In Manhattan, is it permitted to lock bike to bus stop sign?
 

I was on 32nd st. in Manhattan today, no bike rack, and the sign posts had a large and high base making it impossible to lock with my U lock, so I had to lock my bike to a bus stop sign. Two elderly women waiting for the bus were unhappy: "What are you doing? This is bus stop! See your tire touched her?!" :wtf: She wouldn't move away an inch. I later found another bus stop sign with no one standing around.

Is it illegal to lock bike to bus stop sign?

32nd and what? There are plenty of bike racks surrounding Penn Station that you could have used. Some people can get real persnickety about their personal space, especially here in NYC, so bummer about the mean old ladies. Next time an "excuse me" might do the trick, though it might get you a huffy sigh.

As for locking to public signs, I'll lock to street signs often and have no problem (the street cleaning-type signs are the best for width), but it might indeed be technically not allowed to lock to public street signs. NYC's street signs tend to be a little close to the curb anyway, or in obnoxiously trafficked areas like the one you used, so I'll usually hike a block or go across the street to find a better place in such instances.

It was between 6th and 7th ave.. I didn't see any bike rack in that block on either side. I did repeatedly say sorry to the old women, and asked them if they saw any bike racks around. Maybe walking an inch away was too much for them. ;)

It's illegal to lock to street signs. Everyone does it anyway, just like everyone jaywalks. I wouldn't worry about it.

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.

Damn, that sounds like the time they suddenly cut everyone's locks down near Houston St when the President was in town–whether you were locked legally or not. You'd think they could at least put a "Do Not Park or You Will be Towed" sign like they do for car parking spots when road work is scheduled.

vol, when I used to take Megabus a lot I used an Edison Parking facility near that area (by an FIT building if I recall correctly) that would charge $1/day to lock up your bike in their racks. I'd store it there for the weekend for $3 plus a little tip. Not a bad deal for a one-off situation.

Thanks for the info. Guess next time I should walk around a littler more to find parking.

Or...since the old lady did not want to make a move, stood there like a mountain, maybe I could try U-locking my bike to her ankle :D

From what I remember police did actually post no parking signs along Houston Street but nobody ever imagined it applied to bikes as well. Not too long after the Obama incident there was another in Hudson River Park. Some people had their bikes chained to the fence while they were out on a boat and when they returned the bikes were gone. Apparently Parks Police decided to tidy up the park and confiscated every bike that wasn't parked at a bike rack.

Not to be a curmudgeon, but I'm sort of with the old ladies on this one. Not because it's so hard to move for someone locking a bike up, but because as a bus rider I can't stand having the doors open and finding all sorts of obstacles preventing an easy departure. The bus drivers don't always pay attention to where the front and rear doors are lining up so it's not unusual to find yourself climbing over trash piles, bicycles, and what-have-you when the doors open. I avoid bus stops when locking up.

cheers, Joe