Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD Talks to Times About Bike Seizure, But Not City Council
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 30, 2010
Modified Apr 30, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 30, 2010
Modified Apr 30, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
We're not surprised that the NYPD press office repeatedly ignored our requests for comment about why, where and WTF cops were doing cutting bike locks and seizing bikes without notice along Obama's motorcade route. Nor were we surprised that NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the Times, "All vehicles, including 165 cars and 30 bikes were removed as a precaution in advance of the presidential motorcade. Notices were posted two days in advance." (We haven't heard from anyone who saw such a notice about the bikes, and does this look like just 30 bikes to you?) And it's not surprising that the NYPD has been blowing off City Councilman Peter Vallone, either—but that doesn't make it any less outrageous.
Vallone, the chairman of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, fired off a letter to NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly the day after the incident, which police later explained away as a security precaution to protect the president from bike bombs. Vallone wrote, "Please provide information regarding the following questions: Why did this occur? How often does this occur? What alternatives were considered but not used? What type of notice was given to the community? When and where were the bikes available for retrieval? Was this action based on any specific threat? Thank you for your courtesy and cooperation and I look forward to your response."
That was a week ago. In the meantime, infuriating video surfaced of NYPD officers confiscating bikes on Houston Street, and at least on bike owner said he wants to sue. Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, who previously filed a lawsuit against the city over the NYPD's practice of confiscating bikes during Critical Mass Rides, says, "We need a better plan. Cyclists should have notice regarding removal of their bicycles from the street and how to recover their bikes if confiscated."
Tagged
bike
confiscate
earth day
nypd
obama
obama motorcade
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .