There are two options for registering your bike, in person or online. You must be affiliated with the university to register online. If you are registering online watch the registration information video before completing the registration form. Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations to ride safely and avoid receiving a ticket.

Important notes:

  • There is a $10 registration fee
  • When registering online, payment will automatically be billed to your student account
  • A confirmation email will be sent which includes a date and time when your licence decal will be available for pick up at the police department (Green Hall). This email may take up to 14 days depending on volume.
  • Registrations are non-transferable.
  • Note: Registration is COMPLETE when the decal is affixed to the bicycle.

Online Registration Steps

  1. WatchRegistration Information Video (also embedded below)
  2. CompleteOnline Registration Form
  3. ReadBike Rules and Regulations
  4. Wait for email from CSUPD. Do not come into CSUPD to pick up your decal until you receive an email.
  5.  Affix decal to bicycle frame (see below) to complete registration process.

Prepare for your ride: Take the CSU Moves training to learn about your local transportation options and key strategies for navigating campus safely and efficiently!

All bicycles ridden or parked on any Colorado State University campus must be registered with the CSU Police Department. This helps to prevent theft and increases the chance of your bicycle being recovered if it is stolen. It also provides contact information for any issues that may arise involving the bicycle, such as relocation due to construction. Registration also serves as proof of ownership for lock-cut services.

Exceptions to registration will only be made for bicyclists who are visitors to one of our campuses. A registration decal, known as a CSU Bicycle License, must be placed on the bicycle and is valid for as long as the decal numbers are readable.

The bicycle registration form can be completed online and printed out, or you may register at CSUPD or The Spoke. The serial number of your bicycle is required and must be recorded. The serial number is usually found in one of five places on your bicycle (see image below). The most common location is on the underside of the bike or number 1 in the image. If the bicycle does not have a serial number, it is the responsibility of the registrant to select a unique number and have it inscribed on the frame. The CSUPD does offer a free inscribing service.

Bike Serial Number Locations

1 – Bottom bracket (underside crank)
2 – Top of Bottom bracket (upper crank)
3 – Chain Stays (left or right side)
4 – Seat Tube (bottom, near crank)
5 – Headset (front of and below handlebars)

License Attachment

The license decal is supplied with an adhesive backing and is to be affixed to the main frame on the down tube of the bicycle. Make sure the area is wiped clean before placing the license on the frame. The license is to be affixed so that it is clearly visible.

Ownership

If ownership of a registered bicycle changes, the owner must notify CSUPD. Registrations are not transferable. The new owner must ensure that the old Bicycle License has been removed when possession of the bicycle has changed. Only one CSU Bicycle License can be affixed to any bicycle at one time. If a bicycle is stolen, lost, or destroyed, the owner should notify CSUPD as soon as possible so that a notation can be made on the registration form and a police report filed.

Bike Theft Prevention Tips

  • Know how to properly lock your bike to a rack. The first step is to use two U-Locks. The first should go around the back wheel, the frame, and the bike rack, and the second one should go around the front wheel, the frame, and, if possible, the bike rack. This makes it more difficult to target your bike. Check out this video from The Spoke showing how to properly lock your bike.
  • Don’t use a cable lock. It can take less than one second for someone with the proper tools to cut a cable lock, similar to being as easy as cutting paper with scissors. Most bikes stolen on campus were locked with only a cable lock.
  • Park your bike in a bike rack in a well-lit area where there is lots of foot traffic. A U-Lock has to be cut with a grinder, which is noisy and noticeable. Using a U-Lock and parking in a high traffic area makes it more noticeable if someone tries to cut your U-Lock.
  • Consider the value of your bike. The more expensive the bike, the more likely it is to be targeted. 
  • Check on your bike. Swing by where your bike is parked every 24 hours. If it is stolen or there are signs of tampering, the sooner the police are notified, the higher the odds are of recovering the bike through an investigation while evidence still exists.
  • Register your bike. This allows you to prove ownership if your bike is stolen and then recovered and allows the department to contact you if your bike is to be impounded.

Registration Information

Cost – $10

Bicycle Registration Form (for in-person registration)

Online Registration Form (must be affiliated)

Required Information:

  • Make
  • Color(s)
  • Serial Number
  • Owner Name
  • Owner Permanent Address
  • Owner Phone

Additional Useful Information:

  • Model
  • Type

Registration Locations

Online (must be affiliated and pick up decal from police department)
CSU Police Department
Green Hall
750 South Meridian Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-7695

The Spoke
920 West Plum Street
Fort Collins, CO 80521
(970) 491-2453