Owner Of NYPD-Confiscated Bike Wants To Sue

If you go to KarmaArmy.com, you can register your bikes/other gear, and if something gets stolen/goes missing, you can send out a virtual amber alert or "KarmaAlert" to other geographically relevant members. It's free to use the database and community features. Go register your gear and pass on the good Karma.

that looks like way more than 30 bikes to me...

Take a look at the "Photo"! Pretty obvious that the "delinquents " in this are the "Higher Ups" in the Admin. of the NYPD! The driver & helper are totally committed to enjoying destroying any item that they collect!

visit www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com and see some great bikes that come with a less expensive paintjob.

Publicizing "Obama's route" is like telling the "Taliban" when a high value target is available! THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE!!

Destroying others property is an offence to morality and deserves retribution! SACK those involved and Pay reasonable/replace the destroyed item!

Is it safe to cycle in NYPD area? I doubt that judging by this pathetic behaviour

Y does he sue all the assholes who voted for Mr. O?

Sounds like a serious yupster fixie, he should sue the secret service too while he's at it

Or maybe a good road bike.

Good. This should some mainstream coverage.

Why would anyone spend $50,000+ on a car? Don't park it on the street then. That's ridiculous. They get damaged so easily.

Full O' Shit.

Bullshit.

His bike should be repaired and he should get an apology, nothing more.

And there's no fucking way those 'extras' cost 1500.

+1. Granted, the police have no intention of paying for damages. But the fleece job the guy is trying to do to them as retribution is not swaying me towards his cause.

Unless you end up on a jury hearing his case, your lack of support isn't going to hurt his "cause."

These hipster bikers dont obey traffic signs, why would they look at a notice posted two days in advance?

cars run through red lights, who would expect them to read the signs either?

but we do. and this is the first time those 'no parking' signs have ever applied to bikes, why would bikers think they applied that day?

and yes, going to work is so hip.

"No Parking Thursday." Who does this notice apply towards?

What posted notices? There were none according to the Times. Your ability to read is a bad as the "hipster bikers".

The signs definitely were there, I distinctly remember seeing them, as I live near the route. However, the signs were cryptic; they just looked like typical signs you'd see if there was going to be a TV shoot. They simply said "No parking thursday." The signs should have said under it "Unattended cars will be towed and bikes will have locks cut."

Especially one that didn't actually exist.

See also this tweet by bike messenger Austin Horse, who wrote on the day of the great bike purge:

"Did you or someone you know get your bike stolen by the cops today? My lawyer friend wants to take your case."

If you commute by bike on a daily basis, spending $1,000-2,000 on a really solid, well equipped commuter bike isn't outrageous at all. Buying a decent bike at this price is cheap, because a good bike can easily last you 15-20 years if you take care of it. Or if the NYPD doesn't wreck it for no reason.

It's absurd that the police couldn't have handled this in an orderly fashion. They could have flyered the street in the days leading up to the visit, stationed a few beat cops to inform people not to lock up there or done many other things. Clipping everyone's locks isn't the proper way to handle this.

that would involve doing "work".

that would involve cops having brains which they don't.

1. everyone say's 'i'm going to sue' in the heat of the moment, but almost no one ever does.

2. who spends $1500 for a paint job on a bike?!

Of course NYPD could have handled this HELLVA lot better; no signs saying anything about bikes, that sucks.

the $1500 also included streamers for the 4th of july

lol

mingusahum wins.

He wrote 1500$ for a custom paint job and ETC. That could've included new wheels, perhaps a comfy ass saddle and seatpost, new crankset, or a plethora of other things that he could've spent on his bicycle.

Yep. In the throes of hatred and anti-bike bigotry, people's reading comprehension seems to go down the drain.

expensive saddles, other various not-damaged parts are completely salvageable, and would not apply to either the repair or the replacing of frame and bent rims.

Besides, what is the extent of the bend to the rims in question? Are we talking ruined, or in need of a truing?

The "damage" to the frame sounds like damage to the custom paint job.

Perhaps if you weren't expressing your anger at the NYPD by way of trying to fleece them as punishment, I would have a bit more sympathy for your troubles. What would the costs of actual repairs be?

sorry. didn't mean to refer directly to you, as you are not the owner.

Q: "who spends $1500 for a paint job on a bike?!"

A: People do, but generally not on a bike that costs less than the paint job. $900 is still an "off the rack" bike, the extra $1500 would have been better spent on a nicer bike to begin with. Either way, it's not a super great idea to throw a chain or U-lock around it and leave it on the avenue, even on a day that NYPD is not cutting locks for the POTUS. For that, there are perfectly reasonable bikes for much less money.

did they have bomb squad removing these bikes? i mean, they were confident enough to unlock/remove them not afraid of them exploding... what exactly made them think it wasn't okay to just leave them?

Exactly. It looks like they just threw them on a truck and carted them away to store in evidence or some back room. Not something that you'd really regard as an actual threat.

who spends $$ on anything that /you/ aren't into?

i wouldn't spend that much on a bike, but im not into bikes. you probably wouldn't spend thousands of dollars on rare/weird/new cellphones a year, but i do, cause its what im into. just as i don't spend thousands of dollars on booze at bars over the year like you probably do. see my point? personal choice. its no different than someone spending shit loads of money on cars/car shit.. if thats your transport, you make it your own, as this person did.

Oh, and one more thing. None of this would stop the Williamsburg Ninja Chicks.

I'm just saying.

what ARE you saying?

"Bike bomb"? Really?

I'd be more concerned about shoes and vests. They should confiscate everyone's shoes when Our Leader comes to town. And shut down the subway too. Yeah, that's the ticket.

I agree with the bike owner, it's ridiculous how it was handled. Also, the price the person paid is besides the point here. They can spend millions if they wanted to. You can get a cheap ass bike for yourself, leave other peoples decisions alone.

Why do people spend so much cash on a car and leave it parked in the street? This is America, and as people, we are free to purchase whatever we desire and we have the expectation that our property will not be seized by the government unlawfully. Cars are told to move, why aren't bicycles given the same courtesy? The man spent 150$ on locks believing that his bike would have a lesser chance of being cut or stolen, this being perfectly reasonable. Had the NYPD notified him in advance in a more coherent manner, this problem would not have arose.

You're forgetting that these are bicycles. They are a lower class of vehicle, which shows that their owners are a lower class of human being. Therefore, they do not deserve any rights or consideration. They should be grateful that superior beings, such as those who drive cars, allow them to live -- sometimes.

Touché, très vrai.

"I am waiting for an attorney to return my call "

Wonder why?

Maybe because it's the weekend?

The call to the lawyer was made by at least by 3:00 pm on Friday. Read the link.

Whenever I call my lawyers, they don't wait until after the weekend to address an issue where money is involved. I've often gotten calls from lawyers over the weekend.

Perhaps the answer is that the lawyer is not going to waste time on the measly and dubious contingency fees from this whiner's unsubstanitated assertions?

Agreed - I have no doubt that bikes out there cost this much and a hell of lot more actually but something doesn't sound right that he parked it out on the street. But even so - welcome to New York Pal - cars get towed everyday and are damaged in the process..

not really. tow trucks are intended to tow cars without damaging them, and professional tow truck drivers drive them.

wildpansy..man, no comment! Sue! Sue! Sue!