.
Hi,
.
So true in my college town as well. The week after graduation,
campus security tags every bike in campus racks with a notice
saying the bike will be assumed abandoned in 30 days if the
notice still appears on it. Those bikes are cut free of the
racks and stored over the summer in the gym. Before classes
start in the fall, returning students have a shot a reclaiming
their bike if they want it. After classes start, incoming
freshmen get first shot at the bikes for free and then the
rest of the students have a shot at them. The two local bike
shops get the rest and most of those are given away to local
kids. It's a pretty good process and it doesn't seem to
effect sales of new bikes at the two LBSes. They are mobbed
now and in early September each year.
.
A nice spin-off of this system is LBS old-parts bins brimming
with ancient parts from the ancient, abandoned bikes once
owned by ancient parents of graduating college students.
Just yesterday, I plucked from one shop's pedal bin a perfect
pair of Sakae SR SP-100 quills, Campy copies from the mid-'80s,
and a matching perfect pair of black nylon toe clip straps.
Can't argue with the price: FREE!
.