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.

This shows the bike (I removed the cover) and the bin bags that are taking up more room!!

I don't see how locking to your wall, if one could, frees up pavement space, if that's what some people perceive to be the problem

And its great your kid is cycling, we shouldn't be discouraging it

A compromise could be leaving it there Monday afternoon until Friday morning putting it away in the garden for the weekend if she's not using it then. It won't be there in the main daytime period as she's at school!

My only other thought was that the telegraph pole is the property of openreach - check their policy to be safe

It will take up more pavement space but I guess her real issue is she perceived the bike to be in her way for parking.

Then she can't use it all weekend, though.

I haven't looked at their official policy but the engineers I spoke to had no issues with it being there. But I think I'll get something attached to the front of my house to attach the lock to.

I’d be focusing on getting my right of way reinstated.

I'm hypermobile and can carry my bike, including up and down steps etc as I need to (I use the saddle and balance it on my shoulder). If your DD is too delicate to do this then cycling may not be safe for her. I imagine falling off could lead to a pretty bad injury.

Where is the nearest on-street bike rack/stand? Rather use that than a lamppost (also means you can use 2 locks for added security).

Me too. Op go speak to the neighbour and say you want the right of way opened as your daughter needs access for her bike. And tell the other neighbour that your daughter will store it round the back and you’ve asked th4 neighbour to unlock.

No, she's fine to ride her bike. She only rides it slowly. It's more a problem of lifting/carrying.

The nearest stand would be at the train station which is nowhere near us.

The problem is I need every other neighbour in our row of terraces to clear all the rubbish/overgrown plants whatever from the alley way. Getting all of them/their landlords on board is unlikely.

Who do you rent your house from?
If it's a housing association (or the council) they may be able to help sort out some kind of secure bike parking outside your house for you (in Scotland there is funding available for this).

A word of warning about those metal lockers you see in some places (mentioned by a pp): they're usually installed by a company - like Cyclehoop: https://cyclehoop.com/product/bikehangar/ - who gets permission to do from the local council, but then charges each user an annual fee (of around £70).

You might be better off asking for basic (uncovered, less secure) 'Sheffield stands' - see https://www.bikedocksolutions.com/the-traditional-sheffield-bike-stand - to be installed, or (smaller) 'post and ring' devices - see https://www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/post-and-ring-bike-rack - or getting permission from whoever owns the house to attach either a wall-mounted bike rack - see https://www.bikedocksolutions.com/wall-mounted-sheffield-bikes-stand - or a heavy duty 'anchor point' to the front wall (this is what motorcyclists often use to chain up their bikes - some are bolted into masonry, others are cemented into the ground).

Personally I'd keep using the telegraph pole. I locked my bikes to the railing outside my house (in London) for many years, and never had one stolen - I usually put a cable through the wheels as well as a d-lock through the frame though, as it was probably a higher-theft area than where you live.

Thanks for the advice. I own my home.

As long as it’s not blocking wheelchair access, I don’t think there’s any issue with it.

But that said, I don’t understand the drama around wheeling it through from the back garden. Sounds like you have one step from kitchen to lounge? So get a wooden wedge made (can be very light as not for heavy use). Then there’s no lifting.
It’s easy enough to clean wheels (you don’t need an outdoor tap, just a hose adaptor for kitchen tap).

No, not just one step. I would struggle to wash and dry the wheels twice a day.

Can a wheelchair or a pram still get through on the pavement? If so then I can't see an issue.