PUTTING THE BRAKES ON BIKE THEFT
A MULTI-AGENCY DELIVERY OF A SECURE CYCLING CITY
A cycling and security seminar presented by Transport for
London’s Cycle Centre for Excellence (CCE) in association with
the Design Against Crime Research Centre (DACRC) and the London
Bicycle Film Festival 2008 (LBFF).
The seminar is of interest to professionals responsible for
delivery of design provision, management and policy for public space
and cycling infrastructure. The seminar seeks to promote a
multi-agency approach to tackling the issue of cycle theft and
promotion of cycle use and enjoyment of the public realm.
This multi-agency approach – which has drawn upon design to
help make a difference - has been seen to be effective at cycle theft
reduction in recent years and has contributed to the increases in
cycle use in London as illustrated below.
Between 2000 and 2003 increases in cycle theft exceeded increase
in cycle use. Between 2003 and 2005 there was some improvement,
increases in cycle use matched increases in cycle theft. This period
saw the implementation of multiple cycle theft reduction initiatives
by various agencies including, Transport for London’s Cycle
Centre for Excellence and the Design Against Crime Research
Centre’s Bikeoff project. In 2005 the Home Office nominated
cycle theft as a ‘comparator crime’ forcing the issue
onto the Police agenda and promoting multi-agency responses to cycle
theft. During this time cycle use has exceeded cycle theft in
London.
These figures show this multi agency approach to be effective. The
Bikeoff research initiative has collating and evaluating these
activities. This research often delivered in collaboration with
TfL’s CCE, and the street management and transport teams of
several of London’s Boroughs has been brought together to create
tools and resources to facilitate multi-stakeholder communication,
collaboration and evaluation in relation to delivery of cycle theft
reduction and cycling infrastructure provision specifically:
• Resources for designers and providers of
cycling infrastructure that enable practitioners to ‘get smart
quick’ about cycle
security and identify best practice in
relation to design and delivery.
• Secure
cycle parking guidelines developed by stakeholders for
practitioners.
• A problem oriented policing
guide identifying and evaluating responses to cycle theft from crime prevention
practitioners around the world, including
London. This online guide is available free online and gives
recommendations on how to address the
problem according to local context.
•
Interactive online video map showing short films reviewing cycle
parking provision London-wide, giving the opinions
and objectives of facility providers,
designers and users – essential viewing for anyone involved
in the provision of
secure cycle parking.
