REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: April 1st, 2021 Report No. CSS-21-009
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Project 529 Garage - Bicycle Registry
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Township of Esquimalt does not take steps to become a branded registry or designated registration location for Project 529 Garage as outlined in Staff Report No. CSS-21-009.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
No relevant policy or legislation exists
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
This request for decision is not tied to any goals or priorities of current work program
BACKGROUND:
In early March, Township staff received a letter advising that VicPD will no longer be registering bicycles, opting instead to support the use of 529 Garage. (Attachment #1). In the letter, Chief Manak advises that VicPD has elected not to become a registration location due to COVID-19, staffing limitations and the ease of self-registration. The letter goes on to state there are four registration locations within the boundaries of Victoria which sell “Bike Shields” and that shields are available through online retailers.
VicPD statistics show that the rate of reported bicycle thefts in the Township have been falling in recent years.
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Grand Total |
|
Bike Theft over $5000 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Bike Theft under $5000 |
36 |
31 |
28 |
28 |
21 |
1 |
145 |
|
Grand Total |
37 |
31 |
28 |
28 |
22 |
2 |
148 |
Information from the 529 Garage website advises that they are a community watch for bicycles. They are an online registration hub on which people can self-register their bicycles free of charge, including uploading photographs and other information by using a computer or smartphone app. 529 Garage also sells “Bike Shields” which are a tamper resistant sticker that users can place on their bicycles as a visual deterrent, indicating the bike is registered with 529 Garage. There is no requirement to purchase the sticker to use the registry. Should a registered bicycle be stolen, the owner is able to post an alert using the 529 Garage app. The alert will then be sent to all registered users, including individual users, registered police agencies, schools, bike clubs, bike shops and so on. In theory, other users can then keep an eye out for the missing bicycle. Registration also aids police in locating the owner of any recovered bicycles. Before purchasing a used bicycle, it is also possible to search the bicycle using the 529 Garage app to see if that particular bicycle is registered as stolen.
By paying approximately $1500 annually, the Township would be able to become a branded registry. According to the 529 Garage website, a branded registry is able to create their own registration page. An example of this can be found on the City Of Vancouver website <https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/register-your-bike-to-reduce-theft.aspx> Other advantages include the ability to look up bicycles on the street through the app; that it helps to reduce bicycles kept in impound as more owners are found by repeating searches for bikes on their own registry as well as other registries (Bike Index), publishing impounded bikes more easily, and registering bicycles for the community.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
While 529 Garage (as well as other bicycle registry apps) are a good idea and will certainly aid in returning recovered bicycles to owners and may even act as a deterrent in some bike thefts, staff are not recommending that the Township become a Branded Registry.
In their letter, VicPD points out that COVID-19, staff shortages and ease of self-registration are some of the reasons that they are not going to become a registry location. These same reasons apply to the Township. Currently, the municipal hall is open by appointment only, and for payments on two mornings per week. Many staff work from home either full time or on a rotating basis. The emphasis of our approved COVID-19 safety plans is to limit the number of interactions between staff and the public. Numerous bike shops are aligned with 529 Garage and are more freely open to the public. Not to mention, registration can be accomplished online or through an app.
Becoming a registry will result in an increased use of staff time for a process that is widely available online and at retailers. More and more, the public are looking for opportunities to register for various services online (vehicle registration, program registration, vaccine appointment booking and so on). There is a robust online system in place making the need for in-person registration redundant. 529 Garage stickers are also available at numerous bicycle shops as well as for purchase online.
Most of the features associated with being a branded registry as touted by the 529 Garage website are primarily applicable to police agencies or municipalities that manage their own found property impound systems. Ease of searching potentially stolen bikes, ease of returning found/seized bikes and publishing lists of impounded bicycles are not features that apply to the Township.
As there are other bicycle registry programs available, should the Township seek to align itself with one registry, there is the potential for perceived bias in choosing one over another.
While staff believe this registry, as well as others, are a good idea, this and other registries are already up and running and have a strong virtual presence. There is very little added value to the Township, or to the residents of Esquimalt, in becoming a branded registry. Becoming a registry would also, in some ways, put the Township in competition with bicycle retailers for this service.
2. Organizational Implications
Should the Township become a branded registry, there would be an additional cost of staff time and an additional financial cost to pay the annual user fee. There would also be a cost to purchasing “Bike Shields”. This cost could be recouped by sales of the shields; however, some bicycle retailers and municipalities offer the shields at no cost (or built into the cost of a bicycle purchase). There would be an additional requirement to keep an inventory of shields on hand.
3. Financial Implications
There would be a $1500 annual cost to run a branded registry as well as cost associated to purchase of the “Bike Shields”. There would also be a cost in staff time associated to registering bicycles, maintaining the website or page, and selling shields.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability & environmental implications.
5. Communication & Engagement
None required with the recommended alternative.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That the Township of Esquimalt does take steps to become a branded registry or designated registration location for Project 529 Garage as outlined in Staff Report No. CSS-21-009.
2. That the Township of Esquimalt takes the necessary steps to establish itself as a branded registry and designated registration location for Project 529 Garage.
3. Other alternatives as Council may recommend.