UPDATE 3:37pm Wednesday | Amid controversy about the City of Long Beach’s unique policy of mandating bicycle registration, the City Council unanimously (9-0) approved a motion to commission a report from the City Manager on the costs and benefits of making bicycle registration voluntary.
More to come…
Pictured right: Officers issue citations and confiscate bicycles, many of which were ceased because they lacked registration, during an organized ride in October.
2:37pm December 8 | A few weeks after controversy swirled around a massive Police confiscation of bicycles during an organized ride, the City Council will consider whether or not to eliminate the current law that says all bikes in Long Beach must be registered.
Under the motion presented by Councilmember Robert Garcia – and supported by Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal and Councilmember Gary DeLong – all bicycle registrations in Long Beach would be voluntary. The majority of bikes confiscated during that October ride were taken because of a lack of proper registration.
“This supports Long Beach’s mission to be the Most Bicycle Friendly City in America,” Garcia said. “I’m proud of everything Long Beach is doing when it comes to bicycles, and I’m going to ensure we remain a leader on this issue.”
According to a press release from Garcia’s office, Long Beach is the only local city that mandates registration.
The City Council will hear the motion during next week’s December 14 meeting.
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