2004 Minnesota Statutes

     168C.01 Policy statement. 

    The legislature of the state of Minnesota finds that the 
 use of bicycles as a means of travel and recreation embodying 
 physical, environmental and social benefits is already 
 recognized by many people in the state, and will be further 
 encouraged given the opportunity for safe, convenient and 
 pleasant bicycle travel.  The legislature further finds that 
 dependence on the private automobile must be reduced, 
 particularly in the light of an energy shortage and 
 encouragement of increased bicycle usage by the provision and 
 maintenance of bikeways and with the addition of some traffic 
 laws designed for the orderly integration of bicycles into 
 traffic systems, is a way of reducing this dependence.  However, 
 the growth in popularity of the bicycle as a mode of 
 transportation and as a recreational vehicle has led to an 
 increase in the number of bicycle thefts.  To more effectively 
 deal with the problems associated with theft and to aid in the 
 recovery of stolen bicycles, a statewide bicycle registration 
 system is hereby created. 

    HIST: 1976 c 199 s 1