Originally Posted by
iFold
This is not exactly the case here.
They only confiscate those bikes that are already ticketed (it's sort of a warning note they attach to those bikes that are illegally parked). After a while (normally at night time), they come back later that day or sometimes the following day to confiscate your bicycle. They dont sell it. Confiscated bikes are being transferred to their office and the charges for redeeming your bike is around $30.
Maybe in your city but this is NOT the case in Kyoto city. A car leads the trucks by 10 minutes. The person in the car tickets the bike and 10 minutes later the truck picks them up. They do this between the hours of 9am to 9pm. They repeat this process twice a day in the city. I know because I see it every day. They DO sell the bikes if you don't locate it at one of the many holding yards usually well outside the city (not office)within four weeks. Of course if your bike is taken and it is your only mode of transport, you have very little chance of recovering it because it is difficult to get to the yards without your bike.
