Demand management strategies

“Bike-Off” cycle anti-theft scheme

Brighton & Hove/United Kingdom CIVITAS ARCHIMEDES | 2008-2012

The number of bicycle thefts is quite high in Brighton & Hove and the city has decided to tackle this issue and create a favourable environment for cycling.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Cycling has increased by 50 percent in Brighton & Hove since 2000. In order to reassure cyclists and sustain this trend, the city aims to create a safe and secure environment for cycling and other soft modes of transport. The municipality wants to achieve this by increasing knowledge about bicycle theft, communicating good “bicycle locking practice” and installing secure bike parking facilities.

The main objectives of the measure are to:

Decrease the number of bicycle thefts; and
Maintain the growing cycling trend.

Brighton & Hove will run a pilot project. The “Bikewatch” initiative will test if supporting cycling-related community activities and installing secure bike parking facilities can reduce bicycle theft and increase the use of cycling.

How is the measure progressing

In the summer of 2010, the Bikewatch initiative was piloted in 10 areas of Brighton & Hove where bicycle security has become an issue. A number of cycling-related community events took place during this time and secure bike parking facilities were installed at 10 locations, which include eight on-street parking bays and two off-street locations. The city designed communication materials that were distributed to residents in the pilot areas. The Bikewatch initiative is currently being evaluated.