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Today's Urban Design Observation: Abandoned Bicycle Improvised Garbage Can

Putting the "cycle" in "upcycle"

By Rain Noe - December 28, 2017

in Urbanism

I pass this abandoned bicycle daily. It's near one of those corners on Hester Street that has no garbage cans. This bike has long since been stripped of its useful parts. There also used to be a chair shackled to it, but someone has destroyed the chair and left only the seatback.

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Someone has prised open the bike's rear cargo container and filled it with what looks to be their lunchtime trash.

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On the one hand I admire the person for not littering. On the other hand….

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If you look closely you'll see they've even stuffed garbage down into the seatpost. Now that's thorough!

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Sean Thackston

6 years ago

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Hey Rain,
In instances like this is it safe to assume the original owner has long forgotten where he parked his bike and for someone else to take it as their own?
Or would a guy with a blowtorch and facemask be looked down upon for making that happen?

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- Rain Noe
  
  Sean Thackston
  
  6 years ago
  
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  Hey Sean, it's not that they've forgotten it; it's that the bike has been stripped of crucial parts (i.e. the seat) and the owner has no way to ride it back home, so they leave it. I'd say that once there's rust on it, no one would object if you liberate it with a pair of bolt-cutters.
  
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