Has cycling become mainstream transportation?

All across North America there are indications that cycling is hitting the mainstream (although sometimes with mixed results).

In my home town of Toronto, the biggest clue may have been last week's successful police sting on a well-known shady bike dealer who allegedly instructed someone to steal a bicycle so that it could be 'bought' by him.

After the arrest, Police executed several warrents and discovered an amazing number of bicycles stored in the storefront, an upstairs apartment, as well as in several warehouses and rented garages around the city's west end. Upwards of two thousand bikes have been found so far:

If you have a bike, be sure to register it with your police department. Serial numbers are often stamped into the metal frame on the underside of the bottom bracket by the pedals, sometimes on the seat tube or the head tube as well.

In addition to registering your bicycle, I strongly recommend that cycling Torontonians join this group. It's a small membership fee that helps to sustain local lobbying efforts on bike safety and cycling infrastructure the same way the the AAA and CAA lobby governments for more roads and highways even though most people only join for the road-side assistance.

UPDATE: If you're a Torontonian looking for a bike that was stolen (even if it was years ago), the Toronto Police Department will be showcasing them at the following addresses:

• 35 Strachan Avenue
• 30 Ordnance Street

The warehouses will be open:

• Fri. Jul 25, 12pm to 8pm
• Sat. Jul 26, 10am to 6pm
• Mon. Jul 28, 12pm to 8pm