Commuting - What are you NOT allowed to lock your bike to?

Are there objects that you are not permitted to lock your bike to? For example, I suppose you are not permitted to lock your bike to a tree? A road sign/bus stop sign? What about the parking meter? Street light pole? etc...

Depends on where you live. There are some nut jobs in NYC that go crazy when you lock to a tree, as well as cops that will ticket and confiscate.

Most other cities will leave cyclist alone.

This will vary by particular local community (and even by location within a community). If you specified your location then maybe members from that area could give advice on local practices.

Thanks. I am in NYC. Oh by the way, I just bought an onguard U lock. At first I was happy that they have a limited anti-theft protection offer, but then I saw this: "This limited anti-theft program offer is valid only in the United States. However, the limited anti-theft program is void in the state of New York."! That means, their lock can't deal with NY thieves!

Other thieve tricks reported from NYC are to cut poles and put an insert in so they can slide up out of your lock or put tape to hide a cut in a bike rack. Take care.

There was a news article some time ago about a NYC tree conservancy type employee that goes nuts on cyclist.

For a while, it was reported that cops were confiscating bikes locked to sign post - some sort of retaliation of critical mass.

The popemobille.

Do not lock to anything that belongs to MTA, it will get cut & the bike will get confiscated.

Where I live you can lock up to just about anything; I've never even heard of someone having their bike confiscated. If I lived in NYC I would probably have a Dahon folding bike and just take it with me everywhere.

I would assume a handrail on a handicapped ramp is off limits.

I once locked my bike to some bars over a knee level window and got yelled at by the lady who owned it.

Can't really think of anything else.

I tried locking my bike to a sleeping homeless person before, came out and bike was gone...do not do this

I tried locking my bike to a sleeping homeless person before, came out and bike was gone...do not do this

You know times are tough when bike thieves will steal a homeless person to get a bike.

Around here, you're not supposed to lock to a parking meter or signpost, but a lot of people do it anyway. If a bike sits for a long time (weeks), it'll get tagged and removed. Some meters have bike lock circles.

You're not allowed to lock your bike to anything that the property owner doesn't want you to lock your bike to. If you're in a public area, then you're not allowed to lock to anything the local law says you're not allowed to.

It varies so much that it's probably not useful to just ask the general question.

Enforcement is a whole other issue too.

Are there objects that you are not permitted to lock your bike to?

Another bike. :)

Just kidding. The rules here are relax and I have seen bike locked to a grocery shopping cart in front of the store lol. I guess it's better than nothing. As long as it does not impede the flow of traffic for pedestrian or car, then they will leave it alone, but if it block thing like exit for an emergency situation, you may get an warning.

Another bike. :)

Just kidding. ...

Reminds me of the scam to steal bicycles by locking theirs to yours and coming back at midnight to bust your lock.

Don't lock your bicycle to anything that might require emergency access, gas-mains etc... handicap rails are ok as long as you're locking on the OUTSIDE of the walkway.

I tried locking my bike to a sleeping homeless person before, came out and bike was gone...do not do this

Was the homeless person gone, too? ;)

Another bike. :)

Just kidding. The rules here are relax and I have seen bike locked to a grocery shopping cart in front of the store lol. I guess it's better than nothing. As long as it does not impede the flow of traffic for pedestrian or car, then they will leave it alone, but if it block thing like exit for an emergency situation, you may get an warning.
I've done this a few times. Many stores in my area don't have bike racks, so I use what works!

When I was in college, we couldn't lock up to any fencing on campus. All the railing around the library and other buildings was all off limits. Light poles and bike racks were about the only safe places.

gas meters is usually frowned upon.

dont lock to another person locked bicycle ...teehee

dont lock to bike racks that arn't bolted down.
If a business is going to do a favor and put a rack in, atleast they can do it properly...

I locked my bike to a grocery cart once...but then I couldn't use it.

Jerry H