Wilmington city code asks residents to register their bikes, but what's the purpose?

Many Wilmington residents frequently enjoy biking for both transportation and leisure. However, did you know that Wilmington City Code requires bicycle owners to register their bike with the chief of police?

While section 5-105 of Wilmington's Code of Ordinances technically mandates bicycle registration, the Wilmington Police Department doesn't regularly enforce this requirement, Lt. Greg Willett, public information officer with WPD, said.

Instead, this process serves as a benefit to bicycle owners in the city. Here's what to know about the registration process, its purpose, and more.

What is the process for registering a bicycle?

Bicycle owners who wish to register their bikes can go to the Wilmington Police Department. Front desk staff and available police officers are able to help complete the registration process.

A certificate of registration and bicycle decal will be issued to the owner, bearing the same identification number. The bicycle owner should attach their decal to the frame of their bicycle. The chief of police will maintain a permanent register of the owner's name, address, age, number, date of registration, and bicycle identification details.

Although the process is free to city residents and only costs $1 to any person living outside the city, bicycle registration in Wilmington is relatively uncommon, Willett said.

Eileen McConville, a member of the Cape Fear Cyclist Board of Directors and president of the Terry Benjey Bicycling Foundation, registered her bicycle 10 years ago with the department. However, she said bicycle registration is not a process widely known about amongst other Wilmington cyclists.

"If the city wanted to implement a drive to get people to register their bikes and some education around security and insurance...we'd certainly be willing...to help them out," McConville said.

What is the purpose of bicycle registration?

Having a registered bicycle can prove helpful for city residents in the unfortunate event of theft.

The serial number included on the decal of the bike can also help officers identify abandoned bicycles.

Officers can "look at that number to see who the bike is registered to," Willett said. "If the person on the bike is not the registered owner...we can try to reach out to the registered owner...say we find an abandoned bike or some allegation that a bike is stolen."

McConville shared her thoughts on the purpose of bicycle registration in Wilmington.

"The good news is if you register your bike (and) it gets stolen (then) you have a chance," McConville said. "If you don't register it, you don't have a chance."

McConville said that bicycle registration could be particularly useful in a community with many cyclists, such as the University of North Carolina Wilmington's campus. As of 2023, UNCW had 4,000 spaces available for bicycle parking, according to a university news release.

However, McConville advised bicycle owners to always secure their bikes with a bike lock when leaving their vehicles unattended.

"Bicycle locks are much cheaper than a new bicycle...and they work," McConville said. "They are a deterrent."

Will you face a penalty for failing to register your bike?

Wilmington residents shouldn't worry about strict enforcement of bicycle registration, Willett said.

In 2023, Wilmington police issued zero tickets for unregistered bicycles, according to a data provided by WPD.

While the city code does say that residents should have their bicycles registered, WPD views the requirement "as more of a crime prevention thing than anything (else)," Willett said.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: A 'crime prevention' tool available to bicycle owners in Wilmington, NC