London Skyride Cyclists Must Beware Of Thieves
By Liz King
THOUSANDS of cyclists will be taking to the streets of London on September 5 in the London Skyride, but insurer More Than is warning them to beware of thieves when they leave their bikes unattended.
In a recent experiment, More Than placed bicycles around the country to see how long it took for them to be stolen, and at London Bridge, it took just 17 minutes before the bike was taken.
As a result, the riders are being urged to lock their bikes up even if they are only going to be leaving them for a few minutes.
Annette Lepper, Head of MORE TH>N Home insurance, said: "Organised bike rides are a fantastic way to get families exercising in a safe, traffic-free environment, while seeing the best sights that London has to offer. But despite the city being full of cycling enthusiasts, bikers should still ensure their steeds are locked securely when unattended, as it only takes seconds for a thief to strike, as our research showed."
Cycling is becoming ever more popular, thanks in part to the gold-medal winning efforts of the GB cycling team at the Beijing Olympics, and bicycle sales are on the up. The ActSmart Cycle Retailers survey showed that sales have risen by nearly a quarter in the last year, but sadly the number of bikes stolen has also increased.
Ms Lepper said: “The number of bikes stolen from UK streets has also risen to an estimated 300,000 annually Home Office British Crime Survey statistics, July 2008 – equating to a bike snatched every 105 seconds. Sadly, just 5 per cent of stolen bikes are ever recovered and returned to their rightful owners, according to official figures, but with adequate insurance in place at least cyclists can rest assured that their bicycles will be replaced should the worst happen.”
Most insurers will cover bicycles as part of their home contents policies, although it can be difficult to find cover if you have an expensive machine that is specifically set up for racing, for example. Companies including More Than and Marks & Spencer are worth considering for this type of cover if you need it, but always read the small print carefully.
Top Tips for preventing bike theft:
· Ensure your bike has security markings such as an etched serial number. This marking should be advertised with a clearly visible sticker to deter thieves
· When securing your bike use a heavy duty lock and chain and ensure it's fixed through the frame and wheels to an immovable object. A resourceful thief can simply lift off a bike that is chained to a lamp post
· Never chain your bike in an isolated location where thieves can operate without being seen
· If you have a particularly valuable bike, make it more difficult for thieves by not leaving it in the same place each day
· Always ensure your bike lock faces down towards the pavement. This makes it much more difficult to pick the lock
· Ensure your bike is adequately insured. This way, should the worst happen, you wont be left to cover the cost yourself.
Source: More Than
