If I went overseas, I wouldn't leave my bike outside. I know how the city reacts to abandoned bikes, so it would be silly for me to leave for my two month trip and think my bike would be ok. But if I left it outside, knowing how the city reacts to abandoned bikes and came back and found my bike gone, I'd be upset, but it would be my bad, not theirs. They are very clear as to what they will do with an abandoned bike.

If someone is overseas for three years, then that's a long time for them to tether the bike to a pole and expect it to be ok when they returned, wouldn't you think?

The city breaks the lock in this case. They must be big time thieves if they went by your code of conduct. They break a lot of locks and auction those bikes off every so often.

I think you're reading my words incorrectly. I'm not overreacting, just stating to someone who is from the outside how the city reacts in such cases. No argument. Your problem is with the city, not me.

Koffee