BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Ask 311?

I've reported an abandoned, stripped down bike to 311 and it was removed.

There are abandoned bikes all over the place, especially on Pitt campus racks. When I used to commute to Oakland I'd see the same dead bikes on the racks for years. I assume this is low priority for Pitt. One other place is the garage between Third and Fourth ave downtown, the one with the bike parking/cage. About 5-6 dead bikes which makes if hard to use all the available spots. Any idea who controls that area? Pgh parking authority?

OTMA owns many of the larger oakland racks, at least they do in my building, there may be stickers indicating this on the racks. Might want to contact them. otma-pgh.org If it's in a city garage, try 311, I've had a few stripped / abandoned bikes removed this way.

Filled out 311 form online for third ave garage. Thanks Benzo!

Used 311 website. they removed two bikes in the third ave garage today. Yay!

There's a hybrid bike that has seemingly been locked to Yellow Bridge bike rack on 10th St (in front of the Westin) for over a month. It's either been abandoned or the owner somehow manages to lock it at the exact same angle every day. This is a prime bike parking spot, so it's getting 311'd as soon as I get a picture of the bike and more details on it. Don't wanna have the wrong bike removed...

Someone removed the Nishiki frame down by the Southside Works/South Side Marina/Hofbrauhaus. The sad one next to Golden Triangle is still there, though. That thing is just pathetic.

There is one at the Wilkinsburg Park and Ride lot that has gotten really pathetic in recent months. Can't 311 that one, unfortunately.

IMO Allegheny county should be running 311 and sending tickets to the municipalities. We shouldn't have to have a different system for every municipality and township in the county. I can only dream. They did it for 911, why not?

I'm not sure if this bike is abandons for not, but it's been U-locked to the rack outside my work since last week. This is on western avenue by 7-11. There's only two of us that commute by bike that I know of, and neither of us leaves our bike outside. If it's still there tomorrow, I'll post a picture. It doesn't look like it's been moved all since early last week, so maybe it was stolen and left there?

I 311ed the abandoned Giant bike on the EFT by the bike rental place. Sad looking.

For Abandoned bikes or a stolen bike that may be found , what I do is call the Pawn Police give them the ss number on the bike,,if its not on file as stolen and no one turns it in as stolen in 4 days you can keep the bike, bicycleheaven.org if you need more info

Where is the #? On the frame underneath the crank? Also what is the Pawn Police?

I understand that on the campuses, there are quite a few bikes left behind. When the students leave, they might not have a place to store, or maybe no room to take it, so it is quite common for all these abandoned bikes. When bikes are left locked up for more than 3 days, at the owner of the rack/property's' discretion , can consider the bike(s) abandoned, and have them removed. At my work site, we have a rack for customers or tenants, outside. I have had to remove a few bikes left over months, then I store them for a short time. I don't think stolen ones would be locked up , though. They'd be in hiding. Personally, I don't like leaving my bike locked up outside, for any length of time. There are a few out there who claim a parking space for their bike, as their own. I had one bike locked up for over 3 weeks, before I saw someone finally unlocking it, and found out that they lived over in another part of town. If you can't take your bike to keep at home, then you should not have a bike. Don't use a public or private rack as your personal parking spot. While we are on the subject, a few weeks ago, I saw a small dump truck, that was filled with bikes, thrown in the back. Don't know whether they were removing abandoned bikes. they were just thrown in there, like they were junk. I just thought it was strange.

There used to be an abandoned bike at UMPC Shadyside garage. It was there from July 2014 through at least July 2015. I wouldn't be surprised if it's still there. People used to chain their bikes to it when all the other spots in the two available toaster racks were taken.

I've never seen Pitt clean up their bike racks in the 15 years I commuted there. Also, how do they cut open a ulock? Sometimes I think it is easier to cut apart the bike and leave a dead ulock on the rack.

Bike locks are removed with a grinder.

SS numbers most of the time under the frame under the crank.The Pawn Police work with the Police and I work with the Pawn Police.Since I buy sell used bikes i log all bikes time date ss numbers and get full I.D. and info of the seller.I video all and finger print most sellers ,,that I do myself don't have to do by Law .I belive and bet I am the only bike shop that calls in used bikes I buy every 8 days or so to the Pawn Police,,,It protects me and the guy who may have had a bike stolen but does not protect the Thieves.I know 2 big bike shops that take in the high buck bikes and don't log / work with the police,,i know that for a fact based on busting a few people who sold the bike to a another bike shop that re sold the bike and had no info even to the fact of sales tax and info to the new owner,,,2 times...If you bring a stolen bike to Bicycle Heaven we may buy it,,but you will be busted for selling a stolen bike if its listed with the police or pawn Police as a stolen bike....its that easy,,,,,,and you will not believe how many stupid people come buy and after I tell them they are on video got the I.D. INFO THEY STILL SELL THE stolen BIKE,,,,,,i pass on many bikes its just not worth doing all the work to bust people,, bicycleheaven.org for all your bike needs as seen in the New York Times,,,,, take care lock up your bike know the SS number on the bike,,turn in info as soon as its taken ,,,you may just get it back,,

FOUND- Abandoned bike near Smithfield East End Cemetery this morning. Did not see in list of stolen bikes recently- describe it if you think it is yours and send me a private message. I put a sign up at the site with my contact information.

Okay, the bike was still there. I took a picture with my phone but I'm not sure how to load it here. It's been there, as best I can tell, for two weeks straight and I don't think it's been moved...

Regarding the abandoned bike I listed yesterday, the owner (a young man) called saying it was indeed his- when asked why he left it sitting unlocked along a street he said he had gone for a walk with a friend. Hopefully he gets himself a lock.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/laf/5509036731.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/laf/5479706198.html http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/laf/5471453840.html Also saw one on the GAP near Kennywood, white, if I remember, been there a while just sitting next to the trail.

311'd the bike I mentioned earlier locked at the yellow bridge rack on 10th St. White Mongoose full suspension MTB. Judging by the way it has been locked, whoever left it there doesn't seem to care too much for it. http://imgur.com/pyiNxrL

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bop/5509326747.html The third bike looks fairly new. I can't tell but since they seem to be abandoned bikes someone ended up with.

The Giant bike by Golden Triangle Rentals has been removed. Woot!

The bike is STILL there. Been locked up for about three weeks in front of my work. On Western Avenue. Edited to add pics: image hosting site uploading pictures