More than 1,000 abandoned bikes in German railway stations were sold at auction last year by state rail operator Deutsche Bahn.
“Every year, we find about 2,700 abandoned bicycles at our 5,400 stations,” explained a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson. About half of these are sold at auction after being kept for at least 10 weeks.
The price obtained for these bikes, which are sold at auctions at various locations such as Berlin-Lichtenberg station, depends on the type and condition of the bike. But on average, the resulting price at the end of the auction is €60 for a bike, the DB official explained. However, electric bikes are also being auctioned in various cities, for which bids exceed 300 euros.
“In a first phase, the amounts resulting from the sale of each bike are blocked,” the spokeswoman explained. If the former owner comes within three years of the auction date, he or she is entitled to receive the amount collected.
Otherwise, the money collected will be used to fund the lost property management operations, the DB spokeswoman said. The sheer volume of lost property and the management of these goods, which involves processing, storage, return to owner and recycling, comes at a significant cost.
Hundreds of thousands of items forgotten annually in DB stations and trains
Every year, around 250,000 items are lost by passengers on Deutsche Bahn trains and stations in Germany. That’s an average of 700 items every day. These include everyday items such as mobile phones, but also more unusual items such as dentures, wedding dresses and judges’ robes.
According to Deutsche Bahn, an average of 60% of lost items can be returned to their owners, with high-value items such as laptops up to 90%.”
Anyone who has left their bike on the train can prove they are the owner by mentioning certain features, such as the make and colour, and where it was found.
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