Those of you Twitter addicts out there may be aware that my prize new bike was swiped on Tuesday afternoon. It underlines two rather separate points:
- It pays not to be smug. There I was feeling very good about myself. Cycling to some video recordings at the UK Green Building Council HQ just off Tottenham Court Road. Comparing myself with my colleague, who was toiling with the London public transport system and running late. Not so smug when I returned and had the surreal experience of seeing a different bike chained to the bike stop. Bugger. And looking especially forlorn sat in a tube on the way home with a pannier bag and a helmet.
- Bike theft is prevalent: I’d read some horror stories about this back in the summer but human nature dictates that you begin to forget. Here’s a recent piece on figures for the first half of 2009. The memory especially fades when you’ve made a few journeys and the bike remains. The West End appears to be particularly bad.
I got talking to a friendly chap in Holborn CID whilst reporting the crime. He offered some decent advice but admitted that bikes were “easy pickings” and that theft was rife. He’d just picked up three reports of swiped bikes before I called. Unfortunately the surge in popularity is sparking a surge in crime. A depressing thought as I consider getting a replacement. I either get a cheapo replacement or simply restrict my journeys to ones that I can guarantee include secure gated bike storage. Depressing huh?
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on Nov 20th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Sorry to hear about the theft.
I have spots where I prefer to leave mind, I usually choose somewhere covered by the towns CCTV system. Fortunately clients I go to see usually have a secure area where I can leave it. A good friend had his stolen from an area about 50 yards from a location where I leave mine. After speaking to the police he was told that the bike thieves in our area are well aware of the spots where they are less likely to be disturbed or seen while cutting off the locks.
While wheeling mine through a pedestrian area I did overhear two of the local yobs saying “thats a nice bike,” followed by “I could do with nicking that one” it was depressing to hear, but at least they didn’t try mugging me for it.
Hope you get back on a new bike soon and are not put off giving up 2 wheel transport
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Go for the Brompton. It was designed for London. Theft, trains, the tube, buses, taxis, stairs, meetings all over town can all be conquered and integrated with your travel plan once you get one!
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Phil, you may have seen some of the Twitter chatter after your loss regarding a scheme whereby buildings could have a ‘bike/cyclist-friendly’ rating, with the most highly-rated destinations offering secure, dry, off-road storage, changing facilities, etc. It is something that I once asked the CTC about (last year, I think), but nothing came of it then.
However, I’ve resurrected the idea and with a few others am using Google Wave (yes, geeky, but useful to collaborate on creating the criteria) to develop some ideas on how the scheme might work, who to work with to get it adopted, etc. As I’ve just see that you’re on Wave, I’ve added you to the relevant Wave
on Nov 21st, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Phil, I had my 6-week-old bike stolen in the summer when visiting a potential job and leaving it locked to a lamppost outside. It is a terribly depressing experience as your blog reveals. However, the replacement duly arrived thanks to my insurance company and I’m back on the road again. I use a Dahon folding bike (cheaper USA version of Brompton) and just insist on taking into reception wherever I go, folded of course. Its too heavy to carry for a long time but I take it into shops, on the train, down the tube, into meetings . . . I think companies should be rated for how accommodating they are to bikes and folding bikes especially in London or other big cities. Even in my own practice it annoys me that I have to stow it in a cleaners cupboard for health and safety reasons! I think they should be arrayed loud and proud in reception like at FCBS! We should also be insisting on designing reception cloak rooms with storage for folding bikes! Still not as healthy as the days I used to cycle 12 miles to work and back though – must be getting old.
on Nov 24th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Elementowl – certainly not been put off. Firmly got the bug. Paul – will be happy to take part but still grappling with Google Wave (just clicking on now). On the issue of folding bikes I can totally see the logic but still have an emotional pull towards the full frame ones (if that expression means anything – have not fully grasped bike lingo yet).
on Nov 26th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
bad luck… I have lost count of how many bikes that I have had stolen before going for a Brompton (which is great). I had found that two or more locks makes a big difference… but the only really safe route is to have a bike that you carry around with you… no doubt a high powered journo can afford the expensive lightweight aluminium brompton model!
on Nov 26th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Jon. Replace high-powered journo with digitial honcho struggling to make the numbers add up
on Jan 4th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Don’t take a holiday at Center Parcs then as these places are just a haven for bike thieves. I know friends who have had bikes stolen every time they’ve been! An I thought these places were closed-off??