Help Us Map All The Abandoned Bikes In Washington D.C.

Have you noticed a rusted bicycle that has been chained to a bike rack for weeks, or maybe months? Do you see what appears to be the remains of a bike that has been stripped to its frame on your walk to the grocery store? We're collecting photos of those long-ago-abandoned bikes chained up and left to litter the neighborhood. If you spot one, email a picture to bikes@wamu.org and we’ll add it to this map.

If you would like to have these unsightly objects taken away, or would like to have the space cleared, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has the solution. Bikes that have been left chained up for more than 12 hours are technically considered abandoned by the District Department of Transportation and can be removed, according to a DDOT official. The total time it takes for a bike to be removed, however, is roughly 30 days.

Residents can make an abandoned bike removal request by calling 311 or submitting a request online. After the request is received, DDOT will place a notice on the bicycle — it looks like this — for a period of at least 10 days. During this time, DDOT will attempt to contact the owner of the bicycle before removal. If the bike isn't claimed before the notice expires, the bike will be removed from the public space.