Abandoned Bike Roundup coming July 23

Have a rusted-out shell of a bike locked to a lonely street sign in your neighborhood? The day of reckoning for abandoned bikes is July 23, when the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) and the Streets Department will cruise the city to clear the our streets of forgotten bicycles.

How do you know if a bike is abandoned? MOTU says they’re bikes “that have missing or damaged parts, are in un-useable condition, and have been locked in the same location for one month or more.”

They’re asking for the public to report abandoned bikes by calling 311 with information about the bike’s location and defining features. For example: There is a green Schwinn locked to the No Parking Sign near the SW corner of 12th and Chestnut that has a smashed front wheel.

Fair warning, neglectful bike owners: Before your abandoned bike is clipped off, it will be tagged with notice of removal one week in advance. Bikes harvested in this roundup will be donated for repurposing/repair/reuse.

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