[jashmenn]

What prevents someone from registering someone else's bike and then claiming it was stolen from them?

I suppose one way would be to require a photo of the bike and only consider photos of a bike without a lock to be valid.

[oasisbob]

I just signed up, and my post-registration call to actions includes "Visit where to register to find the closest shop to register your bikes."

Looks like you can't just register a bike on your own.

[freiheit]

This registry isn't authoritative, just centralized.

You register your bike there, and if it gets stolen tell the registry it was stolen, then police and potential purchasers find it listed when consulting the centralized registry. You still need to prove the bike is yours. Traditional proof of purchase from a bike shop, pictures of you with the bike, etc...

[bybjorn]

Surely those stealing it will be able to remove the lock afterwards to register it and post a photo w/o a lock. If it is already registered, it wouldn't matter in any case.

[judk]

Register your bike before someone else does!

These are properly aligned incentives.

Also, investigation can turn up purchase date payment records (receipt, credit card) owners manuals, eyewitness reports, etc