Okay, I keep seeing this on the UWS and around midtown, so I have to ask. A delivery rider rolls up, there’s a whole empty city bike rack like 10 feet away, but they lock their e-bike to the little fence around a tree pit or a street sign. Sometimes they even block the gate for the tree bed. Is there an actual reason I’m missing? Do they not trust the racks? Are the racks too tall for the fat tires? I’m not trying to be a jerk, just genuinely curious before I lose my mind every time I have to step into the gutter to get around one.

Hi, I’m still kind of new to the city, but I’ve noticed this in Dyker too. I assumed it was just a speed thing? Like they don’t want to spend an extra 20 seconds heaving a heavy bike up onto a rack when they’re in a rush to drop off food. But then they spend time fumbling with a lock anyway. Is it even allowed to lock to those tree pit fences? I don’t want to do something illegal, but sometimes the racks near me are totally full.

Good question, and you're not alone in noticing. There are a few practical reasons this happens, and they mostly come down to rack design and bike weight.

Most city bike racks are the standard inverted-U or wave style. They’re fine for a 20–25 lb road bike, but a delivery e-bike with a battery and cargo box can easily weigh 60–80 pounds. Lifting that weight up and over a high bar, multiple times a day, is exhausting and can damage the bike or the rack. The tree pit fence or a street sign is usually at waist height, so the rider can just lean the bike against it and lock through the frame and rear wheel without lifting.

There’s also a security element. Some older racks are poorly anchored or have loose bolts; a thief can sometimes lift the whole bike off. A fence rail, especially a newer tree guard, is often more solidly bolted to the concrete, so it feels more secure.

To answer DykerNewbie: locking to a tree pit fence or street furniture is technically against DOT rules, but enforcement is almost nonexistent. It can become a real problem if it blocks the tree bed gate or makes the sidewalk impassable for wheelchairs or strollers.

In my neighborhood, I’ve watched riders pass three empty racks to lock to a basement grate because the grate is lower. The city has started installing some low-clearance racks in certain corridors, and that has helped a bit. But until they’re everywhere, fence rails are going to keep winning.

One caveat: even with better racks, some riders will always pick the closest object for a 60-second stop. That’s just delivery culture. But the weight issue is real.

YES! Finally someone says it. But honestly, have you ever tried to lift one of those things? I helped a friend move his e-bike once and it was like dead weight. The standard U-racks near me are basically useless for anything with a battery. The bar is too high, and if you have a rear rack or a delivery bag, forget it. They're not being lazy, they're being efficient. What we need are more of those low-clearance racks like the ones DOT put in on 34th Ave in the open street. Have you tried those? They’re a game changer. But until then, fence rails it is!

All fair points. I get the weight thing now, especially with the fat tires. Still bugs me when the tree pit gate gets completely blocked and the gardener can't get in, but I'll cut them some slack. Maybe if enough of us ask the DOT for more low racks? Might do a 311 report for the worst spots near me. That's about all I've got in me this week.

I used to curse these dudes out in my head, but after trying to lock a regular bike to one of those double-stackers on Ave A I kinda get it. The old racks are trash. They're high, they rust, and the spacing is weird. Delivery guys are on the clock. My rec: if you see a tree pit blocked, just move the bike a little if it's not locked tight? Or leave a note? Not sure if that's legal though lol.

Lol I saw one locked to a parking meter yesterday on 23rd and the guy was sitting on the sidewalk eating. Blocked the whole meter, and someone trying to pay was literally leaning around him. But honestly, the meter is probably lower than the rack. Also, can we talk about the racks that are full of abandoned bikes with flat tires? That's half the problem. If they cleared those, maybe there'd be room.

Uptown it's the new metal tree guards they're locking to. They wrap a chain around the whole guard and basically seal off the tree bed. It's annoying because the guards are new and they're already getting scratched up. I get the weight thing but some of these guys just don't care. I saw one lock to a hydrant once. That's actually illegal. Need to maybe start ticketing the worst ones.

Okay I just tried to lift my roommate's e-bike onto a rack outside our building and I almost pulled something. It's like 70 pounds with the battery. I take back what I said. But now I'm wondering, what do you do if a tree pit fence is fully blocked and you need to water the tree? Do you call 311 or just wait? Thanks for explaining.

YES! DykerNewbie, welcome to the e-bike reality. The weight is no joke. Have you tried the new racks with the lower bar on 5th Ave in Sunset Park? They have a notch that lets you just roll the front wheel in without lifting. More of that please! Also, I've called 311 for blocked tree pits and they close the ticket without doing anything. Better to ask your block association to request low-clearance racks. That actually works. Exclamation!

Good points all around. Just to add a little nuance: the low-clearance racks are part of a DOT pilot that started a few years ago in select neighborhoods, and they have been expanding slowly. They're often called 'e-bike friendly' racks because the bar sits lower to the ground and allows the front wheel to rest without lifting. From what I've seen in Astoria, the ones installed near the 30th Ave open street have helped significantly—I'd estimate fewer riders block the tree pits right there. But the rollout is inconsistent, and many old racks remain.

On the enforcement question: locking to a tree pit fence or street sign is technically against DOT rules, but NYPD and Parks rarely enforce it. A 311 report for a blocked tree bed might get the bike moved if it's hindering city maintenance, but it's not a solution. The better long-term fix is to ask your community board to request more low-clearance racks through DOT's bike parking program. They do have a process for requesting new racks, and it's free for the requester. Just be prepared for a wait.

One caveat: even with better racks, some delivery riders will still lock to whatever is closest because they're stopping for 60 seconds to pick up an order. So the problem won't disappear entirely. But we can reduce the worst cases by clearing abandoned bikes, replacing old racks, and maybe adding a few short-term delivery parking zones with low bars. Just my two cents.

This turned into a surprisingly productive thread. I'm going to mention the low-clearance racks to my block association. Might even do the DOT request thing. Appreciate the insight, especially the weight reality check. Now if we could just get people to stop stopping at the top of the subway stairs...