BANFF – Creation of a registry to help recover stolen bikes is under consideration in Banff.
On Monday (Sept. 24), council directed administration to explore options for an anti-theft app for cyclists, known as the 529 Garage, following a presentation by Banff RCMP.
Under the program, first launched in 2015, bike owners add decals to their bikes with unique serial numbers and upload information about their bikes to the community via an application.
Staff Sergeant Michael Buxton-Carr of Banff RCMP said the app contains a user-friendly search function which can be used by those who use the app, including police, bike shops and bike owners.
“Owners can alert the community to the theft of a bike via the app,” he said. “It’s community driven and it’s quite useful.”
Options for the Town of Banff to consider include incorporating a link to this service on its website, or purchasing a 529 Garage package, which includes brochures, registration decals, shop kits and advertising material.
Reports of bike thefts to Banff RCMP are low, with 12 stolen bikes reported in 2016, 15 in 2017 and 15 more so far this year, although anecdotal evidence on Bow Valley social media sites suggest it might be a more widespread issue.
The stolen bikes that are reported to police are typically worth about $400 to $500. However, last month the police received a call for the first time about a stolen bike worth more than $5,000. It was locked in a bike rack, but a poor quality cable lock was cut.
Police say most bike thefts happen in the downtown core in locations like parkades, streets and alleys, and bike racks near hotels and businesses. Hot spots include Banff Avenue and the 300-400 blocks of Marten Street.
“We have a relatively small number of thefts happening, but it can be a personal issue for the person who had their bike stolen,” said Buxton-Carr.
Mayor Karen Sorensen said she was interested in how Garage 529 might work.
“I think that regardless of costs, which don’t seem to be exorbitant, bikes are really important to this community,” she said.
“We have a lot of residents who really depend on their bikes. We do encourage it as a mode of transportation, and for many people it’s their only transportation.”
Councillor Brian Standish, on the other hand, doesn’t believe the issue falls under the municipality’s responsibility.
“I believe that, given the number of thefts we have in town, it’s not the Town’s responsibility to look after people’s bikes,” he said.
“I don’t believe it’s a problem and I’m not prepared to have administration work on a program which would essentially be sponsored by the Town of Banff.”
Since the use of the 529 Garage, the Vancouver Police Department estimates bicycle theft has been reduced by 30 per cent on Granville Island, traditionally a hotspot for bike theft, since the use of the applicartion.
In 2017, Whistler RCMP bought a 529 Garage package, which included 1,500 decals and 1,000 brochures, plus supporting material, at a cost of $5,000, after the average value of stolen bikes there had reached $600,000 by 2016.
Buxton-Carr said the number of bike thefts and the average value of bicycles stolen in Banff are far below levels experienced in Whistler.
“Bicycles worth $5,000 to $8,000 were often stolen in Whistler and there was concern that stolen bicycles were destined for points in the United States,” he said.
RCMP categorize bike thefts as either crimes of opportunity where bikes are left unlocked, or a more planned theft where cable locks are cut when bikes are left unattended for a lengthier period, such as overnight.
“These crimes are rarely solved due to a lack of witnesses or physical evidence,” said Buxton-Carr.
“Some bicycles are recovered via monitoring online sales sites or via seizures during unrelated investigations; however, there is rarely an opportunity to charge an offender with the theft of the bicycle.”
