BIKE: Cedar Street cuts bike locks

[Michael Bluejay]

Thought you all would want to see this....

-MBJ-

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From: Amy Chambless <achambless>
Date: September 24, 2004 4:26:22 PM CDT
To: mail, stgetr, aca, 
BicycleMail, stephen.kreidler, 
info
Subject: Lack of Racks...

Hello...
 
I wanted to inform everyone of a "policy" at the Cedar Street bar/annex 
to hopefully prevent what happened to me from happening to others.   
 
This past Thursday evening I met co-workers there for happy hour.  I am 
a cyclist and rode my bike downtown because I enjoy riding,  but also 
to help alleviate some of the traffic and parking congestion downtown.  
Upon my arrival at the Cedar Street bar I discovered there are not any 
bike racks,  so I locked my bike to the staircase railing that leads 
down to the outdoor patio.  I was conscientious enough to ensure that 
my bike was not in the way of passer-by's or folks coming into the 
bar.  Later that evening ,  when I returned to retrieve my bike...it 
was gone!   You can imagine the helplessness I felt thinking I was 
stranded and that someone had stolen my bicycle.  I approached the door 
men at Cedar Street and was informed that they  had cut the lock off my 
bike and removed it from the  premises because  they felt  it was in 
their way.    I explained to them that I felt it was wrong  to destroy 
my (or anyone ' s) personal property. 
 
The doormen returned my bike and broken lock, but told me that I was 
lucky that  they hadn't just thrown my bike into the street.   When I 
requested to speak with the owner about being reimbursed for my 
lock,    I was  refused with the excuse  that  he would 'tear me to 
shreds . '  The door men suggested that if I want a place to lock my 
bike up , I should  take it up with the city  instead.   They also 
told me that they cut bike locks all the time .     
 
So, what?...if you park  your car in front  of the Cedar Street bar and 
they don't like your parking job,   will they break your windows to 
move  it ?  I am appalled that after spending money in thier facility 
that I would be treated so poorly.  So much for trying to make more 
parking spaces available for more patrons to visit thier bar...which I 
will never do again.
 
Be Warned Cyclists,
Angry and without a bike lock