BIKE: Cedar Street cuts bike locks

[David Dobbs]

At 03:12 -0500 9/27/04, Michael Bluejay wrote:
>Regarding Dave's point about the city, there may be a failure by the 
>*City* to aggressively promote bike racks, but not a failure of the 
>City's *Bicycle Program*, since that department has done everything 
>they could to get bike racks out there with limited budget and staff.


I concur with Michael about the efforts of city staff on this matter. 
Unlike the Urban Transportation Department per se whose historical 
obsession to move vehicles rather than people has been a big part of 
the problem, the City of Austin's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program 
Coordinator now and in the past has been dedicated to improving 
conditions for cyclists.

Michael, thank you for clarifying this matter.

Clearly my concern is with funding.  As Aaron Wildavsky observed, 
"All political decisions are made through the budget."  Considering 
how small the the bicycle and pedestrian budget is and considering 
that much of this comes from Capital Metro, it's obvious that 
bicyclists need to find someway to make political points and raise 
our profile with the pols.  Jim Hightower has been quoted as saying 
that folks should "raise more hell and less corn."

Be that as it may, our current bicycle coordinator, Colly Kreidler, 
wants to know more:

At 10:33 -0500 9/27/04, Colly.Kreidler wrote:
>If someone will provide me the exact address I may be able to find some
>information.  New construction and even remodeling that alters automobile
>parking, will trigger the required installation of bicycle parking.  City
>Inspectors are very knowledgeable and consistent in requiring businesses to
>comply with this building code.  I recall inspecting the intended site of a
>rack location for something with a similar name in the CBD.  If indeed it is
>the same place and the rack is not there or has been removed, there may be
>something I can do.  However, I need the correct name and address before I
>even start.


If Amy Chambless could identify the exact address and name of the 
offending institution here--I think it was probably the Cedar Street 
Courtyard at 208 W Fourth Street--then Colly can address the problem 
as noted above.

Thanks.

==================
Dave Dobbs
ddobbs
Austin, Texas
==================

>On Sep 27, 2004, at 3:04 AM, David Dobbs wrote:
>
>>I'd be willing to show up with two or three dozen cyclists to give 
>>these tough guys a little bicycle view point on this matter and 
>>call the press about it, too.  Signs and noise outside the bar on 
>>their busiest night protesting the mistreatment of a lady would 
>>certainly make the Cedar Street owners very uncomfortable and get a 
>>lot of public sympathy.  Downtown doesn't need bad neighbors or 
>>more cars on the street and a press release prepared making these 
>>points should be sent to (a) the media, (b) the Downtown Austin 
>>Alliance, (c) the Chamber of Commerce, and (d) Austin City Council 
>>Members.  Television would love a protest like this as it would be 
>>very visual.
>>
>>This would also spotlight the failure of the city to be 
>>aggressively promoting bike racks and the failure of businesses to 
>>get bike parking at little or no expense to them.  Bike racks are 
>>still free for the asking from the city, right?
>>
>>For the record here, I presume we are talking about the Cedar 
>>Street Courtyard at 208 W Fourth Street?  That's the only bar I can 
>>find downtown with "Cedar" in its name.
>>
>>Dave Dobbs
>>==================
>>Dave Dobbs
>>ddobbs
>>Austin, Texas
>>==================
>>
>>
>>
>>>Thought you all would want to see this....
>>>
>>>-MBJ-
>>>
>>>----------------------------------
>>>
>>>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
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Get on or off this list here:  http://BicycleAustin.info/list
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Get on or off this list here:  http://BicycleAustin.info/list