Hey everyone,
I wanted to share a cool retro detail I recently mounted on my bike. If you're wondering what that red metal plate on the rear of my bike is, it's a vintage Swiss bicycle license plate, locally known as a Velonummer.
What is a "Velonummer"?
For decades, these colorful metal plates were absolutely mandatory for every bicycle riding on Swiss roads. They served as proof that you had paid for your annual bicycle third-party liability insurance (called the Velovignette).
The system was officially abolished at the end of 2011, turning these old plates into highly sought-after collector's items. Since they no longer have any official meaning, it is completely legal to mount them today on normal bikes as a purely cosmetic accessory.
Breaking down this specific plate:
• AG: Stands for the Canton of Aargau (in northern Switzerland).
• 83: The year of issue — 1983.
• AG-137756 (stamped at the bottom): The unique registration and insurance number assigned to the bike for that year.
• The pre-drilled holes: Used to screw it directly onto the rear mudguard.
I love how it adds a bit of Swiss history and a nice pop of color to the frame.
Anyone else rocking vintage plates on their commuter?
by boba_fezzz
8 Comments
This is pretty cool, I kinda want one even though I live in the US. All the bicycle haters here always ramble on about cyclists needing insurance and registration and this might at least calm their temper a bit. Although I feel like it might cause some confusion with law enforcement.
Mhhhh!! Even with a SIGG-Bottle *chefs-kiss*
Beautiful bike but I hate how this reads like AI. I have reasonable confidence that it’s not, at least not entirely, written by it but the way it’s structured has a smell.
I had one when we lived in Penticton, Canada when I was a kiddoe in the ’60s. Cost 50¢ out of my month’s allowance. 😐
Le canton de Genève a eu ça jusqu’au début des années 2000
Looks very dangerous with that plate !
From the Netherlands?
Cool addition to the bike! One small correction though, the metal plates were only used until 1989, from then on until the system was abolished we used small stickers instead.