Liability for bike parking?

Re bike parking ordinance, a few council members expressed concern about the property owner incurring liability for a bike being stolden fraom a rack installed to comply with this ordinance. Good question, and a fair concern.

My reply would follow the is logic: A bike is a vehicle per NC law. Most cars lock, and are relatively secure. However, thiefs defeat car security measures and take things from car interiors. This often is done by straight-forward, simple means: throw a rock thru a window, grab what was visible from outside the car, and beat feet.

Parking lot providers often disclaim liability for such thievery from cars by simply posting signs that say, "Not responsilbe for personal property" or the like.

It'd be OK with me if a property owner who provided a rack for bike parking also posted a sign disclaiming responsibility for anything stolden from a bike, or the bike itself. This puts the bike on an equal footing with the liability of a car, and maintains the dual recognition of NC law: a vehicle is a vehicle. Us bike riders ask for no special treatment; we only ask that we be provided for as merchants provide for cars!

Jack Jenkins