build it and they will come........

Find out who parked it (ask people, use email, noticeboard etc) then have a chat with them.

"chat"... Always get a slight gangster vibe when people say that.

TJ, that would annoy me too ad I think the @Cheese's suggestion is probably your best way forward

I suppose the difficulty is the rack was installed without rules or terms as to who should use it or how. If it’s in communal space it’s fair for anyone with legitimate access to that space to assume if for their use, people wouldn’t expect that its a personal (and very generous) gesture from an individual resident

Unfortunately there’s not really a wrong way to use a bike rack - it doesn’t really matter whether someone rides a bike their bike every day or less than once a year. You can’t really meter it.

To manage who uses it and how the rack itself would have to be behind lock and key and you’d make access to a key subject to terms. The building i stay in during the week currently has free cycle parking but I have to get a key fob to access it so there’s an opportunity to telll me how I should use it when im given that fob and it also means the building management know who is using it. Although they wouldn’t know by looking whose bike is whose.

bike storage tends to accumulate bikes - in time there’ll be bikes there with no traceable owner but that also no one has the right to remove

Put your own lock on the cargo bike.

I'm with cheese, ultimately you've done a good thing but it's not fair to use it as long term storage. The owner may well have a valid reason though.

I bet they live in a flat and can't carry it up the stairs - or rode it to work once and thought " never again"

there is only space for 5 / 6 bikes.  Two are taken up by residents bikes that do get used but are there most of the time  3 regular commuters and this e cargo bike which is huge.

You've installed a bike rack and you're getting the arse because people are locking bikes to it? What did you suppose would happen?

To my mind you have a few options:

1) Leave a passive-aggressive Post-It note.

2) Crop the lock and throw the bike in the Leith.

3) Install another rack.

4) Rejoyce that your community spirit is being appreciated by cycle owners of all creeds because WTF difference does it make that one bike has a battery?

I do think it's unreasonable to leave a bike there permanently, if there's no indication that's what it's for. Clearly it's going to result in the rack becoming unusable if everyone does that. It'll end up like the giant bike rack at Paddington station.

Its blocking two spaces and has been there a fortnight without moving.  Its effing huge - the front rack is over 18 inch wide plus the rear rack and footboards block access to the rack even if you could slide another bike in.  Antisocial

it’s not fair to use it as long term storage.

...

I bet they live in a flat and can’t carry it up the stairs

🤷‍♂️ It's a bike rack. Its entire purpose is bike security and storage. The owner in an upstairs flat probably thinks it's fantastic that they don't have to lug a ton weight up flights of stairs any more.

I'm genuinely not seeing the issue here. TJ has created somewhere to lock up bikes - which is amazing - and then is complaining that it's being used by the wrong kind of bike. Is the problem that it's "not moved"? Maybe stick up a sign, "bike rack only available for use by cyclists who ride with some form of regularity which I've arbitrarily made up to meet my approval."

C'mon dude. You've provided a service to your little community and it's been a success. You should be proud of that.

I do think it’s unreasonable to leave a bike there permanently, if there’s no indication that’s what it’s for.

Is there any indication at all that it's not what it's for? The owner is likely oblivious. It's not a huge leap to assume that a bike rack is for locking a bike onto.

Its effing huge

... said "Tandem" Jeremy. 😁

Antisocial

Then you need to communicate that to them.

When you installed it, did you intend it only for bikes which met with your approval?

Has anyone else complained?

3) Install another rack.

This was going to be my suggestion. First one was a big success.. get another one in! Perhaps ask other users to chip in.

NO room for another rack

The tandem was no wider than an ordinary bike - and was never left at the bottom of the stairs anyway.  this thing is so wide it occupies two slots

Is there any indication at all that it’s not what it’s for? The owner is likely oblivious.

common sense?  the building is mainly offices.  Who leaves a bike permanently in the halway of their office?

I’m genuinely not seeing the issue here. TJ has created somewhere to lock up bikes – which is amazing – and then is complaining that it’s being used by the wrong kind of bike. Is the problem that it’s “not moved”? Maybe stick up a sign, “bike rack only available for use by cyclists who ride with some form of regularity which I’ve arbitrary made up to meet my approval.”

C’mon dude. You’ve provided a service to your little community and it’s been a success. You should be proud of that.

I am - and this machine is taking up 40% of the spaces and never moving

I do fear I am heading for Victor Meldrew territory. 🙂

It got knocked over yesterday by folk trying to get their own bikes out - maybe that will give them a hint

NO room for another rack

Damn.

You're just going to have to befriend and educate whoever the owner is. Might be a handy thing to borrow.

Post a photo so we can all share your rage 😉

hundred stairs to go up and down to do so!  Can't be arsed.

I have a feeling its the same office staff that have recently moved in and have been using my address to get their mail sent to meaning the postie rings my bell

We had similar at work, they fitted posh wall mounted bike racks in the garage for those who commuted by bike which then became the storage place for people's bikes who didn't commute 🤷🏻‍♂️

It's a nice problem to have at your rack - I suggest a wee chat to find out if it ever is being moved, or if it is storage. I think it's a reasonable request the the rack is priority for those who use bikes very often, not just long term dumping ground.

Knowing Leith well, it'll slowly disappear component by component until only the lock and main triangle remains

The only question is at what point do you join the feeding frenzy?

No good deed goes unpunished!

I bet they're brexiters tj.

Is the building offices and flats?

Is the bike stopping people being able to use the rack?

The building is mainly offices with 3 flats in the attic.  Yes two of the five spaces are taken up by this thing.

Lolz @ jambourgie

Kormoran - I guess yo don't know the modern day leith .... 🙂

Ha ha teej, sad memories of a slowly scavenged rockhopper on Easter road 😄

Passive aggressive notice saying 'overnight parking for residents only'. The street outside probably has similar rules for cars.

You can see its using two of the stands and blocking the way to a third on the right.   I think I will put a note on it even at thevrisk of being Victor Meldrew

Its also a really crap lock

I was expecting something bigger. My old big dummy would have taken 3 of those gaps and not fit the length.<!--more-->

If the owner is not using it during the glorious dry weather we've been having then its never getting used. They should sell it.

The biggest problem I can see there is that the rack was seemingly installed by Stevie Wonder. Could it be any more pissed? I've seen straighter footballs.

Ah - there is a reason for that - it makes for one more bike space 🙂  I thought long and hard about placement

common sense?

Ah, I see your mistake.

Who leaves a bike permanently in the halway of their office?

The owner of that bike.

Permanently? It's been a fortnight. I left a bike in London for six months (and got most of it back).

this machine is taking up 40% of the spaces and never moving

Again,

What percentage of 'movement' would you deem to be within acceptable but undisclosed parameters?

Maybe it moves and comes back to the same spot in between your inspections.

Again again,

You've installed a bike rack. That's good. It's being used, that's also good. If you've stuck it in a (semi-)public space then you don't get to dictate which TJ-approved cyclists it gets used by without some sort of passive-aggressive signage to inform the users.

Are you even permitted to install it?

Are you even permitted to install it?

Of course.  1) I am a part owner of the building and 2) I discussed it with the majority owner

What percentage of ‘movement’ would you deem to be within acceptable but undisclosed parameters?

I don't know and am not sure how unreasonable I am being hence asking on here

Maybe it moves and comes back to the same spot in between your inspections.

Nope - its not moved since it arrived.  I am certain of that.  Its being stored here for sure.

the building is mainly offices.  Who leaves a bike permanently in the halway of their office?

At my office there are a bunch of bikes that haven't moved in months or years...

this is 3 flats, 8 offices and 5/6 bike parking spaces.  to take up two and to be storing the bike there without using it seems unfair to me.

I'd set fire to it personally.

5/6 bike parking spaces is 5/6 more than there were before you installed the rack. Taking up 2 still means that there's 4 more than there was previously.

Of course. 1) I am a part owner of the building and 2) I discussed it with the majority owner

I would assume that in a shared space there would be rules. I would also assume that you know that better than I do.

I don’t know and am not sure how unreasonable I am being hence asking on here

I would assume also that your reason for doing it in the first place was to have somewhere to secure your own bike. In which case, if you can't do that then you need to communicate "this is mine, get off" to the other residents and take into consideration that others (who may not be cyclists) might not want your own private bike park in their hallway. "Have you seen what that pillock in Flat 4 has done? He's only gone and bolted down a bike rack in the hallway, it's totally on the wonk and it was a right palaver when I had a sofa delivered last week."

What's unreasonable here is expecting telepathy. You're expecting other residents to abide by rules that don't exist outside of your own head. What are the opinions of those other owners?

this is 3 flats, 8 offices and 5/6 bike parking spaces. to take up two and to be storing the bike there without using it seems unfair to me.

Fair or not you installed it, for free, for public use. Anyone else could come along and tie a rhino to it, or a dwarf, or a Ford Mustang, or balloons, or a parakeet.

If you're stressing over the usage of a shared space then you need to talk with the people who are sharing that space. You've done a brilliant thing, but getting a monk on about people using it is daft. That's what it's for.

I would assume that in a shared space there would be rules.

there are - made by the owners of which I am one - the office folk are all tenants 🙂

I'm not particularly stressing - just a bit miffed that this person taking up 2 spaces permanently and not sure how reasonable it is to be miffed.

Its not free for public use.  Its inside the building.  Its for those who use the building.

Remember that plan to sell up and travel?

Remember that plan to sell up and travel?

I get extra for the bike stand?

just a bit miffed that this person taking up 2 spaces permanently and not sure how reasonable it is to be miffed.

It's not permanent, it's been a fortnight and you're gatekeeping "not a real cyclist" because according to your detailed surveillance they haven't ridden since. I kept a bike in a shared lockup in London carpark for six months. There's five bikes in this house, I think the last time I pushed a pedal in anger was three years ago.

Its not free for public use. Its inside the building. Its for those who use the building.

So, the public, then. Are you checking their ID badges? What are you going to do when a flat has a visitor?

Honestly mate, I genuinely think that you're overthinking this. If only because no-one could possibly know any different. A bike rack suddenly appears, what do you suppose people are going to do?

BIke rack has been there years.  this is a new company that moved in two weeks ago - its one of their staff i am sure.

Sure anyone with a reason to be in the building can use it - thats what its there for.  Its not reasonable IMO to use 2 spaces long term.

thinking about it I wonder if its a pool bike for the company?  It looks brand new.  It looks like a bunch of millenial hipsters

I'm not gatekeeping cycling.  I am gatekeeping the housekeeping in the building.  I act for the majority owner a lot of the time and do minor maintenance etc.

Edit - its an odd relationship built up over 35 years.

How do you expect someone new to the building to know what your secret undisclosed rules are? That's even worse! You're pulling your face because they've rocked up with a bike and gone "awesome, a bike rack!"

Older "millennial hipsters" are in their 40s and -shock- still ride bikes and come on now, you're better than that. Was one wearing jeans and another sporting a beard?

ask the new company if it’s theirs, or one of their staff. if yes, ask them

to move it to the furthest end spot.

and mark their post “return to sender” and pop it in the nearest letter box

Its not secret undisclosed rules - its about acting decently and I was not sure this person was.  Its about not monopolizing the rack to the extent others who cycle every day cannot use it.  Others are losing out because this person has taken up two spaces for a bike they do not use

I wouldn't do what they have done.  I was interested in the consensus on here.

anyone with a reason to be in the building can use it – thats what its there for. Its not reasonable IMO to use 2 spaces long term

Define "long term." An afternoon? A fortnight? A year?

What if rather than one big bike it was a regular one and their daughter's taking up two spaces instead?

if it was moving even every few days I would be fine.  I just do not see this as OK to take up 40% of available bike parking leaving regular commuters with no space for their bikes so they have to carry them upstairs or lock them to the banister which is actually against regs and rules ( fire escapes / disability access)

Its not secret undisclosed rules – its about acting decently and I was not sure this person was. Its about not monopolizing the rack to the extent others who cycle every day cannot use it. Others are losing out because this person has taken up two spaces for a bike they do not use

Sure it is, you've got the hump about something that no-one else could possibly know is an issue to you. You think that parking a bike in a bike rack is indecent without any further communication to anyone. that's madness.

Who are these 'others' who are losing out? There's at least one empty slot in the photo you posted. Has anyone else complained?

Who are you to police someone else's cycling regularity? What would you consider acceptable use before they qualified to use your facilities?

You're posing a lot of questions here but you're swerving many more answers.

if it was moving even every few days I would be fine.

Why? What difference would that make? They've left and come back, they still take up the same space. Your entire beef here is "someone owns a bike and isn't using it enough."

I just do not see this as OK to take up 40% of available bike parking

Before your rack there was zero parking. Now demand has exceeded supply. Maybe it's time to engage the building owners to provide official capacity when there's demonstrably a need for it.

Your entire beef here is “someone owns a bike and isn’t using it enough.”

No - my beef is that someone is taking up 40% of the bike parking without actually needing to use it as the bike is not being used

there is no room for more racks.  Demand has exceeded supply since I put it in - in summer at least.

Who are these ‘others’ who are losing out? There’s at least one empty slot in the photo you posted. Has anyone else complained?

the folk that commute by bike daily who now have no space - there is around 6- 8 regular commuters.  that photo was taken at 8pm.  The commuters are at home.  2 of the bikes belong to residents and are used often.  Earlier on today there were too many bikes for the space so folk had to carry them upstairs

When a resource is in short supply to take 40% of it for what is clearly a bike that is not being used seems off to me.  2 people who regularly commute will have to carry their bikes up to their offices now because of this person leaving the cargo bike there 24/7 and not using it

Leave a note already 🙂

It's in a communal stairwell, nothing should be stored there as it's a fire risk in a key escape route.

E bikes are particularly high risk as they could cause a fire themselves rather than just helping a fire spread/increase smoke levels.

I'm with TJ on this, having provided a facility, one user is now taking the piss.

Using more space than required and thereby potentially preventing others from using it, and using a temporary storage location as if it's a permanent one. If you own a bike and don't intend to use it for long periods, store it at home.

I assume you have an email address for office managers for each of the businesses using the building? If so send them a picture along with some clarifications on the intended use of the rack, i.e. for use primarily by residents, one bike to a slot, not intended as a permanent bike storage solution for occupants of the offices outside of business hours. There's always a possibility that the owner has gone off on long term sickness, holiday or a sabbatical maybe?

It would probably be worth putting up some signage making the rules clearer for the future too...

I know at my own work, where we have abundant bike storage, if a bike hasn't moved in 6+ months (and it does happen) a 2 week 'ABANDONED BICYCLE' notice is left on the bike informing the owner that it's going to have the lock cut and be removed and auctioned off (normally eBay I think), the proceeds then going to a charity. That's probably a bit dramatic for your case TJ but it might be worth considering what further sanctions you might have to implement if the owner never shows up again...

Cut the lock and remove the bike rack AND leave a note on the ebike.

It's annoying, but that's people for you. It's a bit like turning up at the trail centre car park on a busy day and looking for a space, when all the large vans & campers are taking up far, far more than a car space each. They're not doing anything 'wrong', it's just not what I'd do. They got their first and used the facilities regardless of anyone else - certainly wouldn't enter their heads that the large vehicles could be seen as anti-social.
Gentle tut, and go for a ride.

I see it's that time again...

This sounds like a job for a Communal Noticeboard!

'Dear Butthead, ...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/17/dear-butthead-when-a-neighbourhood-noticeboard-gets-nasty

I’d set fire to it personally.

You don’t live above it though. Anyway if it’s an ebike it will probably self combust soon enough.

If you don't want communual spaces buy a detached house. Bike parking in closes has been fraught since bikes and closes have been invented. I had a neighbour that used to steal my wheel.

Just be thankful your close is free of theiving jakies as that's far from a given.

Only my least valuable bike gets left there.😎🤣

If its your own rack why not just put a note on it saying the rack is going to be moved and then move it ?

Becuase the rack is there to stop folk locking bikes to the banister

Cut the lock. Move the ebike to a more reasonable place, e.g. The end slot and lock it with a decent lock.
Send a note to the various Tennants/residents telling them how naff the lock was, why it's been moved and to contact you for the key to the lock.
Think of it as community spirited clamping.

Maybe stick some sort of divider between the slots to prevent the use of two. (which I see as akin to parking across two marked spaces instead of one and really annoys me)

Becuase the rack is there to stop folk locking bikes to the banister

Objective achieved. Imagine trying to lug that big Bertha of an ebike upstairs. Work related manual handling injury central on that one 😉

Just be thankful your close is free of theiving jakies as that’s far from a given.

Could you translate the scotch please. I know what jakies are from my Irvine Welsh novels, but what is a ‘close’?

@jambourgie surely you know that Wikipedia is the friend of those blagging it:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close
Look under the other uses tab.

hightensionline

when all the large vans & campers are taking up far, far more than a car space each.

In my experience and not just vans/motor homes parking like that is often dictated by what and how other vehicles were parked when they arrived.

TJ

No – my beef is that someone is taking up 40% of the bike parking

I'm with Cougar... unless you inform and put a notice that's what most people will assume.

without actually needing to use it as the bike is not being used

You don't know why though ... they might be ill, they might keep forgetting to take a charger into work ... they might have to pick up kids for a fortnight every fortnight ??

Demand has exceeded supply since I put it in – in summer at least.

2 notices ... one for your preferred place. Reserved for building owner/resident sign and "any bike locked here will be cut off" AND 2nd notice about bikes taking more than one space (and perhaps reserved one end?)

The resolution.   The bike has not been ridden.  I put a note on it as polite and non passive aggressive as i could make it

Its been moved so it no longer blocks two spaces and is lessin the way

Less.... but still a bit?

They are making room for their Sea Kayak. 😉🙃

Lol!

I put a note on it as polite and non passive aggressive as i could make it

were there many drafts?

hove you found out who the bike belongs to?

None and no 🙂  although I suspect the new office full of hipster architects

I suspect the new office full of hipster architects

B***rds, how dare they do business in this post brexshits apocalypse. What happened to the decent squat full of junkies?