You Found a Bike — Here's What to Do
You've come across a bike that's clearly been dumped or abandoned — chained to a rack for weeks, or ditched in a hedge. You'd happily reunite it with its owner, but how? Here's the quick, safe way, and it takes about a minute.
The short version: look for a tag and scan it; if there's none, note the frame number and search the register and the Lost & Stolen board.
1. Look for a QR or NFC tag
Many registered bikes carry a small QR sticker or a hidden NFC tag. Point your camera at a QR code, or tap your phone to an NFC tag, and you'll land on the bike's page with a way to reach the owner — privately, without seeing their details.
2. No tag? Find the frame number
Look under the bottom bracket for the frame number and search the register. Cross-check the Lost & Stolen board too — the bike may already be reported.
3. If it might be stolen or abandoned
If you suspect it's stolen, don't take it — note the details and tell the police. If it's genuinely abandoned on private land, the landowner or local authority is the right port of call. Either way, a quick check on the register might be all it takes to get it home.