City urges switch to new bike-registry system

The city is urging cyclists to sign up for a free bike-registry system.

Bike data registered with 529 Garage can be accessed by jurisdictions across the world. The City of Winnipeg will use the supplied contact information when a stolen bicycle has been recovered.

“I’m proud to have championed this change, and I encourage every cyclist in Winnipeg to register their bike with 529 Garage,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a news release Monday.

If a bike registered through the app or website has been stolen, the owner is advised to set an alert on 529 Garage and report the theft to Winnipeg police by calling 204-986-6222, reporting it online or going to a Winnipeg Police Service service centre at 1750 Dugald Rd., 2321 Grant Ave., 260 Hartford Ave. or 245 Smith St.

“The shift to 529 Garage as Winnipeg’s bicycle registration system makes it easier than ever to register a bike,” Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said.

“Just as important, the bicycle registry is now linked globally, meaning registry information is available worldwide. Best of all, people purchasing bikes online have a way to check the serial number of a bike against the registry of stolen bikes.”

The city previously said 1,452 bicycles were reported stolen in 2023.

The City of Winnipeg’s existing 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 bike.

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New registrations under the existing registry will not be accepted after Tuesday. Registrations made before then will be kept on file until May 1, 2026. Bike owners can update their information under the existing registry until that date.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca