BIKE: UT impounding unregistered bikes

[Patrick Goetz]

Ross Trethewey wrote:
> 
> Greetings from Canada:
> 
> I was wondering if I should register my bike now at the university 
> incase I ever visit Austin.  I would not want it impounded.
> 

I've worked at UT for quite some time now.  Every year they threaten to 
impound bicycles that aren't registered, and every year they don't 
actually do it.  I guess I should register my bike, but have never quite 
gotten around to doing so.

Every day that it's not raining I lock my bike up to a railing outside 
of RLM right next to a big sign which states "BICYCLES LOCKED TO THIS 
RAILING WILL BE IMPOUNDED".  Apparently it's taking them a while to do 
this, as I've been locking it up there every day for over 7 years, and 
it hasn't been impounded yet.

The bottom line is yes, perhaps this year they really will start 
impounding bicycles on campus that are not registered (a free and 
painless process, btw), but I personally am not going to hold my breath, 
turn blue, or flip my lid until there is some evidence to suggest that 
it's actually going to happen.  I'm not even sure what it means for a 
bicycle to be impounded, since I've never seen it happen.

As for the hundreds of students who just lock up their bikes one day and 
then leave them there to rot, that's just weird.  For heaven's sake, 
take it to Yellow Bikes or list it on Craig's List -- there are so many 
people out there who need a good bike, but can't afford to buy one.  (UT 
eventually piles them up in a couple of massive trucks and auctions them 
off over the Summer, but this is usually after the weather and vandals 
have had their way with them.)