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Angry UPS man in the bike lane
Observed by Greg on Thu, Nov 30 2006
This guy went nuts on me because "I did not give you permission to take my picture!". He jumped out of his van and came at me in a fairly psychotic and threatening manner. Cussed me.
I guess he forgot that he was the one breaking the law.
6 Comments
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Posted on Fri, Dec 01 2006 at 11:41 PM
Guess it didn't occur to him to "Think Safety" before he very unsafely parked in the bike lane.
This truck has over $1300 in unpaid tickets.
Posted on Sat, Dec 02 2006 at 12:02 AM
I actually thought he was going to punch me. Came running out of the truck and got up in my face. I was holding the camera in one hand and my bike in the other with one foot strapped in. I just braced for the punch, but at the last second, he backed off and just cussed me.
Posted on Sat, Dec 02 2006 at 10:44 AM
I wonder--do the drivers have to pay their own tickets, or does UPS pick up the tab (theoretically speaking, of course, since it appears no one has paid). It seems to me that if a grand total of all UPS outstanding tickets could be calculated it would be an impressive figure, perhaps worthy of mainstream media attention.
Posted on Sat, Dec 02 2006 at 11:17 AM
I think it's UPS who pays, though I am not certain.
UPS, FedEx and other similar companies could be great allies in the effort to reclaim curbside space from private cars. If a certain number of spaces per block could be designated for deliveries only, that would go a long way in reducing double- and bikelane-parking. Plus, fewer parking spaces for cars would be a powerful disincentive to drive in the City.
Posted on Sat, Dec 02 2006 at 01:07 PM
Yes, commercial parkers are potential allies. There is a serious "moral hazard" associated with sending a fleet of delivery truck drivers out into the city with the directive that they get the job done and the employer will pay the tickets. There would be a strong incentive for them to park illegally, but it would be unfair to the drivers to make them responsible for their own tickets without also ensuring that variation in parking availability among routes did not affect drivers' take-home net of tickets
Posted on Sat, Dec 02 2006 at 05:26 PM
From what I have heard, big delivery companies get a break from the city on their tickets, but don't know this for certain, nor do I know the details.
As for them being allies, I could see the potential, but all too often, these guys choose the bike lane over an open curb space just because it is easier and they can.