National Bike Registry

[MFC]

Is their web site still up. I've been trying to get into it for two days on multiple computers with no luck. This is the url I've been using www.nationalbikeregistry.com.

Maybe they are now facebook only, but I generally don't use facebook.

[SerialCarpins]

It doesn't load for me either...I know at some point they were acquired by Boomerangit (http://www.boomerangit.com/whyBoomerangIt/faq.aspx) so you might want to check in there. I also have my bike registered with the NBR, and didn't know about this. I just logged into Boomerangit with my old credentials and the login worked. I just saw the info for my bike under my account there. Hope this helps! Good luck!

[mstone]

from boomerangit: "BoomerangIt Packs and Subscriptions are no longer available for purchase. With any questions, please e-mail support@boomerangit.com. To purchase National Bike Registry (NBR®) Packs, please e-mail nbr@boomerangit.com or call 1-800-848-BIKE."

This is something that really cries out for a real national database.

[peterw_diy]

The site is still dead. I assume this means law enforcement also cannot use the registry -- right? Are there any other registries used by local law enforcement other than the registry that WMATA set up?

[n18]

It doesn't load for me either. There is Stolen Bicycle Registry, which unlike NBR, you can register your bike and search their database. They don't get their information from the police or NBR, individuals have to submit their stolen bike information to their site.

[peterw_diy]

...and today the National Bike Registry site is back up.

[cyclingfool]

Hooray!

[peterw_diy]

I guess. Frankly I'm a little disappointed to see it return, as I wish police would endorse other registries that cost a lot less and that allowed anyone to search the database. If NBR were truly gone, police would have to pick another registry.

The NBR cost means it's not as widely used as it could be. The fact that only police can search the registry means it's useless to honest Craigslist buyers who want to be certain that a seller is legit.

Even the cops complain about fences on Craigslist, so I don't know why they don't promote a more modern registry that helps solve that problem.

I'd love to hear the perspective of WABA, BikeArlington, etc. on this.

[cyclingfool]

On a related note having to do with fencing, CL, and eBay... I don't remember where I saw this first (may have even been here):

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/e...top-bike-theft, which points here: http://project529.com/garage/petitions/

A petition asking CL and eBay to force sellers to list serial numbers when selling bikes online. I like the idea of this, but I'm not sure how well it would work in actuality. Major issues/potential stumbling blocks would be:

What's to keep someone from posting a fake serial number to avoid detection by police or theft victims who may be searching for their bike being sold?

How likely are police to actively match serial numbers to those of bikes reported stolen, given the lack of seriousness they often seem to display to a bike being stolen?

[mstone]

I guess. Frankly I'm a little disappointed to see it return, as I wish police would endorse other registries that cost a lot less and that allowed anyone to search the database. If NBR were truly gone, police would have to pick another registry.

The NBR cost means it's not as widely used as it could be. The fact that only police can search the registry means it's useless to honest Craigslist buyers who want to be certain that a seller is legit.

Even the cops complain about fences on Craigslist, so I don't know why they don't promote a more modern registry that helps solve that problem.

I'd love to hear the perspective of WABA, BikeArlington, etc. on this.

Agree that NBR is sketchy and needs to go. I'd prefer to see something that's actually got a government charter and open records. What makes NBR any more official than the dozens of other registries that come up when you google "free bike registry", other than the fact that a portion of the fee they charge goes to renting McGruff? I don't want to buy a stupid label from a for-profit company -- the bike already has a freakin' serial number -- I just want to pay a reasonable administrative fee for maintaining the registration. And I'd like to be able to search to make sure they're actually doing something other than taking my money.

On a related note having to do with fencing, CL, and eBay... I don't remember where I saw this first (may have even been here):

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/e...top-bike-theft, which points here: http://project529.com/garage/petitions/

A petition asking CL and eBay to force sellers to list serial numbers when selling bikes online. I like the idea of this, but I'm not sure how well it would work in actuality. Major issues/potential stumbling blocks would be:

What's to keep someone from posting a fake serial number to avoid detection by police or theft victims who may be searching for their bike being sold?

How likely are police to actively match serial numbers to those of bikes reported stolen, given the lack of seriousness they often seem to display to a bike being stolen?

It will take a long-term cultural change, but just getting people familiar with the idea that bikes have serial numbers and that they are something you should look at when buying a bike would be a huge first step. If someone posts a fake serial number for a bike, that should be a red flag to walk away from the sale. Most people don't actually want to buy stolen goods, and would hesitate to do so if the tools were readily available. As far as checking the serial numbers, that should be easy to automate.