This morning, the Vancouver Police Department, Richmond, Surrey, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, and Nanaimo RCMP, the West Vancouver Police Department, the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Foundation, and Project 529 will be partnering to launch Vancouver’s 2016 Bike to Work Week.
Every year in Vancouver, over 2,000 bicycles are reported stolen. Almost as many bikes are recovered by police and end up in the VPD Property Office. Unfortunately, roughly only 10 per cent of these recovered bikes are reunited with their owners, as many people don’t properly record the serial numbers and descriptions.
“It only takes five minutes to register your bike with the 529 Garage, and it’s free,” says Project 529 founder, J Allard. “You stand a much better chance of getting your bike back if someone takes it.”
Since the launch of the 529 Garage in BC in October of 2015, over 5,000 bikes have been registered. Of those, 16 registered bikes have been stolen, 10 of which have been recovered and returned to owners.
Help us reach our goal of registering 10,000 bikes for free in the city of Vancouver with the 529 Garage registration and recovery program.
Between 10 and 10:30 a.m., the media are invited to drop by the VPD headquarters registration station, to meet and interview the 529 Garage registration team. They can interview VPD Chief Constable Adam Palmer, and the 529 Garage founder, J Allard, as they register bikes and educate owners on how to securely lock their bikes to reduce the chances of them getting stolen.
“Bike theft is a regional problem and is not restricted to one municipality,” says VPD Chief Constable Adam Palmer. “By joining forces with our policing partners throughout BC, we can work together to expand the 529 Garage Bike Registry and eradicate bike theft.”
More information about how you can keep your ride secure
THE 529 GARAGE IS COMING TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU!
Between May 30th and June 5th, police and City staff will be at these Vancouver locations, registering bikes for free with the 529 Garage bicycle registration and recovery program:
Monday, May 30
2120 Cambie Street
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 31
Broadway and Victoria
7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Nelson Park – Nelson and Thurlow
7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 1
Vanier Park – Burrard and Cornwall
7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 2
Dunsmuir and Beatty
7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Woodland Park – 705 Woodland Drive
7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, June 3
Creekside Community Centre
7:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 4
Marpole Community Day – Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre
(W.59th Avenue & Oak)
11:00 a.m – 3 p.m.
