[*BCM*] BU Removing Bicycles

[Jim Leonard]

On Mon, May 05, 2008 at 03:19:10PM -0400, spikem at bu.edu wrote:
> BU scrambles to clean up campus every year before graduation, and 
> removing bikes has always been an issue, whether it was just in West 
> Campus or over the larger area. Don't lock your bike to a tree. Seems 
> easy to me.

I agree that locking to a tree or bench shouldn't be acceptable but 
locking to a parking meter?  The real problem is that Boston won't
commit to saying that any bike parking other than in a private lot with
bike parking facilities is legal.

Somerville and Cambridge have both stated where bicycles can be locked 
on public property in their laws (and they differ significantly).  
Boston won't commit to such a thing and depending on the day will say
different things about what their "policy" is.  I can't speak for any 
other cities in the area because I've not done the research.

--jim

> 
> Quoting "Eric A. Stratton" <estratton.apple at gmail.com>:
> 
> > This is from some information that was posted on BostonFixed.
> >
> > Good afternoon:
> >
> > Beginning on Monday, May 5, 2008, bicycles attached to anything other
> > than an appropriate bike rack will be removed by the Commonwealth of
> > Massachusetts. This includes trees, parking meters and benches. This
> > action is being taken to prevent the destruction of the new plantings
> > and items installed during the Commonwealth Avenue Beautification
> > Project. Questions and concerns about this new policy can be forwarded
> > to the Office of the Dean of Students at 617-353-4126 or dos at bu.edu.
> >
> > Again, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Katherine Hasenauer
> >
> > This is really outrageous.  I emailed the BU Dean of Students office
> > about this, as I'm a graduate student there and never received any
> > notice of this removal.  Here is their reply.
> >
> > Eric,
> >
> > Thank you for your email. The signs and messages you received from the
> > university regarding bike removal were notifications we received from
> > the City of Boston. The university was merely conveying a message sent
> > to us from city officials, and we apologize for the confusion.
> > Unfortunately, the university has no sway over city policy, including
> > bicycle removal from city property. As for additional bike storage,
> > working to provide more bike racks is part of our plans along
> > Commonwealth Avenue.
> >
> > Thank you for your email, and if you have any additional questions,
> > please call our office at 617-353-4126.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Ally
> > Student Manager
> > Office of the Dean of Students
> >
> > As it was stated by one of my fellow bostonfixed members,  it's pretty
> > disingenuous to suggest that BU has no influence over minor city
> > enforcement on the Comm. Ave. project, in which BU has a more than
> > significant interest.  My impression of the Dean of Students office
> > was that they were there to assist the students and help advocate
> > points in which the students have a significant interest.  There must
> > be someone at BU who can negotiate on behalf of the student body if
> > the Dean of Students office isn't up to it.
> >
> >  From the reports I've received from other folks on the bostonfixed
> > board, BU has been removing bicycles today by the truckload.  I've
> > been holed up in my apartment as it is currently finals week @ BU,
> > which seems rather convenient for the city and BU as students would be
> > hard pressed to try and protest and study at the same time.
> >
> > These are just some of my thoughts, but wanted to get this information
> > out there for others incase they also weren't  made aware of the
> > situation.
> >
> > -E
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
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