Bike Abatement
What is Bike Abatement?
The Department of Public Safety removes abandoned bicycles from racks in order to maintain an adequate number of secure parking spaces.
Bicycles may also be removed from bike racks which are being relocated due to construction. Bicycles identified for removal are posted with a notice informing the owner that they must remove the bicycle from its current location within fourteen days or the bicycle will be impounded.
Please feel free to submit a bike removal request below, and our team will tag the bikes for removal.
Contact Information
What is Bike Abatement?
If you have any questions, please contact us via email at bike-abatement@lists.stanford.edu or by phone during office hours at (650)723-9633.
Additional Information
Summer Abatement
If you leave your bicycle locked to a rack or other outdoor object after the end of the spring quarter, your bicycle will be declared abandoned, your lock will be cut and your bicycle impounded. Housing construction and cleaning projects take place during the summer so the space needs to be clear.
The Department of Public Safety will charge a $40 storage fee if your bike is impounded. Please make appropriate storage arrangements before leaving campus for the summer or other extended periods. If your bicycle is collected as abandoned during the summer break, it will be stored outdoors at a Public Safety impound yard until October. Then it will be sold or disposed of.
Cut or Damaged Locks
The Department of Public Safety is not responsible for the cost of locks, chains, other security devices, or any other item that may be damaged or destroyed as a result of removing any bicycle. The Department of Public Safety has no responsibility or liability to replace or make compensation for such items.
Bike Donation Options
Stanford University Department Of Public Safety (On Campus) Complete the form and bring it with your bike to 351 Bonair Siding Road.
"If you are student leaving campus to start your next adventure, consider donating your bike to another student. Go to the Give & Go website and find out how easy it is to do and leave knowing you helped a fellow student."
Bike Storage
If you are leaving campus for an extended period of time, Campus Bike Shop can store your bicycle so that it does not get impounded, stolen, or exposed to the elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Without a sales receipt or license registration, you cannot make a claim that a missing bike is 'yours.' To make a claim to abandoned property is a legal issue. The bicycle abatement officer must be convinced beyond a doubt that the bike belongs to the claimant. No one may 'show up' at the bike impound lot to 'look' for their missing bike.
First Step:
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Email the Bicycle Abatement Unit (bike-abatement@lists.stanford.edu) a complete description of the missing, unlicensed bike:
- Where and when it was last seen
- Make
- Model
- Color
- Wheel type
- Accessories (basket, bell, light, fender)
- Features to distinguish it from other bikes of its type (stickers, seat, condition, handlebars)
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We'll contact you about scheduling an appointment during designated times to identify the bike if we find one matching your description. Then, if found in impound,
- A $40 storage fee may apply. Please pay with exact cash or check
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Email the Bicycle Abatement Unit (bike-abatement@lists.stanford.edu) a complete description of the missing, unlicensed bike:
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Both Santa Clara County and San Mateo County have rescinded the bike registration requirement that was previously in effect. This means that there is no law requiring that bicyclists register their bikes.
While there is no legal requirement, the Department of Public Safety strongly recommends that riders register their bikes, and has launched a new online bike registration program through Project 529 Garage. Once your bike is registered through Project 529 Garage, if your bike is stolen or missing, you will be able to use the Project 529 system to broadcast alerts and share a photo of your bike. Stop by the Department of Public Safety office at 233 Bonair Siding Road to obtain a free 529 Shield. The Shield is placed on your bike and acts both as a deterrent to would-be thieves, and also making it easier to find you if your bike is recovered.
You can register your bike online through Project 529 Garage whenever it is most convenient for you. The new registration process is free and allows you to upload a photo of your bike to verify ownership.
With this change, Stanford Transportation will no longer manage the bicycle registration program and bicycle registration events will no longer be hosted by Stanford Transportation on campus.
Bicycles that were previously registered by Stanford Transportation under the old system will still be listed in the database in case there is a need to access your prior registration information.
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The Department of Public Safety no longer removes bicycle locks. This duty has been handed over to the Campus Bike Shop, (650) 723-9300. They will charge a nominal fee.