What is the purpose of the mandatory marking of bicycles?

According to Union Sport et Cycle, this new obligation will reduce theft. It will also be easier to return to their owners some of the more than 100 bicycles reported stolen each year in France, some of which are found by the police, without their owner being clearly identified. Finally, this measure aims to prevent traffickers from reselling these stolen bicycles. Indeed, it makes resale more complicated on the second-hand market.

However, it will be necessary to improve this measure for it to be fully effective. Indeed, the marking will not prevent thefts nor will it allow the tracking of thieves. The only objective is to allow owners to find their bicycles or bicycles that have been stolen. In this, the marking will mainly lead to the decongestion of the police stations.

"Before, people were especially afraid of cycling," begins Olivier Schneider, president of the Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB). Now that local authorities are investing in facilities to make journeys safer, what increasingly dissuades people from buying a bike is the fear of being bitten, quite simply. »

Bicycle theft in France

In France, we identify between 300.000 and 400.000 stolen bicycles each year. The Association for the Promotion and Identification of Cycles (Apic) has therefore, since 1er January, for the function of keeping the national file of marked bicycles up to date. There are different marking techniques: labelling, engraving or by chemical process. The owner is free to choose the marking technique he prefers.

Patrick Guinard, the president of the association also indicates that "The decree simply specifies that it must be readable without difficulty on a parked cycle and that the affixing process must guarantee its permanence and its inalterability. , except in cases of voluntary degradation”. 

In 2018, more than 318 bicycles were stolen according to the Interior Ministry's "living environment and safety" investigation report. Olivier Schneider however indicates that it is "a figure that we know is below reality, a good number of victims not filing a complaint". 

These figures therefore explain the reluctance of the French to make their daily trips by bike. Indeed, theft is one of the main reasons cited to explain this reservation. 

Vélo Galaxie and the mandatory marking of bicycles

The mandatory marking of bicycles has common objectives with VéloGalaxie. Indeed, our mission is to secure the use of the bicycle in order to encourage it. Through the design of urban furniture secure, we bring you total security in your travels and when parking. We are one of the very few manufacturers to offer a maximum securing 4 points thanks to our individual safety circle. The latter making it possible to attach the front and rear wheels, the frame and the individual safety circle (i.e. 4 points!) with a flexible lock. 

The president of the FUB also mentions a big security deficit in stations and in old buildings. This is why, at Vélo Galaxie, we accompany you in the installation ofbicycle shelters and other parking solutions two wheels. We collaborate with both private (companies, construction, etc.) and public (schools, hospitals, etc.) players.

Would you like to receive more information about the different bicycle parking solutions? feel free to contact us ! We will be happy to inform you.