European community for mobility management

While many countries dream about more bicycle use, in the Netherlands the high amount of bike use sometimes causes problems. Capacity of bicycle parkings at railway stations are one of those problems. One of the reasons causing the problems is the high amount of bikes which is not used anymore. These bikes are called 'orphan bikes'. Many Dutch cities give priority to remove abandoned bikes at railway stations. This results in neater areas and more parking space for bikes.

Some facts:

• The city of Tilburg gave 'anonymous' bikes a face. The message: I'm an 'orphan bike' (bike without an owner). The city raises awareness about the Tilburg Bike Repair Center (AFAC) where orphan bikes can be fetched. Fetching your bike costs € 10,-. 
• In Tilburg only 2% of the bikes is being fetched by its owner. 1 out of 5 bikes at the train station is an 'orphan bike'.
• In august 2011, Utrecht removed 609 bikes in one half of the city centre. All bikes receive a blue label. After 28 days bikes with a label are removed.
• Since 2009 4500 orphan bikes have been removed from the Utrecht Central Station area.
• Amsterdam 'celebrates' the removal of the 10.000th abandoned bike at the Amsterdam South railway station. 
• Amsterdam distinguishes bike wrecks from abandoned bikes. A bike wreck is a bike which cannot be used anymore while repair is too expensive. An abandoned bike still can be repaired.
• The city of Haarlem stickers bikes which are parked at annoying places. After 4 hours these bikes are delivered to a bicycle depot. Bikes parked at dangerous sites are removed immediately. 

Source: Fietsberaad