Belgium launches national bicycle ownership database

In addition, the federal government has launched the National Week of Action against Bicycle Theft to raise awareness of the issue and the new solution

Thousands of bicycles get stolen in Belgium every year, even though no one can tell exactly what that number is…even the police. Part of the problem is that probably more than half of such thefts never get reported.

That’s why, the Belgian government has decided to take matters more seriously with the launch of the first National Action Week Against Bicycle Theft, which was inaugurated at Antwerp Central Station on Monday. The aim of the authorities is to raise awareness about this crime and what tools citizens have at their disposal to fight it.

The campaign also serves as an opportunity to present the government’s Mybike registry database. It lets bicycle owners register their bikes in the system and then request a special QR code sticker from the authorities. The sticker is then applied to the bike and if it gets stolen, the owner can easily report it as such to the database. Police can scan QR codes of bicycles and see whether they’ve been reported as stolen.

Every Belgian will have access to a simple and modern system that deters thieves and makes it easier for the police and others to identify a stolen bike," says Belgian mobility minister Georges Gilkinet, as quoted by VRT.

Bike database has already been used in Brussels

The system is not a new concept. In fact, it has already been used in Brussels for several years, and now it is finally being expanded to Flanders and Wallonia, having proven its utility in the capital region first.

The QR code also offers advantages when buying a used bicycle. A potential buyer can scan the code on the bike and find out if it was reported stolen by the owner.

The stickers have been made to be resistant to tearing, UV light and bad weather.