In 2019, Bike Windsor Essex invested in 3000 shields to bring 529 Garage to the region, a low-cost proven deterrent to bike theft that places the responsibility first on the bike owner.
We have had discussions with Windsor Police for two years to encourage them to become a program partner, to stand with us in sending a positive message to the community that bike theft is a serious issue here and we are being proactive in dealing with this out-of-control issue.
Adopted by Vancouver Police, Nanaimo RCMP, Granville Island, Guelph, Ottawa and coming soon to Toronto, and Peterborough, 529 Garage has seen dramatic reductions in bike theft — 60% in Granville Island, and 30% in the City of Vancouver.
The program uses an intuitive smart phone app for bike registration and a difficult-to-remove shield applied to registered bikes as both a warning to thieves and to identify stolen bikes. A national databank simply and quickly identifies stolen bikes and reunites them with their owners, wherever the bike is found.
The app is available to download for free from the App Store. Register your bike for free HERE. Every new and renewing Bike Windsor Essex member can receive a free shield – a $10 value – to help keep their bike safe from theft.