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I’m sure we probably are repeating what’s been said in the abandoned bikes thread.
IMO, no matter how long it’s left for it’s still someone’s property.
I think if the council notice it themselves (or are notified of it by someone who thinks it’s an eyesore, trip hazard etc) and remove it and then there’s an auction or some way to buy it from them then I say fair enough. Bringing it to their attention because you want to claim it = pretty shady.
I think however that there is something to be said for following your morals rather than laws (and being prepared to deal with the consequences of doing so) but I’m not sure I can say it in a way that doesn’t make it sound like I’m encouraging bike theft. Nor do I think it’s a point worth making to someone who would report a bike to the council in order to try and legitimise stealing it.
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M_V
[edit: We're just going to repeat all the debates well covered in the abandoned bikes thread.]
How long is long enough in the opinion of the naysayers? Plus a bit longer now due to lockdown?
If it's been there since 2019 it is abandoned. If you leave a bike unmoved and in increasing disrepair for more than 6 months locked to railings most reasonable people would realise and accept that others would assume it's abandoned and remove it - either officially or unofficially. You might be pissed about it but it's your own fault.
I wonder what percentage of bikes tagged by a council for removal are subsequently removed by their owners before the big day. My guess would be almost none.
Another perspective would be that people who lock bikes on the street and leave them there unused for years to rust away are littering our public spaces.