Philadelphia Streets Department Rounding Up Abandoned Bicycles
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia Streets Department crews will be out, starting tomorrow, rounding up abandoned bicycles in advance of Old Man Winter.
Crews will be out confiscating bikes that are in disrepair and have been left locked to poles for more than a month:
"They have either pieces missing. The wheels may be flat or blow out. Parts may be broken."
Aaron Ritz, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs Planner, says one reason to round up abandoned bikes is that they're taking parking spaces away from regular riders.
"(If) somebody has abandoned a bicycle for whatever reason, that then takes a parking space from a person who is riding a bicycle and using it on a daily basis."
Another reason: the potential of snowfall:
"We want to make sure that our sidewalks are as clear as possible going into the winter."
Bikes slated for confiscature have already been tagged with warnings. The city is donating the bicycles to charity, including the group "Neighborhood Bike Works," which teaches kids about bike repair. If you see a bicycle that appears to have been abandoned, you can report it to 311.
The roundup runs from tomorrow through December 6th.
