well, except when they remove the bus post.
locked up my bike on a sign post on 72nd & b'way last year while shopping at TJ's. It took me 30 minutes to do everything, and by the time i went up to my bike, they have apparently moved the bus post, and my bike was propped against a MTA vehicle. They apparently cut my lock (it was very hot to touch) and told me they waited 30 minutes for me to arrive, but since i didn't, they cut the lock. SOBs... Luckily, no one took my bike.