The University of Michigan will begin removing abandoned bicycles from bike racks on the Ann Arbor campus this spring.
Starting March 20, the U-M Grounds Department will place brightly colored tags on bikes that appear to be abandoned. Deteriorated tires, bent rims, rusted or broken chains, frozen brakes, cables or shifters will be used as indicators that a bike is abandoned.
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Random bicycle parts such as individual tires will not be tagged and will be removed immediately.
“Bicycle parking on campus is intended for short-term use,” said Kenneth Rapp, university landscape architect.
“Approximately 20 percent of bike parking spaces on campus are used up by abandoned bikes. By removing these bikes, it helps ensure that the maximum number of bike spaces are available for active bicyclists to use.”
During the tagging process, the Grounds Department staff will photograph the bicycle, and record its location, model and color, and the serial number or registration, if available. This information will then be turned over to the U-M Police Department.
Bicycles that are tagged will remain in place until May 15.
Tagged bikes left on campus after May 15 will be considered abandoned and will be removed by the Grounds Department. Removal will include cutting any locking device necessary to remove the bike. No compensation will be made for locks that have been cut after the bike has been determined abandoned.
Bicycles with identifying features will be taken to a storage area where they will be kept for 30 days after the start of fall classes.
Once this 30-day period has passed, any abandoned bikes that remain will be removed. Usable bikes or parts will be taken to Property Disposition or will be given to a local reuse program. Unusable metal parts will be recycled.
Bike owners that may need to retrieve their bicycles should contact the U-M Police Department.
Diane Petronio
Just a thought – at a tour of Grand Valley State University – they take the old abandoned bikes, paint and repair them and use them in their free bike program for people on campus to use. Maybe we could do something like that here?
Beverly Slane
Our Wellness Committee at the School of Public Health has discussed obtaining a few of the abandoned bicycles for a loaner program at SPH (hourly or daily loans) for anyone in the SPH community that has to travel across campus for meetings, presentations, etc. What is the process for obtaining bicycles? Thank you- Bev Slane
Paul Clark
Often thought it would great if these could be donated to a charity that helps underprivileged kids, allow them to repair the bike for use. Teach them a skill and they can earn a bike. I think Washington U. does a program like this
B John Williamson
That’s exactly what Back Alley Bikes does in Detroit. A worthwhile cause always accepting donations and looking for volunteers.
http://thehubofdetroit.org/back-alley-bikes/
Brett Jones
I work with local high-needs populations who would GREATLY benefit from receiving these abandoned bikes. Is there a process to get some of these bikes for underprivileged communities in Ann Arbor from Property Disposition?
PLEASE REPLY. Any info would be tremendously appreciated! [email protected] 734-273-9373 (Google Voice #)
Rob Utterback
“Approximately 20 percent of bike parking spaces on campus are used up by abandoned bikes. By removing these bikes, it helps ensure that the maximum number of bike spaces are available for active bicyclists to use.”
Well that’s great, except that this article, by its own admission, was published MORE THAN THREE MONTHS BEFORE ANY BIKES WERE REMOVED! The University of Michigan does a terrible job of removing abandoned bikes. If these were cars occupying parking spaces, they’d be gone in a matter of days, if not hours. But because they’re bikes—meh, who cares?