No Peddling : Officials Crack Down on Retiree Who Sells Recycled Cycles in Yard

George Muir is happiest when he’s spray-painting frames and replacing parts on discarded bicycles, restoring them to a shining splendor and then selling them outside his house in Pico Rivera.

For three years, Muir has sold two-wheelers ranging from 12-inchers with training wheels to 26-inch beach cruisers with balloon tires. Every Saturday he lined up the bikes for sale in his front yard on Holbrook Street.

But recently city officials ordered Muir to halt the sales. He said the decision has left him in a daze.

Repairing and selling bicycles “is therapy for me,” said Muir, 76, a retired maintenance foreman. “If I don’t keep on doing this, I’ll end up in Rose Hills (cemetery) with some of the other guys I’ve retired with.”

City officials see Muir’s hobby as a garage sale, and city laws allow only three per year at people’s homes. Officials said Muir could be fined up to $1,000 if he continues.

Muir said that the sales really amount to recycling and that he has made little or no profit. He sells bicycles for $25 to $60, based on the size.

Now, dozens of repaired bicycles are sitting idle in his garage. He said he tried advertising in local newspapers, but found no buyers.

Muir said former Mayors Alberto Natividad and Garth G. Gardner had approved the bicycle sales, telling him to keep the sales low-key. Muir said he was told he could put up signs about the bicycle sales only once a month in the area.

Muir said he has complied with the instructions, adding that he can’t understand why city officials have recently cracked down.

“It just doesn’t make sense that they’ve let me do this for three years and suddenly it’s illegal,” he said.

Natividad acknowledged that he gave Muir permission to sell the bicycles, but denied that he approved sales signs.

“He made a very eloquent plea to me and said he did this for therapy and that he made very little money,” Natividad said. “Our tacit understanding was that he would not advertise but that he could put his bicycles on the lawn and that people would find out about them by word of mouth.”

Gardner was unavailable for comment.

City Manager Dennis Courtemarche said Muir was ordered to stop the sales after officials received complaints from people in the area who were cited for having too many yard sales. The residents said Muir was getting special treatment, Courtemarche said.

“People would say, ‘Why does he get to do this every week? Why does he get to put his signs out?’ ” Courtemarche said. “We’re not picking on anyone. We’re just enforcing the law. The main thing we’re trying to do is prevent neighborhoods from turning into commercial centers.”

Courtemarche met with Muir recently and said he would attempt to develop possible alternatives, such as a special permit for senior citizens to sell items.

Meanwhile, Muir has circulated a petition supporting his bicycle sales. He has obtained 18 signatures, nearly all from residents on his block.

“I don’t have a problem with it at all,” said neighbor Dannette Banuelos, 32. “I don’t see anything wrong with him selling them.”

Alfred Aguirre, 36, who lives across the street from Muir, agreed.

“My sister bought a bike from him for her little daughter,” he said. “I told him he can sell his bikes over here a couple of times if he wants.”

Muir, who retired 11 years ago, started his hobby by fixing bicycles for his eight grandchildren.

He later began purchasing worn-out bikes at swap meets or accepting others from friends. He generally inserts new bearings, sands and paints the frame, and install new tires on the rims.

“He’ll go out there early in the morning and he’s in his glory,” said Muir’s wife, Gwen. “The hours just fly by.”