi track bike. Oh, and your paying for the lock right? Thanks NYPD for being so retarded. Lawsuit will be following soon, giving me even more money.

Your stuff just got housed because of Obama? Better get used to it..

I saw on twitter there is a lawyer looking to take cases of bikes "stolen" yesterday, might be worth a look.

how about a link

If anyone who had their bike seized wants to get in touch with that attorney, feel free to email me. johnd(at)gothamist

oh, "they might be secret pipe bombs"

so, like, then do they start demolishing buildings along presidential motorcade paths because the buildings might be "secret gigantic building-sized bombs"?

i thought the 'bama had that badass monster of a limo to protect him? he prrrrooobabaly safe in there id think. ridiculous.

can someone explain again why the bikes need to be confiscated? machine gun handle bars? suicide ghost bikes? i din get it

if they had to pay everyone back for their locks and paint, i wonder how much more expensive it would've been to cut the sign posts.

knowing how the city over bills for everyone probably something like $1000 per sign

So if the NYPD had used their brains they SHOULD have cut the locks and then duct-taped them to the bikes. Then, the owner could prove ownership by opening the lock with key/combination.

That picture is tragic. My derailer was totally messed up when ONE bike fell into it in the bike room.

good thinking!!!

nypd... no brains, all braun.

Brawn. Braun is a coffee maker.

Well, coffee goes well with the doughnuts, so...

Here's a serious suggestion. Someone whose bike was stolen should hand-write and mail a polite letter of complaint to the president. The man reads letters. Sure, it's a long shot, but you never know.

It's very unlikely that Obama had anything to do with this or even any knowledgeof it. How the path his motorcade takes is secured really isn't something the President deals with.

I also doubt it came from the Secret Service or anyone connected to federal government. History tells us that this is an NYPD move.

I better take pictures of myself with all my stuff in case the cops swipe it

No prior notice? Seriously? Everyone should get fully compensated for their ruined locks, and wasted time. It`s well known that you will get clipped by the park service if you lock to a tree, or by the NYPD if you lock to a subway fence, but it`s widely accepted as legal to lock to a sign post. No warning signs=bike theft by the police. I hope this criminal decision comes back to bite whomever made it.

Please keep us updated concerning the NYPD reimbursing those affected for the costs of bike locks, any damages to the bikes, paint repairs, etc.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and EFFECTS, against unreasonable searches and SEIZURES, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be SEIZED.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, NOR BE DEPRIVED of life, liberty, or PROPERTY, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

How does the Patriot Act impact those Amendments? ::disdainfully raises brow::

I get your point, but a law can not impact the Constitution and its amendments. Whatever PATRIOT says doesn't change anything here.

The key word is "unreasonable" which means you're pretty much at the whims of the judicial branch regardless of what the amendment says.

So what happens to the bikes that aren't picked up? Do they get auctioned off?

No, they're incorporated into training NYPD recruits into how to tackle bike riders.

that was funny

During the festivities, the NYPD will be on hand to etch ID codes on your bike, making it easier to reclaim it next time they steal it from you.

That's a great line, John.

Please mention this when a member of the PBA calls for a donation.

The PBA will never call for a donation. All those phone calls asking for money are scams.

This is ridiculous. Is it really against the law to chain up your bike to sign posts? Usually I see one bike rack per 50 blocks in Manhattan, it is just incredible that they think that one u-shaped metal bar is enough bike space to accommodate an entire neighborhood.

And what happens if you don't have a photo of yourself with your bike? I mean, why would you even HAVE a photo of yourself with your bike, unless you are a 12-year-old girl getting your first bike?

What makes this even worse is how the NYPD is treating the whole situation like it is no big deal and it is the bike owner's fault. I don't know why I'm surprised that the NYPD is so ineffective.

And to think Bloomberg likes to promote "green" living in NYC!

who's paying for get the bikes repainted from being THROWN on top of each other?

who's paying for all the clipped locks?

The new stimulus package will pay for your new locks.

that was retarded.

Seriously, what the fuck?

Did they also take bikes from the U posts?

100 dollar bike locks, gone like tears in rain.

All those moments will be lost in time

Nexus 6 can break locks bare handed.

seriously. bring a photo of you with the bike?

You, the bike and a copy of a newspaper from April 21 or earlier!

I don't think I've ever seen a "bike rack" in Manhattan. U shaped bike posts? Definitely. Bike rack? Not at all.

Look around more. For instance, there are quite a few of the fancy subway vent/bike rack/bench combinations on lower Sixth Ave.

So is the flatfoot implying if the bikes were locked up on bike racks they wouldn't have confiscated the bikes?