Living Car Free - Would You Support Bicycle Registration?

In theory. Some of the local list chatter is making it clear that having the receipt, registration number and the bike at the police auction isn't enough to get the Madison police to return your bike to you without you buying it again.

I still pay up, but it doesn't do a damn thing to deter theft... just ups the odds that the police won't jack my bike.

I've seen some of the chatter. But the people I know face to face who've had bikes stolen and got them back went to the trouble to report them stolen and had registration.

The issue with showing up with the serial number and registration number at the auction is that if you haven't reported it stolen, you could have been the one to abandon it in the first place.

I voted "for" before I read the thread. The libertarian arguments don't sway me. But I grant that a bicycle registration program would be easier to do badly than it would be to do it well, and therefore most such programs will be done badly. I would only be in favor of a program that works well. But given a hypothetical program that solves all the world's problems, yes, I'm in favor.

It's a money making scheme. It's a scheme to monitor us. Bikes mean freedom. People in power dont like freedom. The like control. They like 'registration'. They'll start small and get a few people on board. Then they'll deploy it nationwide.

Resist.

This topic has been done to death on various cycling fora over the years. For all the talk about how motorists would suddenly "respect" cyclists if registration were compulsory, it's ironic that cycling message boards are about the only places where it comes up as a regular topic of discussion. Motorists who want to whine about cyclists usually find some other reason, which makes me wonder just how people conclude that it would suddenly give us more rights or "respect".

I've heard the argument about making it easier to recover stolen bicycles, that might work if it ever became something the police might actually investigate. Given that relatively few stolen cars are ever recovered, I doubt they'd bother pursuing bikes any more than they do now. Besides, how hard is it really to remove a licence plate? Most thieves would have it off within 30 seconds, then try proving the stolen bike was actually yours.

I've heard the argument about making it easier for the police to prosecute cyclists who break the law. Again, their apparent inability to do anything about motorists who offend makes me wonder where this idea comes from. Even if this one was a reality, do you really want the police on your doorstep everytime some motorist has a whine because you dared to ride on a road? It would be nice to think the police might actually consult the rule book before making the call, but the experience of a friend of mine in Brisbane suggests otherwise.

Paying for "facilities"? Puh-leeze! This one was proposed by the Queensland state government back in 2002. It swiftly disappeared from the agenda a short time later, probably when someone did their sums and actually saw the figures. As related earlier, it just isn't viable economically. If you jack the fee up to the point where it might actually generate some revenue, nobody's going to pay it. And do you really want to have the government legislating you to use some bikepath to nowhere because your registration "paid for it"?

In the end, the discussion on registration is nice for getting people up on to a soap box, or filling up time and bandwidth on an Internet forum, but that's about all it does.

Damn right Chris we have enough laws, and red tape. Less government

It's a money making scheme. It's a scheme to monitor us. Bikes mean freedom. People in power dont like freedom. The like control. They like 'registration'. They'll start small and get a few people on board. Then they'll deploy it nationwide.

Resist.

A bit overwrought, but +1. One of the things I like about being car-free is not having to deal with the state quite so much. Registering bikes will only cost money, be a pain in the a**, and accomplish nothing very useful.

BTW, the only person I've ever known who got his bike back after it was stolen just happened to see the thief ride by on his bike while he was having a smoke outside during a break at work. He ran into the street, held on to the frame and refused to let go, yelling loudly for the police, until the thief gave up and ran away.

I voted against bike registration. The police in my city don't come out if your house has been broken into, they don't care if your car has been stolen:( Why should I believe that they would take the time to help me retrieve my bike:(

I've heard the argument about making it easier to recover stolen bicycles, that might work if it ever became something the police might actually investigate.

This is one of the reasons I'm in favor of bike registration being optional.

Then those of us who think that mandatory registration would just be a pain in the *** for a cheap bike will not register. Meanwhile, folks with a $4000 bike can register if they (or their homeowners/renters insurance which might cover a bike theft) think it's a good idea.

I personally can't imagine in the first place that it would be that expensive ... HOWEVER.

pluses:

More or less eliminate the stupid people remarks about sidewalk, etc. Or at least give me a platform.

vehicle registration, I guess - hmmm have to think that one - I have five and adding a sixth next year - and all but one are used on the road - so would I have to get all registered .... chances are .. yes. EEEK - hope registration fee is like $5 - and I doubt it. The State will have tapped into a fresh source of monies.



OK ... On that thought --- I totally withdraw my vote of YES for legal registration after much more comprehensive thought!!!!!!!

The organisation I worked for initially in cycling advocacy about a decade ago undertook an investigation of bicycle registration, because of the lobbying by some motorists. The outcome of the "inquiry" was that the scheme would cost way more than it would benefit. The administration of issuing stickers alone would make it unfeasible.
Investigations all over the world have more or less come to the same conclusion. It's the main reason why most cities have discontinued bike registration - it costs them too much money.


This is absurd, and so are all the arguments here about governments using bike registration fees to raise revenues. The typical fees are under $5 or $10. I doubt very much if that even covers the administrative expenses of the registration system.
It doesn't. That's the problem. Where would the rest of the money to fund the program come from?