Brighton & Hove City Council has announced it removed over 500 abandoned bikes in 2012 and 2013, which have since been donated to the local charity Sussex Central YMCA to be sold or recycled.
Last year, the council’s Highway Enforcement team, who deal with reports of abandoned bikes across the city, took 1,174 reports of bikes left chained to racks and other street furniture.
These bikes can quickly deteriorate causing an unsightly obstruction in public streets. Bikes are ticketed with a 14 day notice asking the owners to contact the council to claim the bike.
If after 14 days the bikes are not claimed they are removed, tested and then donated to the charity. Between April and July this year the bike sales raised over £5,000.
Juliette Beesley, Sussex Central YMCA’s Warehouse Operations Manager, said:
“Thanks to this arrangement with the council we are able to sell safe, road ready bikes at great prices. And the money we make allows us to continue providing help to those who need it the most.
“In addition to this we also help reduce landfill waste by recycling all bikes which we are unable to resell as scrap metal thus generating a further income for the charity.”
Sussex Central YMCA sells the bikes at the Chalkpit Home Store, 285 Mile Oak Road, BN41 2RB.
The store is open Monday to Friday 8.30am–4.30pm and Saturdays 9am–5pm.
The bikes sell really quickly so telephone 01273 885550 to make sure there are any in stock.
Should anyone wish to report an abandoned bike, telephone 01273 292929.
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