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Lost something on public transport?

How to track down an item left on a bus, train, tram, or taxi by contacting the right transport operator.

Items left on buses, trains, trams, and taxis around Madison are usually handed in to the operator's lost property team — the trick is contacting the right one quickly.

  1. Identify the operator. Note the route, line, or company and the rough time. Each operator runs its own lost property process.
  2. Submit a lost property report. Use the operator's online form or phone line as soon as possible; recovered items are logged against your description.
  3. For taxis and rideshare, contact the driver or company directly through your booking or app receipt.
  4. Keep your reference. Save any report number so you can chase it up.
  5. Post a listing. Add a listing for Madison in case a fellow passenger picked it up.

Check the local transport resources below for the operators serving Madison.

Helpful resources for Madison

Recent reports in Madison

lost S

Lost Coins in Madison

On Saturday at 3:10 p.m., I stepped off a bus near State Street and Capitol Square in Madison and dropped a small pouch of coins from my grandfather’s collection. The pouch slid under a bench and vanished as I hurried toward Monona Terrace for a quick coffee. The coins are a mix of Wisconsin pennies and a few older tokens, each with a story from weekend trips around the lakes and the Capitol grounds. Losing them feels like losing him again, a reminder of the time we spent exploring Madison. If someone found a small pouch with those dates, I’d be so grateful to have them back where they belong in Madison.

Capitol Square area, State Street, Madison. 8 days ago
lost M

Lost sculptures near Capitol Square, Madison

I had just wrapped a quick photo check at the Artist's Coop near Library Mall when I realized my sculptures were gone. There are three pieces, brushed steel, about a foot tall, with intertwined curves that catch the streetlight along State Street. I left them in the back room around 9:15 pm last Friday after a quick setup, and the door had been left ajar. The space smelled of metal and rain, and I can't shake the worry that someone might have taken them. These works matter a lot to me—personal and professional—and I hope someone saw something that can help bring them back via this site.

near Capitol Square, State Street 15 days ago
lost L

Lost chargers in Madison

I realized my chargers were missing around 2:47 PM today while I was walking through Capitol Square in Madison, on my way to Library Mall after grabbing a coffee. They’re a pair of black USB-C and Lightning cables, tucked in a little braided case I never leave behind. I must have left them on a bench outside the State Street entrance to Capitol Square.

near the State Street entrance to Capitol Square 17 days ago
lost G

LOST: Photographs from Madison album

I was wandering down State Street in Madison around 3:30 p.m. last Saturday when I realized my photographs were missing from the blue leather album I carry everywhere. The photos include campus shots, a photo with friends at Capitol Square, and a sunset over Monona Terrace. They are priceless memories rather than valuable items. I retraced my steps from State Street to Capitol Square and toward the farmers market, but I came up empty. If they turn up anywhere near Capitol Square, please hold onto them for me.

Capitol Square, Madison about 1 month ago
lost E

lost organizers near Capitol Square, Madison

I was loading groceries into my tote at 8:30 a.m. on State Street, just outside the Capitol, when my little set of organizers slipped from my bag and vanished into the morning crowd. They're clear plastic with purple and teal lids, about the size of a deck of cards, and I use them to separate cords, chargers, and small meds. My hands still smell like coffee as I retrace steps, thinking of the quiet corner where I last saw them near the bus stop by Capitol Square. I feel a mix of frustration and hopeful longing, because they're indispensable to keeping my tiny desk organized, and I’d hate to lose them forever.

Near Capitol Square, State Street, Madison about 2 months ago
lost P

Tortoiseshell Warby Parker glasses with blue case

I lost my tortoiseshell Warby Parker glasses yesterday around 3pm near Capitol Square on State Street in Madison. They’re light acetate frames with a slim gold bridge and a blue soft case that I usually keep in my tote. The left temple has a tiny scratch and there’s an engraving 'PP' on the inside of the right temple for quick ID. They were a gift from my aunt last year, so yeah, they’re sentimental and I really need them back. If you find them, please drop me a message—I’d be eternally grateful.

Madison about 2 months ago