free bike registration at UofM

From University of Michigan Facilities and Operations:

Bicycles are required by city and University ordinances to be
registered with the City of Ann Arbor through the city clerk's office.
To assist U-M students, faculty and staff with the registration process,
officers from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) will register
bicycles at three campus events this month for free.
DPS officers will be on the Central Campus Diag Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. for Festifall and Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for EnergyFest
2006, as well as on the North Campus Diag Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m
for the NC Fest.
Registration will be paid by DPS for those registering at the campus
events. Simply bring a University ID and the bicycle to the DPS table.
Otherwise, bicycle owners must register at the Ann Arbor City Hall and
the fee is $6.50.

We've never registered our bikes with the police, and have no idea how effective it is in returning stolen bikes. It is the law, but in our experiences being pulled over while riding, this regulation is not enforced.

We'd be interested to hear your perspective on bike registration. Did you register your bike? Has it helped? Do you flinch at having to turn over the information, or find the cost too high?