We wrapped the petition up last Tuesday with the final tally coming in at… …supporters asking eBay and Craigslist to require serial numbers on bike listings. Whoa, that’s sounds like a lot. Just how big is 51,203? Printed single spaced, the list would be as tall as the Statue of Liberty… standing on top of the Seattle Space Needle! Our supporters… Read more →
It’s no surprise that bike thieves have learned that one of the most effective ways to turn stolen property into cash is through online marketplaces. The stories of cyclists finding their stolen bikes on Craigslist and eBay can be found in news sites and blogs all over the Internet. Wanting to make a difference, our whole team set out to rally fellow cyclists… Read more →
When you’re in college, there is nothing more time-efficient, cost-effective, and just plain fun than to ride your bike as your main form of transportation, to and from classes. So imagine how it must feel (or how it felt) to rise one day, only to find your favorite mode of transportation gone. What do you do? What network is in place… Read more →
Thanks to everyone who has supported our cause to urge Craigslist and eBay to require serial numbers on used bike sales. In 6 months, we had over 20,000 people sign the petition. Even more importantly, as we’ve spread the word of this issue, we lit the fuse to get more people thinking about and talking about bike theft, and how… Read more →
Panged by hunger and grief for bikes lost, we shared a moment of solidarity with this sympathetic burritista. “529: My bike’s been stolen before too… I’m sorry.. Hopefully your day gets better! :)” Bike theft is a scourge that has burned more of us than not. Do you have a bike theft story? Drop us a line, or tell… Read more →
The first step in protecting yourself in the event of bike theft is registering your serial number, along with other identifying details. The problem for many people is they don’t know where to find the serial number on their bike. We’ve put together a handy reference to help you locate the most likely placement of your serial number, regardless of… Read more →
Here at Project 529 we’re doing what we can to keep more butts on bikes by helping people recover their bicycles in the event they’re stolen. But we all know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Locking your bike properly is the best deterrent against bike theft, but it’s surprising how many people don’t know how to… Read more →
An oft heard quote among cycling circles is attributed to Greg Lemond: “There are two types of cyclists. Those who have fallen and those who are going to fall.” It’s a pithy way of saying riding your bike is a numbers game. Odds are, if you ride a lot, eventually you’re going to lose the battle with gravity and hit… Read more →
Recently someone posted a link to the petition we created to urge Craigslist and eBay to require serial numbers on bike listings. We were excited to see the dialogue this created, and are happy to answer the questions that were raised. Let’s start with a little background information… Who are you guys? We’re a new software company in Portland, Oregon founded to… Read more →
Every year in the United States more than $400 million worth of bicycles are stolen from their owners. That’s not a typo, that’s a problem. Criminals are using online marketplaces such as eBay and Craigslist to efficiently sell stolen bikes to unknowing consumers with incredibly low risk. Without serial numbers, it’s extremely challenging for victims to identify if a bicycle… Read more →
