Owner Of NYPD-Confiscated Bike Wants To Sue

Rafcard's Twitter

The bicycles seized by the NYPD along President Obama's motorcade route on Thusday will be available for their owners to pick up tomorrow, between 4 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the 7th Precinct (19 1/2 Pitt Street; map). However, one of pissed-off owner managed to get his or her bike on Friday and posted this comment on This is Fyf:

Just wanted to let you know that I am one of the bike owners. I have already retrieved my bike however it was heavily damaged. Both rims were bent and the frame had significant damage. Obviously this damage is from the way my bike has been handled. I inquired who to send the bill to and they sarcastically told me to basically eat it. I am waiting for an attorney to return my call however I fully intend to sue. My bike is worth $900.00 alone stock, the lock they cut was worth another $150.00, and the custom additions I've added (custom paint scheme, etc) is worth roughly another $1500.00. I also intend to go after damages if possible.

The NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told City Room, "All vehicles, including 165 cars and 30 bikes were removed as a precaution in advance of the presidential motorcade. Notices were posted two days in advance, on Tuesday," (he also "appended a brief history of the deployment of bicycle bombs in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Germany, Iraq and India") but City Room only found signs indicating "No Parking" along the motorcade route on Friday.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 25, 2010 1:11 PM

Comments [rss]

KarmaReed

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.

blondeinthecity

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

skippy

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

LibHater

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

kazubes

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

CR

Or maybe a good road bike.

graybanks

Good. This should some mainstream coverage.

Spirit of 76

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.

ed_Extinct

Full O' Shit.

inoyourider

Bullshit.

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

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

Guesty McSpanky

+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.

jaycjay

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

GOP

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

oofstar

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.

Pålægpåtoppenafsmørrebrød

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

ktinnyc

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

REALITY CHECK

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."

jaycjay

Especially one that didn't actually exist.

paolo mastrangelo

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."

emilydickinson

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.