someone does lock their bike to one of these rigged structures,
all a thief has to do is swoop in and lift the pole or rack off the
ground. There’s even a handy-dandy nickname for a pole that’s
been strategically loosened by a bike thief: a “sucker pole.” In
this case, the sucker is you.

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While a lot of what we've explored paints a dark future for bike
owners in Vancouver, there are some sunny rays starting to
pierce through those ominous clouds. Enter “Project 529,”
a group that’s partnered with the city and Vancouver Police
Department to create an online registry for bike owners.
Once an account is created on the registry, known as 529
Garage, users can create a profile of their bike, including
the model, serial number, manufacturer, and colour, as

well as upload a photograph for any unique marks or
distinguishing features. Best of all, the registry is 100 per
cent free to use.

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

“Right now, bike registration is making a large impact
on bike theft for the better,” says Gallagher. "[529
Garage] has had a good record of returning bikes to
their owners. If every bike was registered with this
system, it would be much more difficult for bike
thieves to get away with it.”

For me, the worst aspect of having a bike
stolen would be the loss of joy. It wasn’t until |
started using my bike as my primary method

of transportation during spring and summer
that | began to truly explore and appreciate
Vancouver. Buses and SkyTrain cars can feel like
mausoleums compared to two-wheeling it, and
at the end of a night out, it sure beats texting
to see when the next night bus comes.

What I'm trying to say is, yes, hearing
about the ridiculous number of bike
thefts happening in Vancouver and all
the different ways in which people are
trying to steal things that don’t belong to
them is more than a little disheartening.
However, try to remember why you
decided to start biking in the first place:
it’s convenient; it’s a great exercise; it
helps reduce carbon emissions and
urban congestion, and, perhaps most
importantly, it’s a whole lot of fun.

Plus, | really, really hate taking night
buses.