The Chainlink

Hey any body know of any abandoned bikes in need of rescue preferably with most of their parts still on them. I am starting a collection of old bikes for a future endeavor. Obviously I am not interested in bikes that are being ridden even occasionally, only bikes that have been left for months, years, or decades to rust.
 





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thanks for the info here, there's a really nice gitane, big frame, from the 70's abandoned at kosciuszko park that i'm trying the 311 route on... we shall see.

Ha!!  Good luck!  --->  http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/has-anyone-had-success-get...

 

Benjamin Johnson said:

thanks for the info here, there's a really nice gitane, big frame, from the 70's abandoned at kosciuszko park that i'm trying the 311 route on... we shall see.
ouch... i didn't see that thread :)
I've seen that happen and then watch the tag get weathered or taken off.  Anyway there's been one at the Thorndale Red line for at least 3 years. rusty, flat tires.

Sean W. said:
Not to rain on your parade, but there's a process in the city to handle abandoned bikes. Call 311 to initially report it, and then City workers will come by and tag the bike with a weatherproof yellow tag to note that it's being considered abandoned and will be removed by such-and-such date. If it's still there after the date, City workers then come to legally remove it and drop it off at a not-for-profit operation like Working Bikes. WB will salvage anything that still has value.
there's one in front of the grind in lincoln square thats been there for at least a year.  I would walk past it all the time, watching it rust through the winter.  Now it's missing it's saddle.

This whole process of reporting it to 311 sure sounds great doesn't it?  Sounds like its a pretty clear, organized process and that the city will swoop in and take care of everything.  Well, this system DOESN'T work and nothing ever gets done.  Its not that difficult of a concept...evidently the city seems to think otherwise.

 

I wish someone who has any connection to the bike program could tell me why the city cannot follow through on these requests...


Sean W. said:

Not to rain on your parade, but there's a process in the city to handle abandoned bikes. Call 311 to initially report it, and then City workers will come by and tag the bike with a weatherproof yellow tag to note that it's being considered abandoned and will be removed by such-and-such date. If it's still there after the date, City workers then come to legally remove it and drop it off at a not-for-profit operation like Working Bikes. WB will salvage anything that still has value.
There are a few bikes at the Evanston Central Street Metra that have been there forever. I've called Evanston and Metra about them (they're taking up precious bike rack space) and nothing has been done. One of the bikes is a nice Trek hybrid and has an attachment on the back for a kid to ride along. I've always wondered how it came that particular bike got abandoned. Very odd.
If it is angering you so much then just take care of it yourself.

Here's the City's website on the issue of abandoned bikes.

 

If Steven posted on this already, I apologize for overlooking the post.

Abandoned Bikes

Abandoned and stripped bicycles locked to bike racks are unsightly and reduce available parking. Know any locations? Let us know and we'll arrange to remove the bikes so that you'll have a place to park.

Call 311 to report an abandoned bike.
We only accept reports through 311.

abandoned bikes on Sheridan in ChicagoAn example of an abandoned bicycle. This photo was taken on Sheridan Road in Chicago, Illinois. Notice the yellow placard to identify to the abandoned bicycle's owner the applicable ordinance and which gives the warning about the date it will be removed.

I see an abandoned bike. Who do I tell?

Call 311 and say you'd like to report an abandoned bicycle. The 311 operator will ask you for the location and also ask you where it is locked (e.g. bike rack, light pole, sign pole). You should also describe the bike - the description helps the bike program quickly identify the bike in question (especially when the bike is one parked near many).

My bike has been tagged as abandoned. What can I do?

Call or email the Bike Program and give us the 311 SR# written on the placard attached to your bike. Call 312-744-4600 or email steven.vance@cityofchicago.org. Be prepared to describe your bike with the following attributes:

Mike, you realize Laura's done all that, right?

Steven has not been with the city bike program for some time (a year? More?). That his contact info is still listed there is as telling as the lack of response Laura has received.
To Laura-- don't throw the baby out with the bathwater-- I use the 311 system constantly and it does work well for some things.  Despite your lack of success here I think the 311 call is still a necessary first step in reporting an abandoned bike in need of removal.  I would say your next step is to call 311 (late at night-- if you can get "Mr. Kessler" or "Miss Luetke" you'll get competent assistance), ask them to look up your previous reports and see if they're still open, or marked "closed."  If they've been inappropriately closed out, the next step is to report that to the inspector general's office-- I've gotten pretty much immediate help by doing so with inappropriate close-out situations in the past.
Mike Keating said:

Here's the City's website on the issue of abandoned bikes.

 

If Steven posted on this already, I apologize for overlooking the post.

Abandoned Bikes

Abandoned and stripped bicycles locked to bike racks are unsightly and reduce available parking. Know any locations? Let us know and we'll arrange to remove the bikes so that you'll have a place to park.

Call 311 to report an abandoned bike.
We only accept reports through 311.

abandoned bikes on Sheridan in ChicagoAn example of an abandoned bicycle. This photo was taken on Sheridan Road in Chicago, Illinois. Notice the yellow placard to identify to the abandoned bicycle's owner the applicable ordinance and which gives the warning about the date it will be removed.

I see an abandoned bike. Who do I tell?

Call 311 and say you'd like to report an abandoned bicycle. The 311 operator will ask you for the location and also ask you where it is locked (e.g. bike rack, light pole, sign pole). You should also describe the bike - the description helps the bike program quickly identify the bike in question (especially when the bike is one parked near many).

My bike has been tagged as abandoned. What can I do?

Call or email the Bike Program and give us the 311 SR# written on the placard attached to your bike. Call 312-744-4600 or email steven.vance@cityofchicago.org. Be prepared to describe your bike with the following attributes:

No, I didn't realize it. Just trying to be helpful. Besides, repetition is the key to learning.

h333 said:

Mike, you realize Laura's done all that, right?

Sorry-- this is turning into kind of a jumble because of the same info being discussed on two threads-- I thought this was the other thread linked above  where her frustration was laid out.

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