I have a shop in the main district of Zürich. The neighbors have been permanently locking their bikes on the front and sides of my store which looks really bad. Because this is "public land" they feel that they can just leave their bikes for days or even months without using them. When I try to move them they go buzzurk, because "thats how its been for decades".

I am willing to go to any length to sort this out, but I have no idea where to turn. The police have not helped and traffic office says they are technically allowed to park anywhere.. If thats the case, whats the point of public bike parking stands? Also, would it be possible to get a permit that gives me the right to remove them? How do other shops keep their streets clean from bikes? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

What are they locking the bikes to?

If you own (or rent) that then you maybe have more rights than if they're not actually touching your property. Put up a sign to make it clear.

Or find a compromise - maybe parking off to the side isn't so bad, so ask them to do that instead of in front of the store.

Thank you for your reply. Sometimes they lock them to my windows but mostly they just leave them unlocked. They are really old/decrepit bikes that belong to the inhabitants of a welfare building next door. I have placed signs, sent them letters, and even got their landlord (which is the government) to send them a letter asking them not to park outside... nothing helps so far. I once got assaulted just for repositioning one of them so it didn't block my window. Here is a photo for reference.

Move the bikes and lean them against the building next door or throw them into the Limmat if you live close by

The question is whether or not they have the right to park there legally. If not, I would be the first one to cut the locks and throw them all in the river, or better yet, send the bikes to Africa!

I've seen plenty of shops with signs saying "don't leave your bikes against this window". See if you can find one and ask the shop owner.

Thank you.. I already put up the sign but maybe its worth asking some other store owners!

No! Please do not throw the bikes in the river.

Put up a sign stating bike parking is f1 per hour 24/7 to be paid in advance.

Put a note on the unlocked ones saying "Gratis zum Mitnehmen"

The problem is that I don't know what the law is for bike parking.. If there is a law, I could in fact start charging them to park there and that would certainly solve the problem!

I'm not sure tenants of a subsidized building will be abiding to this

Here is an overview of the rules for cyclists in German, unfortunately, they do not quote the specific legal provision where they state that bikes cannot be put in front of shops.

Bikes can legally park where they want to.

Tom

According to which legal statute? Can you please reference this statement? Thanks!

Thanks for sharing, but from what I read this sounds like rules for temporarily parking your bike somewhere. Im all for a temporary stopover, but making a permanent home for your bike should constitute some kind of permit or penalty. I cant just leave an old microwave on the sidewalk and justify keeping it there. Whats the difference?

Also, this doesn't look like the official page from the government so hard to say how accurate it is.

Can you provide one that states otherwise?

Anything that is not legally forbidden, is permitted.

Tom

Seems like a fairly straightforward concept, that one can't PERMANENTLY leave their personal property on public land without a permit or such. If it hasn't become a rule, I would like to petition for one to be implemented!

Tom is talking bollox as per the usual. Bikes are not allowed to park where they obstruct passage and must always leave at least 1.5 metres of space on the footpath. They are also not allowed to park in places that have an official sign prohibiting parking. Regarding the shop obstruction, while I cannot find an official ruling on the matter, I've now found several guidances from Swiss cities that clearly state that parking in shops should be avoided. I think this is a clear situation of the government not making a law because they have the fond notion that people are able to use their brain and are not normally selfish, lazy idiots.

@OP - if the bikes are decrepit and not locked, I would consider them to be illegally discarded rubbish, which in turn becomes the problem of the ERZ. If one or more of them have still not been moved after a month, I would shoot them a message.
I would also not be above letting the air out a tyre every now and then. Not of all bikes, just the one that has not been moved for the longest (a thin piece of thread attached around two moving parts could serve as an indicator).

Just Ignore Tom, he groans everyone. He’ll probably groan me ...

Why don’t you check with the communal authorities or the police.

Not at all.

Which agrees with what I stated, i.e. "Anything that is not legally forbidden, is permitted."

Tom