Seeking the bicycle related wisdom of the internets
Alec and I went to visit my parents this weekend. We went by train. I got the bus to the station as I had too much luggage and Alec cycled as he had some places to go on the way. As the station cycle park was, as always, completely full when Alec got there on Friday morning, he parked his bicycle against the fence on the pavement and locked it to itself. When we returned on Sunday evening the bicycle was gone. It had not been stolen, instead it had been dragged and thrown into a big pile of bicycles in the cycle park. Alec had to dig it out of the pile. The paintwork had been scratched, the basket had been broken, the handle bar grips were missing and the wheels were bent. All in all I'd say at least £50 worth of damage done to the bicycle by however moved it and threw other bicycles on top of it.
So I want to know the answer to a few questions:
Who moved it and why? The way that the bicycles were all piled up made it look like it was something official but there were no signs saying that they were planning a clearance or notifying cyclists that they're bikes would be in danger of officially sanctioned vandalism this weekend.
Are there any laws/rules against parking ones bicycle on the pavement? In Cambridge it's pretty unavoidable if you use cycling as your main means of transport. There's nowhere close to enough cycle parking almost anywhere in the city. The bicycle wasn't blocking the pavement, it was against a fence and there were no signs saying not to leave bicycles there.
Who can we complain to/take to the small claims court for the damage to the bicycle? It's not that damaged but I feel on principle that it might be worth at least threatening to take them to court. Even when cars are parked illegally in ways which endanger people's lives I don't think anyone would allow parking officials to smash the windscreen or slash the tiers. People should stop feeling that they can abuse cyclists.
So I want to know the answer to a few questions:
Who moved it and why? The way that the bicycles were all piled up made it look like it was something official but there were no signs saying that they were planning a clearance or notifying cyclists that they're bikes would be in danger of officially sanctioned vandalism this weekend.
Are there any laws/rules against parking ones bicycle on the pavement? In Cambridge it's pretty unavoidable if you use cycling as your main means of transport. There's nowhere close to enough cycle parking almost anywhere in the city. The bicycle wasn't blocking the pavement, it was against a fence and there were no signs saying not to leave bicycles there.
Who can we complain to/take to the small claims court for the damage to the bicycle? It's not that damaged but I feel on principle that it might be worth at least threatening to take them to court. Even when cars are parked illegally in ways which endanger people's lives I don't think anyone would allow parking officials to smash the windscreen or slash the tiers. People should stop feeling that they can abuse cyclists.