I understand that some police forces have the instruction to reimburse cyclist for any locks cut off when a bike is removed 'for security reasons' (actually the very WORST action to take - see later). This I understand avoids and possibility of civil claims for damaged property or even criminal damage claims if a bike is wrecked in the process. There may well be caveats - for example if a disclaimer or prohibition on parking noting removal is publicly and clearly displayed at the site, but it is worth noting that those lifting badly parked cars have to be particularly careful that their methods do not damage the vehicle or contents.
I'm interested to learn of anyone's experiences in recovering costs for a bike or lock wrecked by an over zealous security operator or similar, as a couple of recent incidents have seen bikes damaged by staff of a transport operator - either by placing the bike in a rack which it does not fit into, or attempting cycle removal using completely inappropriate methods. Did you need to go to court, or were profuse apologies forthcoming?
The security issue on parked bicycles is wildly exaggerated - there have only been 4 bicycle 'bombs' on UK Mainland in the past 68 years and 2 did not explode, with only one killing people, and the bike remained relatively intact (1939 Coventry with bike in local museum) all the bombs were in bags or casings carried on the bicycle making these no different to any other suspect package. In Palestine and Vietnam the bicycle bomb, using the luggage as the delivery method was normally triggered by movement of the bike which would be placed in such a way that it would be in the way and moved - without thinking - by someone wanting to get past. Then with a Trojan degree of naievete, the bikes are then taken back to the Police station or administrative offices and put in a cell or store-room... which is a very useful place (sic) to put a suspect device
Claims - Police &c damaging bikes & locks when movin
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dave holladay
- Posts: 284
- Joined: 4 Apr 2007, 12:25pm
I can't answer your question, but I do wonder about the implications wrt damage should Worcester Police "steal" your bike! I also wonder when the same numpties are going bring round a pantechnicon and empty your house should you leave a window open 
Geoff
Geoff
Good Grief! What would happen to a cyclist who'd just popped into shop in a town miles from home (or even mid-LEJOG) and the police just take it away!
What happens next? You're underdressed, in your shorts and skimpy top, silly unwalkable shoes and dinky white socks, no money to speak of, no maps coz they were in your saddle-bag.
And it was the police who took it!!!!!
Stupid.
What happens next? You're underdressed, in your shorts and skimpy top, silly unwalkable shoes and dinky white socks, no money to speak of, no maps coz they were in your saddle-bag.
And it was the police who took it!!!!!
Stupid.
Mick F. Cornwall
Totally OT, and a little outdated - but fun.....
http://www.whatshouldiputonthefence.com
What I don't understand is why these actions are being taken........
The Police here remove bikes at the Ferry on occasion, but thiese are usualy abandoned and after a notice has been left. The only other time I have witnessed this was in Bristol - and is where they are stupidly parked - the one removed was padlocked to a fire exit.
Why is the situation arising where the bikes are being removed?
http://www.whatshouldiputonthefence.com
What I don't understand is why these actions are being taken........
The Police here remove bikes at the Ferry on occasion, but thiese are usualy abandoned and after a notice has been left. The only other time I have witnessed this was in Bristol - and is where they are stupidly parked - the one removed was padlocked to a fire exit.
Why is the situation arising where the bikes are being removed?
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leeinlancs
Be careful not to lock your bike to a tree on an area of grass. I once worked for the University of Central Lancashire and bikes used to be removed there also (what was worrying was the Estates Officer at the time used to get pleasure out of removing them).
The worrying thing is i think some of the bikes removed where not on the grass - ie - on a paved area outside the Students Union locked to a lampost
I have once or twice locked mine to the lampost in the town centre where i live because if i use the cycle racks outside the library they are not adequate for my insurance if my bike was to dissapear.
I am also very wary however wherever i am if i do not use a proper cycle rack and a railing or something for instance and i get back to my bike as quickly as possible. I can see it would be a very big problem if someone had panniers with all their gear in.
If in doubt and you are in a town/ city with cyle racks provided - my advice is to use them. It is good to see so many cycle racks in the city of Manchester now - ie so you can almost park your bike right outside the shop you are gong to - rather than walking from one end of the city to the other
The worrying thing is i think some of the bikes removed where not on the grass - ie - on a paved area outside the Students Union locked to a lampost
I have once or twice locked mine to the lampost in the town centre where i live because if i use the cycle racks outside the library they are not adequate for my insurance if my bike was to dissapear.
I am also very wary however wherever i am if i do not use a proper cycle rack and a railing or something for instance and i get back to my bike as quickly as possible. I can see it would be a very big problem if someone had panniers with all their gear in.
If in doubt and you are in a town/ city with cyle racks provided - my advice is to use them. It is good to see so many cycle racks in the city of Manchester now - ie so you can almost park your bike right outside the shop you are gong to - rather than walking from one end of the city to the other
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dave holladay
- Posts: 284
- Joined: 4 Apr 2007, 12:25pm
Leelancs - not exactly the topic posted on - the issue is that bikes may well be removed if there are notices saying "bikes parked in the "wrong places" will be removed and taken to xxx, where a fine/charge for recovery will be made" and the best practice - which CTC pressed Network Rail to follow (eventually) is to actually note places where bikes can be parked on any prohibition notices.
If there are no notices the action commonly known as TWOCking when the vehicle is a car may carry some degree of criminality where a cycle is removed without the owner's consent, even when the Police do it without any official notice being issued.
Cunobelin - Which Ferry? are there notices posted about length of stay and places not to park? You do suggest though that a 'parking ticket' is issued before the bikes are removed. I enjoyed the Fencemaster enormously and it certainly fuelled the debate in a humourous way.
Mick F - does pose an interesting hypothesis but an unlikely one - more likely you'd find the cyclist being accused of assaulting the police officer who was wheeling their bike away after spotting the act as it was being carried out.
GeoffL - I love the logical extension of this policy .... obviously Worcester is no longer a town where people can safely leave their front doors unlocked and neighbours pop round without a major security panic.
The issue is having cycles and locks damaged by action taken to remove them where a manager or Polis considers this to be necessary, and getting compensated for same, and additionally where a 'helpful' employee (usually of a rail operator) decides that your cycle will fit the bike racks in their train or at their station, and you are obviously ignorant in leaving your bike parked in a different way, probably not noticing the parts which they bend trying to make it fit into a narrow slot or similar space.
Who pays and has anyone notes on a claim made successfully, or even without success?
If there are no notices the action commonly known as TWOCking when the vehicle is a car may carry some degree of criminality where a cycle is removed without the owner's consent, even when the Police do it without any official notice being issued.
Cunobelin - Which Ferry? are there notices posted about length of stay and places not to park? You do suggest though that a 'parking ticket' is issued before the bikes are removed. I enjoyed the Fencemaster enormously and it certainly fuelled the debate in a humourous way.
Mick F - does pose an interesting hypothesis but an unlikely one - more likely you'd find the cyclist being accused of assaulting the police officer who was wheeling their bike away after spotting the act as it was being carried out.
GeoffL - I love the logical extension of this policy .... obviously Worcester is no longer a town where people can safely leave their front doors unlocked and neighbours pop round without a major security panic.
The issue is having cycles and locks damaged by action taken to remove them where a manager or Polis considers this to be necessary, and getting compensated for same, and additionally where a 'helpful' employee (usually of a rail operator) decides that your cycle will fit the bike racks in their train or at their station, and you are obviously ignorant in leaving your bike parked in a different way, probably not noticing the parts which they bend trying to make it fit into a narrow slot or similar space.
Who pays and has anyone notes on a claim made successfully, or even without success?