Abandoned bicycles

​Request 768092724 

I would like to request the following information regarding abandoned bicycles in Jersey:
1

The number of abandoned bicycles removed by the Government of Jersey over the last 5 years.

2

The following procedures once a bicycle is identified as abandoned and henceforth removed.

3

The process behind the storage period and reuniting bicycles with their owners.

4

What happens to bicycles that remain unclaimed and if they are disposed of, recycled, put for auction, donated, etc.

5

Any policies or guidelines that relate to abandoned bicycles.

​Response 

1
The Scheduled Public Authority (SPA) removed 19 abandoned bicycles from public car parks that are under the control of the car parks team within the Department for Infrastructure and Environment (I&E) within the last 12 months. Earlier data is not held by the SPA, therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies

No records regarding abandoned bicycles are maintained by any other sections within I&E, therefore this information is not held and Article 3 of the Freedom of information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

2 & 3
A warning notice is placed on the bicycle which provides a date of the pending removal.
The bicycle is removed and placed into safe storage if no response is received to the notice.
The States of Jersey Police are sent documentation regarding any bicycles removed and a notice placed in the Gazette.
4
Unclaimed bicycles are either disposed of or donated to charity 6 weeks from the date of removal.
5
The information requested is exempt under Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 as the details regarding the removal of vehicles, which includes bicycles, is shown in Part 2 (7) of the Road Traffic (Removal of Vehicles) (Jersey) Order 1963 

Articles applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority"

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority. 

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means 

(1)     Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2)     A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.