Bikes left on Cap Metro buses remain lost

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- Bicycles are piling up at Capital Metro's Lost and Found Department downtown because riders continue to leave more of them behind on buses.

Capital Metro riders are leaving their bicycles on buses at an increasing rate. Bus drivers collect three to nine bicycles a week. The Lost and Found Department on Congress Avenue in Downtown Austin sometimes cannot even handle all of the bikes left behind.

Workers are not sure why they are seeing the increase, but with bus ridership up on area buses, the number of lost bikes has also increased. Ken Soo rides his bike everyday. He said there are times when he rides the bus with his bike.

"If I'm really tired, I'll put my bike on the bus," said Soo. "It saves me a lot of energy." However, Soo is surprised to learn riders would leave their bicycles on the bus. "I wouldn't just forget about it," said Soo. "Having a bike is at least $100 to $200."

Scott Parks is also an avid cyclist, who cannot believe owners would forget about their bikes. "It sounds pretty crazy to me," said Parks. "It sounds like kinda a silly mistake to me."

Owners have 10 days to claim their bicycles before they are donated to local charities. "We have an unusually large number of bikes that are not claimed," said Gloria Vasquez, Capital Metro Transit Store Supervisor. "And at the end of the day, we just end up donating."

For more information on Capital Metro's Lost and Found Department, call the lost and found line (512) 389-7454.