City moves forward on revamped bike registry report

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This article was published 12/06/2023 (890 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg will explore new options for bicycle registration, in hopes of reuniting more stolen bikes with their owners.

On Monday, council’s executive policy committee cast a final vote to order a city staff report on replacing Winnipeg’s current bike registry with a multi-jurisdictional one that lets cyclists register for free, while also providing police and civic officials easy access to the key data.

“The goal, ultimately, is to have more bikes registered and for residents to have confidence that, if… their bikes get taken or stolen, that this would make it easier to get bikes back to people… There’s just too much bicycle theft in the city of Winnipeg,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham.

The current online bike registry comes with a $7.35 registration fee and, at times, requires police to email a request to city officials to find the owner of a stolen bicycle.

The mayor suggests a replacement registration service could involve an app (such as Bike Index or 529 Garage) that can better share information across multiple jurisdictions. It would not be made mandatory for cyclists to register.

Up to 2,000 bikes are reported stolen in Winnipeg each year, with about 1,000 recovered and less than 10 per cent successfully returned to their owners, according to the mayor’s office.

During Monday’s EPC meeting, one councillor floated the idea of requiring Winnipeggers to also obtain bike licences, with exceptions for small children.

“A lot of people are using bikes as a legitimate form of commuting… I think having a licence plate on your bicycle is a way of making sure that you are less anonymous on your bike, as well,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).

The councillor said he thinks a licence requirement would help police enforce rules of the road for cyclists.

“If you are found to be rolling through every stop sign down a street, if you’re found to be breaking other laws of the road, the licence plate would (link) at least back to the bicycle owner,” said Browaty.

He did not raise a motion to call for licensing, and stopped short of suggesting how such a program could be implemented, stating he’s mainly seeking feedback.

The mayor said he would not support such a move.

“When you make something mandatory, then you really have to ensure that you have the enforcement mechanism, the tools and resources to ensure that it’s mandatory. I think we have other things to focus on as a city rather than enforcing mandatory registration or mandatory licensing of bicycles,” said Gillingham.

Meanwhile, council’s most powerful committee also approved a few tweaks to the proposed Shaw Park lease for the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

EPC voted in favour of listing the Goldeyes’ non-profit entity, Riverside Park Management, as the lease holder, instead of the baseball club itself. The team said the move is needed to obtain provincial grants.

The Goldeyes also asked the city to ramp up the amount they would be compensated if they lose stadium parking stalls due to future rapid transit development.

The city proposes to offer compensation that starts in the range of $50 per stall per year, while the company wants that to begin at $50 per stall per month. EPC stuck with the city’s offer, though council will have the final vote.

Gillingham told reporters he thinks the deal, which awaits a final council vote, will succeed. “I’m confident that this will get things across the finish line so we can get this lease signed.”

When asked if the Goldeyes will accept those exact terms, Mark Newman, the team’s legal representative, told the Free Press: “We consider (this vote) to be a step in the right direction. We’ll be considering the matter further.”

Prior to the latest potential changes, the city and Goldeyes had come to what was believed to be a final deal in 2020, which determined annual rents and tax incentives.

On Monday, EPC rejected a call to require applicants for new developments to appear in-person at East Kildonan-Transcona community committee public hearings for their projects, removing a remote video or telephone link option.

Coun. Russ Wyatt argued it is needed to ensure a clear discussion, free of technical glitches, on substantial projects.

EPC opted to take no action on the idea, which means it will not be pursued.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga