Abandoned Bikes

I've seen a bike which i'd quite like with an abandoned bike notice on, does anybody know how i can get it instead of the council just scrapping it?

I realise i could just angle-grind the lock but was hoping there was a slightly more legit way to do it.

contact the council and ask...

They were very unhelpful, basically said they don't give them away once they've taken them.

There's a thread somewhere on abandoned bikes with info/opinions.

Wait nearby until the men with angle grinders come along, then at the moment they finish cutting it off run up and shout "Hey - that's my bike! what are you doing?"

Explain that you have just come out of hospital and did not see the notice, and fuck me, how lucky was it that you arrived when you did.

One of the Oxford papers did an article where they locked up bikes around the city then sent a journalist to go and "steal" them. I seem to remember he was only challenged once and still managed to get away with it.*

It may be worth contacting the broken spoke bike co-op, they may have some knowledge of what happens to abandoned bikes in Oxford. The old Oxford Cycle Workshop refurbished abandoned bikes at one time.

*Not encouraging anyone to steal, article was on the internet so probably not true, etc etc

There's an old bike gently rusting away in the communal gardens of a friend's flat. I'm currently trying to work out the right wording for a poster enquiring about it that doesn't result in someone trying to sell me the bike if it's not theirs, since I've no way of knowing who it belongs to.

Either that, or just liberating it one day and seeing what happens...

take details of the bike, wait for it to be removed, go to council depot, tell them they have removed your bike by mistake. describe bike, they should just give it to you.
worksinoxfordinghamshireton

One of the Oxford papers did an article where they locked up bikes around the city then sent a journalist to go and "steal" them. I seem to remember he was only challenged once and still managed to get away with it.*

It may be worth contacting the broken spoke bike co-op, they may have some knowledge of what happens to abandoned bikes in Oxford. The old Oxford Cycle Workshop refurbished abandoned bikes at one time.

*Not encouraging anyone to steal, article was on the internet so probably not true, etc etc

I know that OCW used to get all the bikes that ended up at the Oxford tip. They were all locked in a cage there. Very inhumane.

Don't know if the abandoned bikes end up at the tip, or elsewhere. If it's the tip, then you might be lucky: I nearly got hold of a Raleigh Twenty that was in the cage until the guy I asked about it double checked with his boss, who knew about the OCW arrangement. Shame.

I don't suppose this is of much use to your query. I'll go now.

I find the council's cycle support officer/team is usually VERY helpful - or your local Cycle Action Group - in London this is LCA... and you could just ring the Cycle Force Team/Transport Police for advice. If it's on private property you can contact the owner/landlord/tenant and see if they mind or know the owner's whereabouts if you can prove you have done everything you can to make contact with the owner then you're on solid ground. If has Bike Register sticker and etched number on contact Bike Register 0800 587 4739