By transporting 79 abandoned bicycles to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, the UCSD Police Department and the Donovan Correctional Facility have been giving back to the community since winter break of the 2002 school year.
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At the prison, inmates refurbish the bikes by stripping them for usable parts, reassembling the parts and repainting the bikes. From there, the prison distributes the newly renovated bicycles to San Diego-area nonprofit organizations that donate them to local needy children.
Chief of Police Orville King said he anticipates contributing to the program once a quarter.
“”The thought was, ‘Why don’t we work with someone who can give something back to the community and help less fortunate people?'”” King said. “”We don’t get that many chances here at the department to reach out to the community. It’s a voice for the university, as well, [to be] working together to make a difference.””
UCSD police department collects bicycles from around campus that appear to be abandoned and is required to hold them for a 90-day period, which department officials say they often exceed. During that time, officers attempt to contact the owners of the bikes so they can claim their property. This process is made considerably easier if the found bikes are registered with the state of California, which can be done at the Bicycle Operations Office behind the police station. UCSD police retains ownership of bicycles that are not claimed after the required 90 days.
“”We’re not there to grab bikes and get rid of them,”” said officer Ian Happle. “”We do everything we can to return them.””
King also emphasized this point.
“”Our first priority is getting the bikes back to their original owners,”” he said.
Campus beautification and “”freeing up the area”” from unsightly bicycles is another goal of the project, King said.
Organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army don’t take bikes in decrepit condition, which many of the bikes are, Happle said. The department’s collection of about 100 abandoned bicycles includes many that are rusty or have flat tires and other broken or missing parts. The inmates at the correctional facility easily fix up these bikes and make them usable for children.
“”That sounds like a nice idea,”” said Earl Warren College sophomore and bicycle-rider Perlita Perez. “”Some people might not appreciate it because it’s like they’re taking away someone’s property, but if it’s abandoned, then they probably wouldn’t appreciate it as much as a kid would.””
As of yet, no one has complained or come to claim their bikes after they have been given away. Happle pointed out that bicycles are often left by international students who have left. Others are in such bad condition that they are no longer usable.
About 100 abandoned bikes were found in January, and about another 25 have been found so far this month. Some of the more decrepit bikes will be donated to the bike refurbishing program at Donovan Correctional Facility, while those in better condition will go toward other programs.
In the past, the UCSDPD has auctioned off abandoned bikes, where the bikes sold for about $10 to $20. They found, however, that people were just refurbishing the bikes on their own and selling them off for profit.
“”We want to make sure the bikes are given to children and organizations where they are being used,”” Happle said.
Better bicycles that are worth $500 or more will still be auctioned.
