Handicap parking posts. Are they safe to lock to?
 

Hi I've been locking my bike to a handicap parking post, I was wondering how easy it is to cut one of those to steal my bike? I use a fahgettabout it u lock so they would probably go for the post.

Also if it does get stolen can I ask my job to pay for the cost of the bike since they won't let me take it inside?

Make sure you are in no way blocking anyone parking there from getting where they need to go. It is probably easier to cut the lock than the post. Or lift the bike over the top of the post. Your job will just laff and laff if you ask for compensation.

Ask for a bike rack.

If they say no, get a friend with a truck (van is better) take one from a school/library and drop it off at work near the front door.

It's only a redistribution of public resources.

Here's a little story for you to consider. I worked in a retail strip mall for several years. A good portion of the folks that parked in the handicapped spots were elderly and not particularly well coordinated. AT LEAST once per month we would have to straighten or replace the sign posts, because these drivers would either misjudge how far away they were and they'd hit the pole pulling into the space, or often they "didn't see" the signpost at all, and they'd plow right through it instead of backing out of the space.

The signs are not near the parking spots. they are in the dirt in the front of the building. I asked them if I could bring my bike in the office and they told me I should lock it up on said handicap parking post.

It's not one of those cylindrical posts, it's those flat bent ones with the holes down the middle.

My only concern is how cuttable these posts are, they can't lift it above unless of course they remove the top of the sign, which opens up more doors of theft. How hard is that to do?

I doubt it would be any harder to cut than a decent lock. I'm sort of doubting a dedicated bike thief would have the tools to get through a handicapped parking sign if they didn't already have something that would destroy the lock.

My shart rate is disturbingly high!

No need to cut the post. The sign is affixed to the post with bolts, so a cordless nut driver or ratchet/socket combo will back the nuts off without a problem- so roughly a minute (if that) to remove the sign from the post and then your bike can be lifted up. The thief can then toss your bike in their truck/van and deal with the lock later.

my office building isnt even directly off of the sidewalk, and there really arent any pedestrians that walk by, its a more industrial local, warehouses, that sort of thing. i'm not sure if that is ultimately a good or bad thing.

Just being a bit paranoid is all.

oh great that makes me feel much better

there is a handicap entrance on the side of the building with railing, I guess that Is my much safer option, just that a lot of people walk up and down that thing i was wondering if I am obstructing an entrance

Usually there's something better around to lock a bike to.

Personally, I would be more concerned about a car going past the end of the parking spot and taking out the sign+bike than a thief.

in between the actual parking spot and the sign is a curb, and a sidewalk, followed by the bushes and such where the sign in located.

I live in a world of senior citizens who mistake the gas and brake pedal. You can get cars moving pretty quick in that time frame.

I wouldn't worry about anyone cutting the post or removing the sign from the top.
Those posts are a spade-base and usually just jabbed into the ground without a concrete anchor. It's likely that someone could just rock it a few times and yank it out.

Don't lock to a stairwell railing. Even locked to the outside of it, the fire department considers it a violation.
I'm a fan of the hipster high-lock when there's no rack available. Look for a fence and have at it.

What's a hipster high lock?

Also how should I hook it to a fence? You can cut through the those with wire cutters

Without a handicapped placard, you are, technically, in violation parking there, and could get a ticket at teh posted rate...... All it takes is for one handicapped person to complain, and the cops will write a ticket. The handicapped spot includes any painted area around that spot.

LoL... maybe it's just a "Tampa thing". I lock up as far from those spots as I can.

http://www.jbglassandboardup.com/med...20building.jpg

It's at my office and no one uses it. And yea in that case my bike would see some damage

And again, the post is behind the sidewalk

Since te sign is behind the sidewalk and some bushes, I doubt there are legal issues, but I'd look to see how hard it is to dig up or remove the sign. If the post is secured (i.e. in concrete), I wonder if you may be able to use those wholes for an advantage if you could get a cable or lock through them since it sounds like you could leave something attached semi-permanently.

If the sign was actually in a space, as others have said, I wouldn't park there but this is a different case.

no the holes are too small to fit my u lock chain through,

i think im gonna lock it up on the fence next to my building, if my u lock can fit on it that is

does your work provide employee parking for cars?
If so; then one of the funnier ideas -probably heard it here
is to stick a dead van in one of the spots, and use it as a bike locker.

Make sure it's not a Telespar or similar post. http://www.telespar.net/

I'm a big believer in "it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission." Surely you can find some place to put your bike that is out of the way. Don't talk to the boss, talk to another co-worker and ask if it's ok. I'd just bring it in and use good judgment in a place to put it out of the way and then see if someone tells you can't do it. Seriously, it's a little thing. The only way it's going to be be an issue is if someone complains about it and who would?

J.

Chain Link Fences / Hipsters
 

My experience has been that chain link fences are actually pretty secure. The trick is to anchor the bike at the vertical support post, (preferably with a u-lock encircling/straddling the post), the post is difficult to cut and the *fence* prevents lifting the bike up off the post.

Hipster High Lock ; Hipsters (generally late teen/twenty something, not necessarily bike messenger type;)) cyclists would lift their light weight "single speed"/"fixed gear" (SS/FG) bikes to the TOP of the 8 ft. tall chain link security fencing surrounding outdoor RAVES/concerts so that the handlebar would hook over the top of the fence, straddling a vertical post then u-locking the bike HIGH OFF THE GROUND.
RAZOR WIRE across the top of the fence? EVEN BETTER. They could then enjoy the entertainment without 'HARSHIN' THEY BUZZ', 'stressin' on they shway fixay gettin' ripped'.

Other cyclist seeing this, found that this technique worked extremely well on the 6 ft. and even 4 ft. tall chainlink (also called CYCLONE) fences. As long as the shorter fence had a horizontal 'spreader' bar or at least a thick steel cable running along the top of the fence between the vertical posts.

CAUTION : While the above techniques are well proven. RESIST the temptation to try to *hide* the bike in a particularly overgrown or 'OUT OF THE WAY' section of fence !!!
ALWAYS REMEMBER given time and privacy ANY locking technique/system can be cracked !!!

i just lock mine up outside of the office, that way I can see/hear when anyone is messing with it.

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