F.A.Q.
Q: What does registering my bike mean in San Francisco?
By registering your bike in San Francisco through the SAFE Bikes program, your bicycle and contact information is stored in our secure database. In keeping records of your bike, you have evidence that you are the rightful owner of it. If your bike is stolen and you have nothing to prove that it is yours, then you are out of luck if it’s found. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) works with SAFE Bikes to educate bike riders about the program and to also help in recovery of bicycles. Once you are registered, you will receive a sticker in the mail to place on your bike.
Q: What happens if I want to sell my bike or transfer ownership?
If you sell or give your registered bike away, please contact us at safebikessf@sfsafe.org or 415-553-1984.
Unfortunately, SF SAFE cannot transfer ownership. The new owner will need to register the same bike with their name and contact information and a new sticker will be sent out. This is to help with the recovery process as we need current information and proof to release a lost or stolen bike. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Q: How can I tell if a used bike was stolen?
Check here to see if a used bike is registered with SF SAFE.
Q: My bike has been stolen in San Francisco – now what do I do?
We are so sorry about your bike being stolen; now let’s try to get it back! If you do find your bike listed online or in person, remember to stay safe and call the police. For faster investigations, go to your local SFPD police station to file a police report instead of filing the report online or by phone. Here are all the steps to follow after your bike is stolen. Please contact us at 415-553-1984 or safebikessf@sfsafe.org as soon as possible.
Q: My bike brand is not listed on your drop down list. What should I put?
Please do not pick a random brand as a placeholder if your bike brand is not listed. Please select “OTHER” in the drop down menu and list your bike brand and model name under “Other Bicycle Characteristics.”
Q: I do not have/lost my receipt as a proof of purchase. What should I do?
You can bypass the receipt portion. If you purchased the bike secondhand or have a custom-built bike, please note that in the “Other Bicycle Characteristics.” If you have any questions, please contact us.
Q: Where should I put my sticker?
We recommend placing the sticker somewhere hidden yet still visible so that if your bike is lost or stolen, we can use the sticker registration to contact you.
Q: I have lost/misplaced my registration sticker. Can I get another one mailed to me?
Unfortunately, we do not have duplicates of registration stickers. Each sticker is personalized to each individual person. Your bike will still be registered with the bike serial number even if it does not have a sticker on the bike. Please do not register the same bike to avoid confusion if the bike is ever lost/stolen and recovered.
Q:I have not received my sticker, what should I do?
Please be sure to put down your full address including apt/unit number to ensure proper delivery. Failure to include full and accurate address information will cause delays in receiving your sticker.
If you are registering a bike for someone else, please use their information as we will need photo identification to verify.
Please contact SAFE Bikes at 415-553-1984 or safebikessf@sfsafe.org if you have any further questions not answered here.