Have you ever wondered what happens to the forgotten bikes on campus? Or what would happen if one day you wake up and realize that you have not used your bike in a while?

   During the Fall 2017 semester, I started to work on the “Bicycle Rack Sticker” to encourage students to register their bikes. Ironically, I was one of the students who did not have their bike registered. Although I have been riding my bike to and from the Architecture Building every dayon campus for almost 4 years, it never occurred to me to register it with the UH Police Department. I always had the confidence that nothing would happen to my bike. 

   One day, my bike had a flat tire and due to a busy schedule I was unable to use it for a very long time. Consequently, it remained forgotten on the bike rack next to the Moody Towers dining hall. Time passed by and I kept forgetting to fix it or just take it home.

   Once summer finally arrived, I decided to check on my bike. I passed by the bike rack where I had left it and to my dismay, my bike had disappeared. All the regretful thoughts of not registering my bike came rushing through my mind. I immediately thought the worst. I imagined my bike was stolen and sold for parts. I returned to the Facilities office and I mentioned what had happened to Jennifer Rea. She gave me hope and advised me to go to the police department to see if my bike was there.

   Facilities and UHPD are responsible for removing all abandoned bikes from bike racks around campus. Unfortunately, my bike was one of them.  The next day, I went to the police department hoping that the bike was there. Since the bike was not registered it was even more difficult to find it in the lot full of several dusty bikes. The police officer was very patient and walked me to every lot hoping to find my bike. Lot after lot we searched and hope was fading away. Finally, in the last lot towards the end of the valley of forgotten bikes sat my purple bike.

   I was very happy to see it there. The police officer helped me move my bike and take it inside of the building. Afterwards, I immediately asked if I could register my bike right then. I did not want to wait until next semester. I gave them my Cougar Card and I signed a small paper with my information on it. They gave a small sticker with a barcode to place on my bike. In a matter of  minutes, my bike was registered and protected.