A hand‑written strata notice has ignited tensions in a Sydney apartment block. Long‑time resident Francesca Castelli placed an abrupt warning on the lobby wall, insisting “BIKES CAN NOT BE LOCKED IN THE APARTMENT LOBBY AS THEY ARE A FIRE ESCAPE HAZARD AND THE POLICE WILL BE NOTIFIED IF NECESSARY.”
Francesca vs. New Tenants: Generational Showdown
Francesca, aged 41 and a former strata manager, claims she simply worries about safety. But newcomers, including 24‑year‑old bike lover Harry, see an overreach.
Harry argued, “I’m not going to lock my bike on the street, there’s plenty of room in the lobby? What’s the big deal?” His plea reflects a growing friction between old‑school order and modern convenience.
Support Rallies Around Young Cyclist
Unexpectedly, seasoned resident and cycling fan Greg Thornley leapt to Harry’s defence. Greg exclaimed, “It’s great to have a young cyclist living here!” That declaration transformed this into a turf war—and Francesca reacted swiftly.
Moments later, she fired off a warning in the building’s WhatsApp group: “Guys, just want to remind everyone that the lobby is not a personal dumping ground, it’s a shared space that needs to be kept empty.”
With sides rallied, these passive‑aggressive volleys threaten to drag on long through winter—outwitting neither fires nor police but draining communal goodwill.
