Photo: Roosevelt Island 360

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, as promised, has begun confiscating bikes left overnight on public bike racks near the subway and tram stations. Roosevelt Island 360 reports that 17 bikes were removed as of Wednesday, while three others were tagged with warning fliers (RIOC needed a "special tool," not immediately available, to remove locks from the tagged bikes).

An email exchange between RI 360 and the RIOC reveals that, as of yesterday, one bike had been claimed "without incident" from the island’s Department of Public Safety, where confiscated bikes are to be held 48 hours before being donated to a thrift store. Wrote public safety director Keith Guerra:

We are noticing that many residents have removed their bikes on their
own and there is now plenty of room for those that wish to use the bike
racks.

Gotta hand it to those Roosevelt Island bureaucrats: They sure have a way with words.