Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duppie on June 20, 2011 at 12:27pm

Yes.

You cannot lock your bike to private property.The planter in front of office building typically are private property as well

Enforcement varies by building. After leaving my lock overnight on the railing of a flowerbed for 2 years and 3 months, the building management finally told me that they would cut the lock if I left it there overnight again. But they never threatened to cut the lock while a bike is attached to it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 20, 2011 at 12:44pm

The AON is tight. I was shooed away while trying to take a pic on their property, couldn't even get the camera focused.

 

Best bet is too look for a bike rack or pole just make sure the pole isn't a "lift up" the chances of your bike being stolen with a U-lock, cable lock combo during the day is slim.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 20, 2011 at 2:23pm

C'mon now it's not always that obvious esp. in the touristy areas this time of year. Michigan ave., Grant, Mill. park suck for bike parking.

H3N3 said:

Mike Zumwalt said:

Best bet is too look for a bike rack

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jen on June 20, 2011 at 3:04pm

It is the policy of Chicago Union Station that any bike locked in the station will be removed. Bikes must be locked outside to city provided bike racks. It happens more often than you think.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 20, 2011 at 4:24pm

AON security is very tight.  While working a temp job there last fall, I learned that they do have bike racks along the east edge of the property, tucked in among the landscaping.  Using the bike station across the street might be worthwhile - if you can find space.  Also, I've often had luck with racks at the NW corner of Millennium Park, although that's not the most convenient location to the AON building.

Mike Zumwalt said:

The AON is tight. I was shooed away while trying to take a pic on their property, couldn't even get the camera focused.

 

Best bet is too look for a bike rack or pole just make sure the pole isn't a "lift up" the chances of your bike being stolen with a U-lock, cable lock combo during the day is slim.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 21, 2011 at 7:45am

The rack I mentioned is NOT easy to find, and it's not close to the entrance. I'm sure that's why Julie didn't see it. It probably WAS available, because most people don't know it's there. If I hadn't spent 6 weeks working in that building and exploring the surroundings on my lunch hour, I probably wouldn't know about it either.

There are a bunch of railings around the courtyard - inviting places to lock up, if yu don't know that security's going to nip that in the bud. I don't remember ever seeing signs warning cyclists not to lock up to the railings.

H3N3 said:

I think she would have chosen to lock to a bike rack if there had been one available.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 21, 2011 at 10:14am

This is a sobering and depressing story.  

 

I guess the consolation is that somebody cared enough to keep track of your bike and notify building personnel about the incident so that when you came looking for the bike you didn't get the brush off and the "I don't know -call the CPD" treatment.  

 

It is nice that this story is spread around and others can learn from this incident and not have it repeated.  I'll just stay away entirely from the BP building myself.  Bad karma surrounds it as Amoco built it and they later became British Petroleum.  It's not like there is anything in there for me I don't think.  If ever I do need to visit for whatever longshot reason  I'll be sure to be careful as well as being more careful at other private locations.

 

It sucks to be treated like 3rd-class citizens as a bicyclist. In retrospect it doesn't surprise me too much that the BP Buliding/AON would treat a bicyclist this way.  At least after cutting the lock and removing the bike they didn't just throw it out back into the alley or into some unsecured area for just about anyone to take. . 

 

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 21, 2011 at 10:55am

I was late for a meeting.  And to be honest, although it was pouring rain, I wasn't surprised it was taken by security, although a sign would have been nice.  Not sure why they don't have a bike rack or two near the entrance.

 

My bike was in the courtyard.

 

I just wanted to share the story for anyone who thinks their bike is stolen, it may not, simply hanging out with security of the building.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 21, 2011 at 11:45am

So we are saying that the BP building isn't exactly on the list of bike-friendly businesess although it could have been much worse.  Signs explaining that bikes are not allowed to be locked up on the railings in the courtyard would be nice but security was cool about taking care of the bike once the lock was cut and it was in their possession and was aware and looking for the owner to show up.   

 

It could have been worse, but it could have been better.  

 

The lesson I take away from this is that one needs to be careful about locking up on private property.  Some buildings are a bit over-protective and will cut locks first and ask questions later -and if a bike goes missing on private property ask security right away if they know anything about it before assuming it was a freelance bike thief. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 21, 2011 at 11:50am

Well said.

James Baum said:

So we are saying that the BP building isn't exactly on the list of bike-friendly businesess although it could have been much worse.  Signs explaining that bikes are not allowed to be locked up on the railings in the courtyard would be nice but security was cool about taking care of the bike once the lock was cut and it was in their possession and was aware and looking for the owner to show up.   

 

It could have been worse, but it could have been better.  

 

The lesson I take away from this is that one needs to be careful about locking up on private property.  Some buildings are a bit over-protective and will cut locks first and ask questions later -and if a bike goes missing on private property ask security right away if they know anything about it before assuming it was a freelance bike thief. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on June 21, 2011 at 12:00pm

I was informed two weeks ago that the building which contains my closest foul weather parking spot at the corner of Wells and Madison was issuing stickers to be affixed to tenants' bikes locked under the overhang at the building-owned racks. I didn't see it posted, but believed one of the tenants when I was told that management intended to start cutting locks on non-stickered bikes.  

James Baum said:

[snip]  

 

It could have been worse, but it could have been better.  

 

The lesson I take away from this is that one needs to be careful about locking up on private property.  Some buildings are a bit over-protective and will cut locks first and ask questions later -and if a bike goes missing on private property ask security right away if they know anything about it before assuming it was a freelance bike thief. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 21, 2011 at 1:08pm

Until the Merchandise Mart added racks along the river side a few years ago (and got more city racks along Wells), the same security approach was a big problem there.  The existing racks were always full early in the day, and people would lock to whatever railings they could find.  Security would cut the locks and take the bikes.  Then they posted signs telling people not to lock to the railings.  Then they finally got smart and added racks.  As a general rule, I assume that railings around downtown buildings are NOT safe places to lock up because I've seen and heard about enough examples like this.

• ▶ Reply