The prosecution: Anaïs
Having a bike in the corridor is annoying. I catch myself on it when running out the door
I’ve lived with Kojo since 2018. We met at university and moved in together after graduating. It’s been a good partnership – he’s like a brother to me.
I don’t cycle, but Kojo has always had some drama with his bikes in London. He never used to lock them up properly so I’ve accompanied him to the police station on more than one occasion to make a police report when they’ve been stolen. Then he got Nelson, this fancy bike through a cycle-to-work scheme, and decided to keep it inside. (I don’t know why it’s called Nelson).
I didn’t have anything against this during Covid, because all rules seemed to go out the window and I didn’t want Nelson to get stolen right after Kojo had bought “him”. But now Nelson is pissing me off. Maybe because we’ve been in this flat for a while and I fancy a change, or maybe because I’m working from home more after changing jobs this year. But I just find the concept of a bike constantly in the corridor quite annoying.
Bikes are cumbersome and I often catch my elbow or handbag on Nelson when running out of the door. I have suggested that Kojo keep him in the new bike storage hangar at the end of our road. It looks pretty affordable – it’s £60 a year – but Kojo says he can’t afford it. He gets all dramatic and says, “poor Nelson, all the way out there”, but the hangar is 30 seconds from our house. I think it’s a small price to pay to have more space in our tiny flat, but Kojo isn’t coming around to the idea.
I’d like to see some compromise. He recently suggested having a mounted bike rack in the kitchen so Nelson can hang up on the wall, but I am even less keen on the idea of a bike next to the space where I cook – that’s unhygienic and a real eyesore.
Kojo and I get on well and this flat has been our home for a while, but it seems there’s three of us living here and I didn’t sign up to share my space with this housemate. Kojo says he and Nelson will be out of the flat more this summer if the weather is nice, but I know when winter comes, I’ll be stuck catching my elbows on the bike again.
The defence: Kojo
I’ve already had two bikes stolen, and the thought of leaving this one outside at night makes me a bit sad
In London, bike theft is a big issue. Anaïs doesn’t really get that because she’s never cycled. I’ve been cycling for 12 years now and I’ve had two bikes stolen, which is pretty good in the grand scheme of things.
I’ve got friends who stopped cycling because they can’t afford to buy any more bikes, they’ve had so many stolen. During 2020 I got a new bike after my old one was stolen at the end of 2019. Then we went into lockdown and cycling was my release, so I was using my bike whenever I could. I got into the habit of bringing my bike into the flat because it’s quite expensive.
Anaïs first asked me if I’d consider keeping Nelson outside, in the garden, but because he was new I said I’d rather keep him in the house to protect his lovely blue finish. She was cool with it for a long time but she’s now asking me to take poor Nelson out into the street because we’ve recently had one of those pay-monthly bike storage sheds installed nearby.
She thinks Nelson will be safe there, and she’s probably right, but I just don’t want to do it. I would have to walk three minutes to get to the shed every time I need my bike, which is every day, and I also don’t want to pay the monthly storage fee. Anaïs, Nelson and I have lived together in harmony for three years now and I don’t see why we should disrupt it.
I allow Anaïs to keep five giant suitcases in our shared storage space and kitchen, so why can’t I keep Nelson in the corridor of our flat? He doesn’t take up too much space – less than her suitcases, in fact. I like the idea of a bike storage facility in theory, but leaving him so far away from me at night makes me a little bit sad.
I’ve told Anaïs I’m prepared to get a bike rack for the kitchen so Nelson can hang vertically from a rack there, but she wasn’t a big fan of that idea, saying that bikes don’t belong in kitchens.
What else can I say? Nelson is staying put then. Summer is here now so I’ll be taking Nelson out most evenings and weekends. Anaïs won’t even notice when he’s here.
The jury of Guardian readers
Should Kojo park his fondness for Nelson and evict him from the flat?
Nelson may be beautiful but he’s in the way and potentially unhygienic when he’s in the flat. However if Anaïs really wants the bike in storage, she should pay half the fees (at least!). Space is important in a home, but so is compromise.
Stephanie, 35
Bike theft is a real worry, and while the hangar is affordable, it’s reasonable to want to keep a treasured possession in the home. Store it covered in the garden or get creative with a bike rack, but let this one slide, Anaïs. A “brotherly” housemate is far more valuable.
Gautham, 37
The new secure hangar just three minutes away sounds ideal for Kojo’s bike. Why create an obstacle in the hallway if you don’t need to? That said, Anaïs should store the suitcases in her own room. Shared space isn’t for clutter.
Mary, 37
Shared areas are sacred, none more so than the kitchen. So it’s time for Nelson to either start sleeping in daddy’s room or become an adult bike and move in with his roommates three minutes away.
Joey, 25
Given that the bike has already been in residence for three years, there is no case to answer. If bike storage was an issue, it should have been raised at the time. But Kojo needs to ask himself if he is willing to put friendship above his bike.
Sarah, 50
Now you be the judge
In our online poll below, tell us: should Kojo take Nelson off his pedestal?
The poll closes at 10am BST on Thursday 15 June
Last week’s result
We asked whether Tameka should change her wedding menu for Akane.
79% of you said no – Akane is guilty
21% of you said yes – Akane is innocent
