WASHINGTON (CBSDC) - Metro is taking steps to free up bicycle rack capacity and discourage theft.

Metro says for planning purposes, its staff has conducted a census of bicycles over the last several months that have been parked at Metrorail stations. Metro staff has identified and photographed more than two dozen potentially abandoned bikes throughout the system, and in many cases, these bikes had flat tires, missing parts or rusted frames.

To make space available for bicycle customers and to discourage theft, Metro Transit Police will soon begin a process to tag and remove these bicycles. From the time the bike is tagged, owners will have ten days to remove it, or it will be removed for them.

Metro is releasing a photo directory of the potentially abandoned bikes on Thursday. Owners are encouraged to remove them from bike racks as soon as possible.

Abandoned bikes that remain unclaimed may be sent to auction.

Over 20 photos have been taken of bicycles found recently, including which stop they were found at, and can be viewed here.