(Berkeley, CA -- July 6, 1999) Centric Media Inc., owner of Bicyclelink.com, has purchased the assets of the National Bike Registry (NBR) and will invest a million dollars in a major overhaul of NBR, which will use the power of the Internet to create an effective, centralized national bicycle registration system.

"A truly effective national bike registration system has only been a promise; we’re going to make it a reality," says Eddie Orton, president of the Berkeley, California-based Bicyclelink.com. "Our mission is to work closely with law enforcement agencies and the bicycle industry to help return stolen bikes to their owners, prevent their theft, and alleviate the ‘fear of theft’ that sometimes hinders bicycle sales."

Crime Stopping Key: The Law Enforcement Link Over one million bicycles are stolen every year in the United States. The majority of recovered bikes never get returned, because law enforcement officials cannot locate the owners. For this reason, the major focus in the overhaul of the NBR will be to link closely with the law enforcement community, offering them access to NBR’s centralized database of registered bicycles. This can exponentially expand the chances of getting a stolen bicycle returned to its owner.

Bicyclelink.com is mounting a major telemarketing campaign aimed at linking thousands of community and campus police stations, as well as state, county and federal law enforcement groups, to it’s database. Currently 150 law enforcement agencies have access to the NBR.

Bicyclelink.com will also enhance the NBR with the following services:

o New web site allowing hassle-free, on-line registration; the site should be completed in August.

o New on-line pricing system: $10 for a ten-year registration; $25 for lifetime registration.

o Access to update new bicycle purchases and ability to update personal files at anytime through the on-line service.

o Creating alliances with bicycle industry suppliers and retailers to offer the NBR services to more bike owners.

o Government lobbying, where appropriate, to insure standardized practices for bicycle registration nationwide. Bicyclelink.com has lobbied to assure passage of California legislation SB 1206, which would create the opportunity for privately-run, well-regulated companies to allow riders to register bicycles on-line, require a half-million dollar bond to ensure they fulfill their contracted duties, and maintain consumers’ right to privacy.

How Bike Owners Can Register Bicycle owners can register with NBR on-line, via phone or through a local bike shop or law enforcement agency. Owner and bicycle information is collected and processed through the new National Bike Registry database. Owners will receive by postal mail, a Certification of Registration, plus NBR decals with instructions and theft prevention information. Owners affix the nonremovable decals to their bikes in three places. Even if the decal is illegible or missing, the bicycle serial number (stamped onto the frame) also provides information to help NBR locate the owners if a stolen bike is retrieved by police. New technology can determine what the serial number was, even if it has been fully removed.

The National Bike Registry is accessible toll-free at (800) 848-BIKE, and through the Internet at www.nationalbikeregistry.com. The NBR is also available through the bicyclelink.com site.