Number of impounded bikes grows, DOTS says

Although DOTS created a bike impound nearly three years ago to store unclaimed bikes on the campus, few students know of its existence — and the department has seen the number of bikes rack up each year.

Since pairing with Resident Life two years ago, Department of Transportation Services officials said they have seen the number of bikes impounded per year surge. While DOTS on its own collected about 60 bikes, Resident Life has given the department at least an additional 100 bikes per year, officials said.

"Many of the bikes we pick up are just junk," DOTS Director David Allen said. "On average, students don't pick them up."

If students leave their bikes unattended in a public place, a Campus Recreation Services representative is responsible for placing tags on bikes that appear abandoned. If the bike remains untouched for two weeks, a DOTS official removes the bike and places it in the impound lot, located in the Regents Drive Garage. If the bike is left unclaimed for a year, it is thrown out.

Students who cannot locate their bikes can search an online database and claim their bike for a $10 fee. But many students said they didn't know DOTS had such a program.

"I have seen tags on bikes in front of tamp before," said sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Sean Kennedy. "I had never heard of the program before, though."

The impound currently holds 155 bikes, which officials said they found in places ranging from Stamp Student Union to the McKeldin Library loading dock. Officials most frequently find bikes around Comcast Center, Cole Field House, Leonardtown apartments and the Mowatt Lane Garage, they said.

Many of the bikes found are unusable, but officials said they occasionally pick up valuable bikes, such as a Specialized Hardrock Sport bike, which can cost up to $700.

Some students said the impound is an effective way to clear up bike rack space on the campus.

"I've never heard of it, but I think it's nice to students as it is difficult to differentiate between bikes whose owners abandoned them to travel … and those that are just infrequently used," said Jeff Gruen, a freshman computer science major.

Six of the nicest bikes will see a new life, however. Allen said DOTS plans to auction them off later this year.

He noted there are significant increases in the number of abandoned bikes at the start and end of the spring semester each year. The impound program is way to keep campus clutter-free as the number of bikers increases, he said.

"It's nice because it frees up space so people using bikes to commute can safely and easily park their bikes," Gruen said.

blasey@umdbk.com