TORONTO — Hundreds of rusted bicycles, many missing seats or wheels, are emerging from the melting piles of snow on sidewalks throughout downtown Toronto.
Most of the bikes spent the winter locked to racks, posts and trees — seemingly abandoned by their owners.
They are eyesores, potential hazards and take up space where bikes could be locked.
They are also mysteries.
How is it that so many people abandon bicycles on the street? If they are unwanted by their rightful owners — or left there by thieves — why are they locked up?
“We have no way of knowing,” admitted Andre Filippetti, manager of Right of Way Management at the City of Toronto.
Mark Romeril of Cycle Toronto, a group that advocates for a cycling-friendly city, blames bike abandonment on neglect and apathy.
He said many people in the downtown core with no space to store a bicycle for the winter will simply lock it up somewhere outside. As parts go missing or the bike suffers damage, the owner figures the bike isn’t worth saving.
Filippetti said his department removes abandoned bicycles all year long but boosts efforts every spring during the Clean Toronto Together program.
Last year, he said, about 900 bikes were taken off downtown sidewalks.
“If it’s derelict, we tag it and Solid Waste will remove it whenever they can,” explained Filippetti.
If the bicycle is in operating condition, it is tagged with a 14-day notice before being removed.
According to information posted online, bicycles removed from city streets are photographed and kept for 60 days before being discarded.
A handful of non-profit groups are then invited to take some of the bikes.
“We must provide the city with a list of what bikes we received and give a description of how the bicycles will be used,” explained Ainsley Naylor of Bike Pirates, which takes about 10 to strip for parts or rebuild.
Remaining bikes are bundled and auctioned for a few dollars to scrap collectors who melt down and resell the salvaged steel and aluminum.
BELOW: Global News photographed dozens of seemingly abandoned bicycles on several downtown streets.
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