Bike outside house

[UnicornUnicornGolf]

I am not sure if I’m being overly fussy or not! We live in a small narrow news street with a small pavement. Someone has parked a big bike (with a sort of wagon attached to it to put children in) right outside our house on a lamp post. Meaning my small buggy won’t fit on the pavement to go out! Our door goes onto the pavement if that makes sense, so no driveway

AIBU to write them a polite note asking them to move it? I don’t own the land outside my home of course so is that unreasonable?

This seems completely fine. If it isn’t locked up why wouldn’t you push it out of the way and then put it back! Plus the note

I wouldn’t!

It’s a really small street, we know everyone, they don’t live on this street they live a few streets away!

Cfs- so you know where they live?

Yes I do!

Edit to add, I’ve seen them on that street with the giant bike so assume they live there.

The bike is effectively their buggy. Unfortunately bike parking in most areas is inadequate, and if cyclists park in a parking space on the street they get abuse from drivers and potentially their bike driven it and deliberately damaged, so I can understand why they have done that even though it is annoying.

No one in their right minds would leave a cargo bike unsecured all day - they are worth a fortune and a target for thieves, so presumably the bike is locked either to the lamppost or immobilised? In which case there is little you can do.

However, they ought to be mindful of not blocking the pavement. I think leaving a polite note is perfectly fine. But since you know where they live, why don’t you pop round and speak to them politely which would be even better.

I have a disability which means I often can’t walk very far and my cargo bike is effectively both my mobility scooter and my means of conveying children around, so I am probably more sympathetic to the cycle owner than some would be. But of course you have the right to access your house and the cyclist shouldn’t be obstructing the pavement for hours on end.

They leave the bike out all the time on their road. Overnight etc! Not sure why it’s on ours today! It’s mainly flats near us which is why.

To add it has a chain on it.

Is it definitely the one from round the corner? Just my pal in Glasgow lives on a street that currently seems to be a stolen bike drop off and pick up… Police aren’t interested!

It deffo is! And London not Glasgow!

OP your post reminded me of this in Bristol - road.cc/content/news/cyclist-couple-challenge-council-over-diy-bike-parking-302507

Also do you have bike hangars in your area? Maybe worth you all asking the council for one of these.

https://fitzrovianews.com/2024/01/13/westminster-council-is-offering-secure-storage-for-cargo-bikes-as-well-as-other-types-of-cycle/

They have one on their road that they don’t use 😫😫😫

It’s still there. Managed to go out by crossing between some cars but I shouldn’t have to di that ergh.

Patience until the owner gets to read the note, then if an ongoing problem hassle the council to get them to remove it. If it is blocking the pavement then the council are not fulfilling their responsibilities if they do not act so you can escalate via the local councillor.

patience isn’t my forte 😩! I just assumed it’d be moved by the school drop off!

Their bike may not fit in it if it is a cargo bike.

I asked for one near my road but it was for normal bikes not cargo bikes. Unfortunately some car owners got upset as it meant one parking space would be removed. Even though there are parking spaces that aren't used as not everyone has a car.

got Back from my walk and bikes still there. At least the note hasn’t flown away! Hopefully it’ll go by tomorrow

STILL THERE!

So report the obstruction to the council. Check their website first to see what they say and don't let them fob you off.

Why on earth aren’t they chaining it up on their own street! I wonder if a neighbour there has told them off.

My thoughts exactly!! It had moved and now it’s back! So they’ve read my note and still ignored! Also from a safety perspective I’d prefer my (presumably very expensive!) cargo bike outside my own home where I can see it incase it gets stolen?!

Incase anyone is interested another neighbour also put a note on and the bike has returned to its normal road!

Nice to know.

They probably realised they risked their bike being sabotaged, or ultimately reported and removed by the council. Do you have any neighbours who have a blue badge?

I'd like all the car drivers in my street to park their cars outside their own homes...but sadly, not.

But the bike should not block the pavement.