VTI researcher proposes national bicycle registry

A national bicycle register could be an important tool for reducing bicycle thefts and making the second-hand market more secure. This is the conclusion of a study from the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), which mapped international experiences and interviewed Swedish stakeholders.

Bicycle theft is a significant problem in Sweden. Hundreds of thousands of bicycles are stolen each year, although only a small percentage of thefts are reported. For many people, the risk of theft has a negative impact on willingness to cycle, and a significant percentage of the victims of theft stop cycling completely. This has consequences for both public health and sustainability goals.

In the report A National Bicycle Register: Pilot Study of a Measure with the Potential to Reduce Bicycle Thefts, VTI explores the implications of a national bicycle register, how it might be designed, and which stakeholders would need to be involved. The study is based on a literature review, international examples, and interviews with, among others, representatives of the Swedish Police and Swedish Transport Agency, insurance companies, the bicycle industry, and cyclists themselves.

The study finds that a national bicycle register could serve several functions. Clear marking, combined with the ability to conduct simple checks of whether a bicycle is stolen, could reduce anonymity on the second-hand market and increase the possibility of detecting stolen goods. It could also make the work of the police easier and increase the chances of reuniting stolen bicycles with their owners.

“There is much to suggest that the greatest benefit of a central register is that it makes it more difficult to sell a stolen bicycle. It reduces the incentive to steal and makes the situation more secure for the buyer and owner,” says the author of the report, Johan Egeskog.

Several countries already have a national or certified register. France has imposed compulsory registration of all bicycles sold by merchants, while Belgium offers a free-of-charge voluntary solution run by a government agency. As yet, no national evaluations have been carried out, but experience from smaller trials and studies shows that registration combined with marking can reduce the risk of a bicycle being stolen, and even increase the likelihood of a stolen bicycle being recovered.

The pilot study also highlights some of the practical issues that need to be resolved before a register is introduced in Sweden. These include whether the register should be compulsory or voluntary, how new and old bicycles should be registered, which stakeholders should be responsible for operation, and how owners’ details can be processed in a legally certain manner. Many of the interviewed stakeholders would prefer compulsory registration under the auspices of a government agency in order to instil confidence and ensure longevity.

“The most important thing is that the register is easy to use and achieves broad coverage and awareness among the population. Otherwise there is risk that it will be of no benefit,” says Egeskog.

The report recommends further examination of the conditions for creating a national, compulsory register. Alternatively, it recommends that other stakeholders jointly introduce a voluntary register that the entire industry can agree on.

The report (in Swedish): Nationellt cykelregister