The most conspicuous collection of forgotten bikes in one photo comes from the well-to-do Upper East Side at Lexington Ave and 67th st.
We've received more the 400 photos of bike blight around New York City in our mapping project. That's about 10 times the total number of abandoned bikes the city has removed in the past 18 months.
Tomorrow we submit them all to the city for inspection and potential removal. We'll ask you to you check back and see how many of these rusted frames (or saran wrapped beach cruisers) are eventually removed. For now, have a gander below at our favorite busted bikes chosen for photographic merit, level of "abandonedness," fun factor, and just because we liked them.
Pick your own favorites from the full gallery here. See the map, and read all about derelict bikes, the laws and stats here.
THE "MOST ABANDONED" BIKES:
Some parts remain, mild street trash tumbleweed factor. Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Bent frame, creeping rust, sun bleached belly. Pretty abandoned in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
BEST PILE OF KIDS BIKES:
We've found many piles of bikes -- which we fear tell sordid (or at least hoarding) stories. This was the most flagrant from Central Park North.
UNIQUE CASTOFFS:
Part art project, part bulletin board, this Williamsburg fixture hosts flyers, string, saran wrap and a teddy bear. Does that make it less abandoned or more?
That's a twofer. Photographer comment: "I mean? This also has been here for over 6 years." From 9th Street and Ave C, Lower East Side.
More wheels does not always mean less abandoned. 10th street and 6th Ave, Brooklyn.
How long does it take to grow a few feet of vines? Tribeca.
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY:
Deceptively unrideable in Midtown.
We call this one: arsty arcs. Downtown Brooklyn.
BEST COMMENT:
Though far less abandoned than other bikes, this one comes with a standout caption. "If NYC can also remove the dudes selling crack at this location, that would be great, too!" 167th Street, Manhattan
If the Department of Sanitation of NY finds a bike to be abandoned, it is tagged for seven days, then removed.