MATT CAPOWSKI/Arizona Daily Wildcat An abandoned bike tire sits still connected to the rack outside of the Economics building Thursday afternoon. Parking and Transportation Services officials impound abandoned bikes and bike parts and sell them at auctions or make them available to campus groups.

University collects bikes after they have been abandoned on campus

Students who returned to camus this semester to find their bikes missing may need to pay a visit to Parking and Transportation Services.

All year, Parking and Transportation Services collects abandoned bicycles on campus and makes them available to the campus community.

PTS auctions the bicycles to the public and offers them to clubs and other organizations on campus.

They look for abandoned bicycles and remaining components of bikes that have already had parts stolen, and impound them to keep the bike racks clear, said Chuck Hammel, PTS bicycle safety officer.

"We tag bikes all year round and all over campus," Hammel said.

Gary Thomson, associate director of PTS, said once officers notice a bike that appears to be abandoned, they attach a tag to the bike indicating that it will be impounded within 90 days if not moved.

If only parts of the bike are left, they will be automatically removed without first being tagged, Hammel said.

Once the bike is impounded the owner has another 90 days to come and claim the bike, Thomson said.

He added that if the bike is not claimed within the 90-day period, it becomes state property and is turned over to the surplus property office where it is auctioned off to the public.

"The university has a public auction and the bikes are sold as they would sell old desks and old computers," Thomson said.

"The bikes are usually sold for between $5 and $10," Hammel said.

Hammel said that PTS transfers the bikes to surplus property about three times a year depending on the number of bikes that have accumulated.

In addition to selling the bikes at auction, Thomson said PTS allows departments on campus to lease them for student use.

Thomson said that African American Student Affairs is the only organization involved with the program but that he hopes that others will follow.

"We're looking to open it up on a broader scope to all departments," Thomson said.

"I'm surprised no one else wants to do it," Hammel said.

Although Thomson said he would like to expand the program he pointed out that bikes are limited.

"We would not have resources for all departments," he said.

Cynthia N. Quijada, senior office specialist for AASA, said their students benefit from the program.

"It's a really good program, especially for students in need," she said.

The auctions where the bikes are sold are open to the public. Thomson said bike stores can purchase the bikes and resell them, and PTS has been in communication with local area bike stores.

Anyone interested in purchasing bikes through the auctions should contact PTS at 621-PARK for more information.