Bicycling is a great form of exercise and it helps reduce pollution. It’s fun for both adults and
children. Whether you use a bicycle to get to and from school, for your daily work commute, or for
exercise, it is important that you always secure it when it’s not being used. In an effort to prevent
thefts and to aid in the recovery of stolen bicycles, the MPD offers the following simple suggestions.
Invest in a quality lock and use it whenever you are
not riding the bicycle.
Lock your bicycle in an area that is well-lit.
If you are not going to use your bicycle for a
significant period of time, locate a place (preferably
inside) where you can safely secure it.
Document the following information about your
bicycle: make, size and serial number. Store this
information in a safe place. The serial number is found underneath the bicycle between
the crank arms and the bottom bracket. Keep all receipts for your bicycle, including the
purchase receipt and repair receipts; these will help provide proof of ownership if your
bicycle is stolen.
Register your bicycle with the National Bike Registry.
While bicycle registration is no longer required in the District of Columbia, the District
Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the MPD strongly encourage residents to register
their bicycles with the National Bicycle Registry (NBR). NBR is a service that allows you to
register your bicycle by serial number in a national database. If your bike is ever stolen, it can be
identified and you can prove ownership. Law enforcement anywhere can access this database.
NBR also guarantees your registration. If your bike is stolen and not recovered by police within
six months, NBR will register your next bike for free and the stolen bike information will remain
in the database until the bike is recovered no matter how long it takes.
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