Union Station, already smarting from trying to illegally ban photographers is now decided to remove bikes it deems as too ugly.
imagine my shock and sadness when I got off the Metro after work Tuesday and my bike was missing from the bike rack outside Union Station.
I went to the nearest security guard to report the apparent theft, and he promptly retrieved my "stolen" bike. As it turned out, my bike had been judged to be "unsightly" by Union Station standards and had been impounded. They had cut the lock and confiscated the machine, obviously without bothering to verify whether it was abandoned or just a little beat up.
The author, Georgina Ardalan perhaps unfairly blames the city for this - Union Station follows the beat of it's own drummer - but it does not bode well for the site of DC's future bike rack. I would absolutely sue them for a new bike lock.
Some others wrote into the Post about their "unsightly" bikes and about the unsightly condition of the Sousa Bridge.
The trash and broken glass on the Sousa Bridge are a disgrace. They are unsightly.
The story was picked up by NBC4 and while they were filming someone from Union Station came out and told them they couldn't film there. NBC called to ask Union Station management about it but got no message. Ms Ardalan claims that when she went downstairs to claim her bike she saw many others in the basement.
I'm OK with removing abandoned bikes - if they have been truly abandoned. But you need a better methodology. Leave a sticker or tag on the bike for a good long time - and at Union Station I would say a month to account for people who took Amtrak on vacation - before removing it. And post your policy "To make sure their is plenty of bike parking for everyone we will remove bikes left over 25 days. Please see management if your bike is missing" might do the job.
Speaking of the bike station, it looks like Cincinnati is getting one too.
Cincinnati's Central Riverfront Park is being modified to include a bike shop where cyclists can rent wheels and lockers, get their bicycles repaired and even take a shower after a morning commute.
Carden said the park's $33 million first phase recently was re-engineered to include the 4,500-square-foot bike shop, accessible by an entrance off Mehring Way but located beneath the park's main fountain, south of the Freedom Center.
Someone sent me a link for this nice little facility something similar would go a long way to earning some needed bike karma for Union Station
A prototype Trek Stop Cycling Convenience Center was assembled on June 30 just off the bike path in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trek Stop is a 24/7/365 convenience center for cyclists which provides access to cycling products, information and a safe place to work on your bike. Need a tube at midnight? Need some air on the way to your morning commute? Not sure of the best route to get where youâre going? Need a poncho, some wetwipes, or a power bar?
Trek Stopâs got you covered . This full service vending machine is stocked with bicycle products, food and cold drinks, and features an information center which includes maps, a message board, and advertising space for local events and announcements. Thereâs also a covered maintenance area with a work stand, free air, and even how-to videos a cyclist can play with the push of a button just in case their having trouble fixing that flat or repairing their chain.
And on the subject of parking...
[Alexandria] installed 20 additional on-street bicycle parking spaces this month, including locations in Old Town, Carlyle, and Arlandria. Look for the distinctive black, "bike circle" racks and be sure to use the racks when you visit your favorite grocery store, yoga studio, post office or deli. Do you know of a location that needs bicycle parking?
Does anyone know it these are truly "on-street" or do they mean sidewalk.
Photo by JetBack to the lab
Comments