It is not a novelty, but it does continue to surprise many cyclists in Barcelona: a yellow sticker affixed to the frame that, far from being advertising, marks the start of a countdown.
The Guardia Urbana continues its campaign against “zombie bikes”, vehicles that, although locked, show obvious signs of prolonged inactivity and occupy a highly prized public space.
Many cyclists live with the false belief that they can leave their bicycle parked on the street indefinitely. However, municipal regulations are clear: this notice functions as an administrative warning notice.
If your bicycle has this sticker, the City Council has determined that it has been parked for more than a month or that it is in a state of deterioration compatible with abandonment.
What exactly is written on the yellow sticker
The sticker is not an immediate fine, but an ultimatum. The sticker warns that, “if this situation is not corrected within 48 hours”, the unit will be removed by the municipal services and sent to the depot.
As can be seen in the images, the text of the yellow sticker officially notifies the initiation of a file for a situation covered by Article 42 of the pedestrian and vehicle ordinance for the transfer of the vehicle to a depot, and notes that the bicycle “has remained parked for a period exceeding one month in this same place”.
In addition, the notice cites the violation of Article 29.14 of the Ordinance and offers an alternative route: if the citizen wishes to dispose of the vehicle voluntarily, the City Council offers to remove it and process its deregistration “without any charge” by calling 937065250.
Transfer to the depot
If after that time the sticker is still intact and the bike is still in the same place, the municipal services will treat it like any other abandoned vehicle: it will be removed by the tow truck and taken to the municipal depot.
Recovering a bicycle from the depot not only requires going in person and proving the ownership of the vehicle (something that many users cannot do due to lack of invoice or registration of the frame number), but also going to the cashier.
The fees for recovering a bicycle in Barcelona are as follows, according to the Barcelona City Council website:
- Towing service (removal): 40 euros.
- Immobilization (clamp/mechanical procedure): 20 euros.
- Stay in the depot: 4 euros per day, 0.40 cents per hour.
In total, a figure that in many cases exceeds the real value of the old bicycles that are usually abandoned, which ends up achieving the objective of freeing up space on the sidewalks and ensuring rotation in the anchorages for active users.