Little support for mandatory bicycle registration program: report

By: Ryan Thorpe Posted: 4:26 PM CDT Thursday, May. 16, 2019

A city committee will vote next week on implementing a mandatory bicycle registration program at the point of purchase; a measure the city's administration opposes.

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A city committee will vote next week on implementing a mandatory bicycle registration program at the point of purchase; a measure the city's administration opposes.

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A city committee will vote next week on implementing a mandatory bicycle registration program at the point of purchase; a measure the city’s administration opposes.

In January, the protection, community services and parks committee directed city staff to study the feasibility of operating a mandatory municipal bicycle registry. The city already operates a voluntary bike registry — which aims to help police return recovered stolen bicycles to rightful owners — but it isn’t widely used. In an average year, less than 10 per cent of the roughly 1,000 recovered stolen bicycles are registered.

Following consultations with the Winnipeg Police Service, 21 retailers and three cycling organizations, administration staff determined it wouldn’t be feasible or beneficial to force people to register their bikes.

Vincent Federowich (centre back row) a Bicycle recovery officer is on hand just in case a person finds their stolen/lost bike and can prove it during the bike auction.

“While the inherent value of a bike registry is widely recognized, our engagement with stakeholders pointed to significant challenges related to implementation and enforcement of a mandatory bike registry,” city bylaw officer Winston Yee wrote in a report that was submitted to the committee.

“Therefore, the public service is recommending that mandatory bike registration at the time of purchase not be implemented.”

The report notes mandatory registration and licensing programs have been scrapped in other cities because the cost outweighs the benefits.

The majority of retailers that were consulted were concerned about collecting personal information from customers, adding to their workload and the logistics of passing the information onto the city.

Meanwhile, police suggested mandatory registration would add barriers to cycling, in addition to placing extra burdens on retailers.

Many of the bicycle retailers surveyed for the report said there was value in the voluntary registry and some said they provide information about the program to their customers.

The police service said it has identified opportunities to enhance its efforts to curb bike theft, including improving resources available to residents.

The report will be voted on at Wednesday’s meeting.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe