When it’s an oBike, left near the Otford lookout for several days.

Two of the bright yellow bicycles appeared parked on the roadside near the popular tourist spot last weekend, and were noticed by locals who wondered if they were a sign of the times.

We can’t say with any certainty that the bikes had been dumped, because leaving them in public places for the next potential user is exactly what the oBike company is encouraging people to do with them.

The “dockless” bikes have been being introduced to Australian cities as shareable, healthy, environmentally friendly transport options.

But the experience in Sydney shows people are prone to dumping the bikes in piles, in rivers, even in trees.

Clearly Wollongong and its surrounds can start expecting some of the spillover.