Bike registry
Photograph by Noah Scalinon Flickr.
Several commercial and peer-to-peer Bike registry entities also exist to enable persons to voluntarily register their bikes for theft deterrent purposes. There are two (2) main purposes of bike registry. There is a trend Bicycle touring by some registrars to utilize RFID, in conjunction with decal identification, as a means of rapidly determining bike ownership by law enforcement agencies. Fees Bike registry can vary.
Fees for commercial registrars range typically range from $10 to $25 for multi-year registration. Bikes are routinely registered for use on school and university campuses for the purpose of campus security and as a deterrent to bike theft.
The registration period typically is in Bike registry excess of one year. Several commercial and peer based bike registries exist for the purpose of theft deterrence and to improve the probability of recovery in the event of loss. Most peer based registries are free or charge a very nominal fee.
In the USA an average of 230,000 Bike registry bikes are annually reported stolen according to the FBI. Bikes are stolen in large numbers in many parts of the world.
Some commercial and peer-to-peer registries are typically preventative in nature and are performed prior to loss, while other registries perform their service only after a theft occurs. The Bike registry bike owner generally supplies detailed bike information to the registrar such as: manufacture, model, frame style, serial number, colour, size, and accessory details. Globally the number is estimated at 1.5 million bikes reported stolen annually; perhaps another 2/3 (3.0 million) go unreported annually. At many schools and universities all bikes brought onto campus are routinely required to be registered by their owners on an annual basis and to prominently display a school provided registration decal which is updated on an annual basis. Some states in the USA, such as California, have legislated laws which allow cities and municipalities to require registration of bikes.
Peer-to-peer registries make their stolen bike information widely available to all persons (law enforcement and general public). . In UK, the Home Office reports an average 400,000 bikes.
Some states and municipalities require registration for bikes used within their jurisdiction. Decals at academic institutions usually have their color/design changed on an annual basis and are typically fairly large such that they can be easily seen at a distance.
The second purpose is to provide a means of theft deterrence and also to provide a method of recovery in the event of theft. Some registrars engrave a registration number on the bottom bracket or other part. RFID (Radio-frequency identification) has been widely used for identification of such things as livestock, pets and industrial commodities.
One purpose is to provide an element of security (such as at schools and universities). The registration period typically is from 1 year to unlimited.
Decals issued by municipalities are typically of a design similar to academic decals, but not changed on an annual basis. Decals provided by commercial and peer-to-peer registries are typically smaller than academic/municipal decals and use a more aggressive adhesive and/or construction such that they will remain on the bike in the event of a theft and will be able to assist in recovery and return effort. Also supplied is the details and contact information pertaining to the owner. The registrar will typically provide a decal or decal kit to the bike owner such that their bike can be easily identified as being registered.
Commercial registrars make their registration information available to law enforcement agencies on a wide scale by special request of the agency desiring such information. School and university bike registration fees range from $2 to $5 for a single-year registration.
Bike registry is available from a number of different agencies.
