Bicycle registration with PTS is now REQUIRED for everyone who bikes on campus. This includes students, faculty, staff.
A FREE, and SIMPLE online registration form is available through My Parking Profile When registering a bike, please provide all the requested information, including the manufacturer's serial number (please see diagram below for potential locations on where your serial number could be located), your UT EID and current address so the permit is mailed to the correct address.
Registering your bike with PTS links your bike to you using the serial number on your bike. Bicycle serial numbers are like a car's vin number. When a bike is pawned, the pawn shop reports the serial number to the Austin Police Department (311) which enters the number into a database to which police departments have access. Using this database, they can search for your serial number. Stolen bikes sometimes end up back on campus and can be returned to their owners if they are registered and have the UT permit sticker on them.
The permit number that is attached to your bike serves as a theft deterrent and makes it easier to contact the owner in the event there is a construction project and the bike needs to be relocated to avoid impoundment, If accidentally improperly locked to another bike, or to a rack that is being relocated. Having a way to communicate with you about your property is beneficial.
The more bikes that are registered, the stronger the voice of the cycling community.
Locating Your Bike's Serial Number
The majority of serial numbers are located under the bottom bracket where the two pedal cranks meet. Simply turn your bike upside down and record the number. If there is no serial number there then check places like the headset at the front of the bike or the rear stays. The diagram at the right indicates the five most common serial number locations. If you just can't find anything then you can either engrave your driver's license number (engravers are available through UTPD) or describe the bike the best you can when registering and maybe even take a picture with it to prove ownership.
The best chance at recovering a stolen bicycle is having a registered serial number. These numbers are used by police across the nation. You need the manufacturer's serial number to register your bicycle.
- underside of crank
- headset
- rear stays
- seat downtube next to crank
top of crank
Stolen Bikes
To report a stolen bike on campus please call UTPD at 512-471-4441 ext 9.
You will need the bike serial number/permit number, make, model, color, and last known location.
To report a stolen bike off campus please contact APD by calling 311.