Slog posted a not terribly fascinating entry into the Capitol Hill “notes left on things” hall of fame over the weekend:
That’s how the note begins. You can enjoy the entire thing here.
Or here, it turns out. The shitty bike belonged to Publicola News editor Josh Feit:
I mistakenly left my bike at the Melrose development on Friday night after hitting the CD shop and the bar, locked awkwardly to a makeshift rack, the handrail leading up the steps to Sonic Boom. I went out of town this weekend and my bike sat there over 48 hours.
The good news in this meta media tale? There will soon be plenty more places to park your bike at Melrose, as we reported in April:
In celebration of Earth Day and tomorrow’s big openings at Melrose Market (both Calf & Kid and Rain Shadow Meats are set to open), we bring you news that Homegrown Sandwiches (the “Sustainable Sandwich Shop”) plans to have seven outdoor tables and a large bike rack on Melrose Avenue “just like the one outside Stumptown and Presse on 12th”.
SDOT says there will also be a large on-street rack installed on 12th Ave at Pike. Meanwhile, in other bicycle improvements, 12th will also be home to some new “bike box” road markings soon.
Umm…you first.
While I don’t think Josh should have left his bike there (especially not for 48+ hours!), I think Mangement’s response was out of line. The note would have conveyed the message just fine without commenting on the shitty, unsightly, eyesore bike. The tone of the note reflects poorly on the business.
We don’t know when the note was posted, either. I’m sure if the bike was on the handrail for up to 3 hours, there wouldn’t have been a note. But 48 hours? Yeah, I’m guessing they got frustrated. I think Mr. Feit is fortunate that the lock wasn’t cut and the bike removed. This was, after all, attached to private property.
I would have stripped the bike for parts!
To leave a bike locked to a handrail at a store then leave it there for 48 hours, who the heck does “Josh” think he is? Hell, if I had been the management I would have gotten a bolt cutter or something like that and cut the lock and thrown the bike in the trash.
It’s their store and they should be able to serve all of their customers and they had the handrail installed per A.D.A. laws and the convenience of their patrons, not for some lazy, disrespectful piece of crap like Josh! Get a clue dumbass!!!
I live right by the location & wonder why the owner didn’t just lock up the bike at the destined bike lock zone, in front of Bauhaus or the Baltic Room. & how does one forget their bike??? Sorry, can’t feel sorry for you when one can’t walk less than a block. Not to mention outing Sonic Boom for someone’s poor choice isn’t winning points in my book. Mean note or not, you took the risk & someone called you on the BS.
Josh who?
It is good to know that this well known and respected market is attempting to prevent similar problems through the noted addition of bike raks, but I think it was poor judgement for any healthy biker to block a handrail with a locked bike. Please consider that some of us actually need the assistance of, or at least the re-assurance that the availability of these handrails provide. The note might have hurt a few feelings, but considering the locked bike might have caused undue risks to a physically limited shopper, well, is it possible that this unthinking biker really had no feelings to hurt?