One of the most consistent themes we see cropping up on Facebook is that of bike security. Time and again, people report that their trusty steed has vanished, often when parked outside of a supermarket, for example. This is saddening, so we’ve put together this short guide to help you fight back.
Get a Lock and Use It Properly
The first step we’d advise is, of course, investing in the best lock you can afford. They are available from On Your Bike, The Bicycle Chain and Halfords. Before you part with your cash, though, it’s worth knowing what to look for – here’s a handy guide.
Then you should make sure you’re using it correctly – if you don’t, you’re making it easier for the thief. Watch this.
Register Your Bike
As well as locking it properly, it’s worth registering it on the national Bike Register. This is a free service that’s used by the police to reunite stolen bikes with their owners. They use a secure online database, and they’ll supply you with stickers for your bike to act as a visual deterrent to thieves.
You can find more advice from Avon & Somerset Police here.
Get It Insured
If your bike is more valuable, it’s worth thinking about getting it insured. You can do this through your home contents cover, but a dedicated cycle insurance policy may well be worth considering too. To help you decide which is the right option for you, take a look at this article.
What To Do If It’s Stolen
If you are unfortunate enough to fall victim to bike theft, whether from a public place, your workplace or from home, it’s important that you notify the police. Yes, it’s quite possible you may not see the bike again, but if thefts go unreported, no-one can judge the scale of the problem. You can report a theft here.
The Future
Of course, what we would like to see is an increase in bicycle traffic into the town centre. And with e-bikes making this a more realistic notion for many, wouldn’t it be nice if we all had somewhere really safe to leave our bikes?
Well, one of our Facebook followers recently suggested turning an empty shop unit into an attended bike park. And as it turns out, this could work rather well. Spokesafe have been doing just that for over three years now. You can read more about their story here.