More Cycling Asshattery

[Jeff Higgins]

So, there I was, sitting in front of a small coffee shop early this last Saturday morning, say about 7:30 or so. This shop is located in the small town of Snohomish, in our Snoqualmie River Valley. It's located in the town's historic district, or "Old Snohomish" as they like to call it.

Parking is very, very limited in Old Snohomish, with "nose in" parking on both sides of the narrow street. Not nearly enough of it to support all of the small businesses; there might be two to three, maybe four spots in front of any given business, depending upon how much road frontage it has.

Anyway, while I was sitting there b.s.'ing with the owner, a small SUV with a couple of bikes on it's bike rack pulls in and parks. A couple gets out, unloads the bikes, and rides off. Clear out of town.

So I asked the owner "WTF?" He said easily half of their very limited parking spots are taken up every weekend morning by folks like that. They will be gone for hours, if not all day. When they return, they typically just load their bikes up and leave.

I asked why the city didn't address the problem, like with parking time limits or something. The problem with that, he said, was many folks do spend the day there, shopping all of the little knick-knack shops, having a cup of coffee, lunch, and maybe dinner. He's pretty frustrated, as are the other business owners. It's really hurting business and there appears to be nothing they can do.

He used to confront them, as have many of his fellow business owners. They gave up. These cyclists have no shame whatsoever, and there is only so much of their whiney spoiled brat, entitlement based sniveling that "this is a public parking spot" that he's willing to listen to.

I would have never guessed this was a problem. Then again, it would never occur to me to treat others like this, either.

[Racerbvd]

That is when a set of Go-Jacks are very handy, move the SUV in front of a Fire Hydrant & in the road, so they get towed..

[billybek]

Pebble in the tire schrader valve caps.

All 4.

[cstreit]

Where else would they park?

Sounds like the problem is with the city. Can't please everyone...

[herr_oberst]

Sounds to me like a few tax-paying citizens, taking advantage of the infrastructure.

You're just lucky your morning wasn't ruined by a bunch of citizens exercising their self professed right to save their lives with their loud pipes.

By the way, why is this still bothering you two almost three days later. It reminds me of the parable of the two Buddhist monks.

"Are you still carrying her? I put her down hours ago."

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Where else would they park?

Sounds like the problem is with the city. Can't please everyone...

Really? Cities are perhaps obligated to provide enough parking for folks coming to the city to patronize its businesses, but why on earth would they be obligated in any way to provide parking for folks who have no intention of doing so?

No, this is simply another problem cyclists have created that they would like someone else to solve for them, or to pay for instead of them.

If they want to ride their bikes, there is nothing keeping them from just hopping on them and going. From their own homes. If they really feel they must drive away from their homes so that they can ride their bikes somewhere else, maybe they need to pool resources and come up with some kind of infrastructure to support that. You know, like park and ride lots for cars. No one would put up with commuters parking all through their neighborhoods, or parking in front of all of the local businesses and leaving their cars there all day.

Perhaps that is the answer - rural "park and ride" lots for cyclists. Charging by the hour for parking would likely soon pay for the lot. Could cyclists ever get organized enough to make that happen?

[lendaddy]

It's not so much about riding the bike, it's about being seen while riding the bike.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Sounds to me like a few tax-paying citizens, taking advantage of the infrastructure.

Tax-paying in Seattle, or Bellevue maybe. I'll assume since they drove there so they can ride, they live far enough away that riding there was too much for them. So, no, they are not paying Snohomish taxes. They are not supporting Snohomish businesses. Taking advantage, yes.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

You're just lucky your morning wasn't ruined by a bunch of citizens exercising their self professed right to save their lives with their loud pipes.

My morning was not affected in the least. The business owner's was, as was every business owner in Old Snohomish.

Your answer was entirely predictable. You've really shaped up as one of the real immature "hooray for me, to hell with you" children of this forum.

[look 171]

I know how the owners feel. I live in a narrow windy street where only one side is allow to park for "US" and not the hikers or others just want to come up to catch a view of the city. They come up for a whole day go for a walk in the canyon starting near our block and disappear for hours. Asshloes. Jeff, this is not just cyclists, they can be hikers and folks who are involved in other activities.

[wdfifteen]

Parking vouchers. Pick one up at any retail shop and have it stamped by one of the local shops every 2 or 4 hours. Parking's free if you have your voucher stamped.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Sounds to me like a few tax-paying citizens, taking advantage of the infrastructure.

You're just lucky your morning wasn't ruined by a bunch of citizens exercising their self professed right to save their lives with their loud pipes.

Irresponsibility comes in all flavors, don't it?

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

My morning was not affected in the least. The business owner's was, as was every business owner in Old Snohomish.

Your answer was entirely predictable. You've really shaped up as one of the real immature "hooray for me, to hell with you" children of this forum.

Do a little poll of all the business owners in Snohomish, did you?

You have no idea where they arrived from, but you just make an assumption that it had to be Bellevue or Seattle. It could have been Monroe for all you know. Maybe they just got in from Spokane?

Your morning was definitely affected, because almost three days later you are still bothered enough to whine like a little girl to the forum about something else that you hate about a class of people that you don't agree with.

(I sure hope that those cyclists had the good sense to wear something other than white eyewear while in YOUR special little town.)

[Jeff Higgins]

Wow, you really don't get it at all, do you?

[intakexhaust]

Oh boy oh boy.....

Mayberry RFD should just build a white picket fence around their town and the rest of us could just take a peak once in awhile.

ITS THE TOWN THAT HAS THE PROBLEM!

Its growing or has seasonal spurts, tourist, whatever. Nourish and DEAL with it.

You want to see a parking issue? Visit Chicago.

[herr_oberst]

I get it.

There's too much traffic everywhere, we're all of us up against it every day with no relief in sight. It sucks for all of us but you never miss a chance to single out cyclists, as though by banishing us like pariahs to the dark edges of society then everything would be the way it used to be.

[Drbraunsr]

You're just lucky your morning wasn't ruined by a bunch of citizens exercising their self professed right to save their lives with their loud pipes.

[Jeff Alton]

Couple of questions:

You said they parked on the street, so the business does not have any of its own parking, it rely's on parking provided by the city/town/village, correct? So they have no claim to the parking available on the street, same as a home owner has no claim to street parking in front of their house.

Would it bother you if the couple got out of the car, roamed the streets of the area, bought nothing and left a few hours later? What if they went for a hike or run, would that be OK?

Any chance they patronize a different business in the area, either enroute or after they are done? Maybe a gas station, pharmacy, coffee shop etc?

Is there signage on the street limiting the number of hours one can park or for what reason they may park? If not, you have a problem with town council. If the council thought it was an issue, they should have dealt with it. Perhaps the pissed off business owner, and you, should petition the council with your thoughts. After all, they are folks elected by the locals to run their community.


Cheers

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

...something else that you hate about a class of people that you don't agree with.

Wut? That's quite a reach.

Maybe you missed this...

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

He said easily half of their very limited parking spots are taken up every weekend morning by folks like that. They will be gone for hours, if not all day. When they return, they typically just load their bikes up and leave.

Or maybe you think that level of disregard for others is okay.

Or maybe you know you'd be willing to do the same thing.

Which is it?

[slodave]

As is often said about news articles that don't "provide" all the facts....

The Old Snohomish district is right across from a public "River Front Trail". Also there is a "Snohomish Trail Head" that is not far from that district and has parking. It is advised that the lot fills up quickly due to hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

(I'm having problems posting the Google map link to the area) - Google "Old Snohomish" and zoom in...

Based on this map:
http://www.commtrans.org/FAQs/Documents/BikeMap2014.pdf

Access to the Snohomish Trail is also available just off Historic Snohomish.

Looks to me that Jeff Alton has the best answer. Getting pissed at the bicyclists isn't the answer here. As well, there is a push to "get out and ride" more and more at the city/state level.

[DanielDudley]

A two hour parking limit would solve the problem. Many communities with limited downtown parking have this. How many people in this world feel perfectly fine about doing things that may be somewhat unethical, but are perfectly legal.

People are doing it because it is allowed. You yourself had a car parked in one of those spaces, and you were just hanging out, shooting the breeze. Blaming people for taking advantage of legal free parking isn't solving anything. People are people. Solve the problem and move on.