To lock my DD's bike to a telegraph pole outside our house?

[SummerDays2020]

We live in a mid terrace house with no front garden. I'm disabled and struggle to lift my DD's bike from the back garden to the front of the house in order for her to use it. She uses it regularly. So I decided to lock it to a telegraph pole that is between mine and my neighbours house. It's been there over a year.

When I left for the school run this afternoon neighbour was out putting a bag of rubbish near the telegraph pole. Not bin day. Anyway, she asked if it was my bike and I said yes. She then asked if I could move it as it had become a 'dumping ground' - I thought she might mean as there were a number of white sacks around the telegraph pole and told her 'it's only the bike that's mine not all the rubbish' she said 'I know - can you move it? It's a nightmare!'

My question is am I allowed to have it chained to the telegraph pole? What problem could it be causing her? (I couldn't speak longer as had to leave) I don't want to move it if possible as it means she will rarely be able to use it. I kind of feel if neighbour can 'dump' her car on the road my DD should be able to 'dump' her bike too! But I don't know the legalities which of course I would follow.

Just to add when I first did it I came out a few times when neighbours parked near it to ask if it was in their way and also spoke to BT engineers all who said it was no problem being there.

OP, is there a friend nearby who has a suitable outside space for you to store it? I'm sure you've already thought about it, but it hasn't been mentioned.

I don't have any low down wall space. It would have to go above the fireplace.

Thanks for the advice.

I have radiators behind one sofa and a fireplace the other. Not that I could be moving the sofa every morning before school anyway but it's a good idea for those with the space/ability.

Unfortunately not, no.

Along as it doesn't block access, there is nothing wrong with locking bikes to street furniture. Bikes should be encouraged, it's bonkers that people are saying it should be removed.

I suggest getting a cheap old van and parking it in the road outside your neighbours house then you can put the bike in it. Only joking but this thread is ridiculous. A child's bike stored on the street is an obstruction, an eyesore, fly tipping, anti social, illegal.... Yet it's fine to store a car, which is much bigger, on the street. People are so car blind it's like a disability.

You said it’s been there a year and a half and you seem to be using for the school run (so it moves often isn’t tied there for weeks on end). You’ve had no issues (theft, complaints, weather damage etc) and have proactively checked with various neighbours when you’ve seen them in their cars and with the Bt workmen when you’ve seen them. It sounds like there has been no issues until this neighbour wanted to pile her bin bags around the pile and get a bit snippy with you about the bike.

I would carry on as you have been doing personally. I wouldn’t want to drag a bike through my house twice daily (muddy wheels or even if clean they’ll be wet so leave marks) nor would I want to store a bike in my livingroom like some big wall feature.

You do risk someone complaining and the council acting but I’d cross that bridge when it comes and not contact the council yourself.

I mean it’s been over a year just a carry on with what’s working. It’s nice the school provided your DD with a bike and she’s clearly enjoying using it. Let her continue and worry about official complaints if/when they come (I doubt anyone on the street minds gives the time frame and the recent bin bag neighbour will likely not go down official routes).

I mean why don't people store their cars in their garages or gardens instead of leaving them lying in the street obstructing everyone

As long as the bike’s not blocking the pavement it’s fine; some MNetters live in an alternate universe where everyone lives in a detached house with a double garage 🙄Just carry on and ignore your neighbour. I would definitely ask the council about a bike hangar though.

I don't know about you, but cars just "lying in the street obstructing everyone" are removed by the police/council where I live

You can't just abandon your car wherever you fancy and IMO the same should apply to bikes. I mean, if you live somewhere with no off-road parking you often have to park down the road and walk - why would it be different with a bike?

You definitely aren't in Cambridge then. More bikes get stolen from there even with CCTV than elsewhere

Not necessarily true - cordless angle grinders are a thing! Where I used to live it wouldn’t last an hour. However, it’s nothing to do with your neighbour

I know! Crazy!

Thank you! I started to think it was just me being precious not really wanting the dirt from a bike dragged through my house all the time, let alone it on 'display' above my fireplace!!

Exactly! Neighbours car obstructs me crossing the road!

There are cars parked all along my street obstructing me from crossing the road! Cars cause massive obstructions all the time. They're an eyesore too. And that's fine as long as I can put my bike on the road wherever I like the same as a car user but I can't it has to be locked up. And you'd probably complain it was stopping you parking your car there! I wouldn't mind if it was down the street. So by your logic I shouldn't lock it to the telegraph pole outside my house, but the one down the street?! And I'm not leaving it 'anywhere I fancy' but just neatly tucked at the edge of the pavement. Why should car users get so many advantages over bike users?

I completely agree about cars. They are everywhere, lining our streets, obstructing easy access when crossing roads or narrowing street access. Yet everyone thinks that's normal and ok, not to mention pavement parking - yet a couple of bikes here and there, people go nuts

I live in Oxford and loads of people in the little terraces have eyebolts mounted to the outside of their house and just lock them there. Could you do something like that?

That’s a great idea!

I live in Oxford and loads of people in the little terraces have eyebolts mounted to the outside of their house and just lock them there. Could you do something like that?
That’s a great idea!

This what I suggested yesterday.
I know the op may be mid terrace but if there is bricks lir whatever under her kitchen widow or at the back of the house the bike would go there.

Absolutely! Always at least a few cars on the pavement taking up more space than a bike! It really does show how much car has become King and pedestrians and cyclists are expected to put up with it and can't even take up a tiny amount of space with their bike!

The way I read this, your house is straight onto the street and your front door opens straight into your living room,so to store it out the back as it’s a terrace you’d need to run it through the house.

generally houses have a right of way round the back , so I’m not sure why you’re daughter can’t just run it round the back?

Ah, I wasn't sure exactly what you meant. It can't go at the back as I've said but there are bricks under my front windows. Is it just something that a lock would slip through? I think the bike would be leaning against the window sills so would stick out. It would take up more room than where it is now but might be a reasonable compromise. I was thinking of suggesting she speak to her landlord about clearing the area at the back of her garden to give me my right of way but if course everyone else needs to do it and the person who has put the gate and padlock on needs to remove it.

I've already answered this. Yes, we have a right of way, however a neighbour put a gate on the alley with a padlock and so noone uses it anymore and people throw their rubbish in there from both sides. If it was as easy as just running it round the back I'd be doing that!!