Cardiff’s bike-share scheme started again on 13 January following a two-month suspension due to thefts and vandalism.
The Ovo bike scheme, powered by operator Nextbike, has returned to the streets of Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan with a smaller fleet of 400 bikes. While the firm will be installing 11 new e-bike stations, four hubs will remained closed due to a low use and higher risk of crime.
A consortium of 19 organisations has also been established in a bid to reduce the high rates of cycle crime in Cardiff. The Cardiff Cycle Crime Reduction Partnership (CCCRP) will help to tackle problems including bicycle thefts and vandalism across the city.
Mark Cleland, British Transport Police Superintendent and lead on cycle crime in the UK, said: “Cycling is good for the environment and our health, but cycle crime has the potential to impact on that and so to ensure we can encourage people to cycle, we need to tackle those who feel they can vandalise and steal bikes across the UK.
“The CCCRP means that everyone with an interest in tackling crime works together to be proactive in targeting criminality while educating cyclists on good security whether at home or elsewhere.”
Nextbike added the new fleet of bikes include an additional layer of security but stressed the locks only work fully when properly engaged. The operator called on all users to always return the bikes to official stations.
Following a survey conducted in December 2021, which indicated that the app was key to reporting abandoned bikes, the firm has added a ‘report a bike’ function to the app’s main menu.
Additionally, the operator has grown its service team by 23% to ensure any damaged bikes are returned to service quickly. To protect its staff, drivers will wear body cameras for their own security.
Nextbike UK MD, Krysia Solheim, added: “We completely support Cardiff’s ambition to become one of the UK’s best cycling cities and we’re determined not to let the small minority of people ruin it by stealing and vandalising bikes. While the crimes may seem petty to some, the impact can be significant.
“Bike share – and cycling in general – provides a low emission, healthy and affordable way to get around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan and we know that the withdrawal of our schemes has had a huge effect on our customers.
“Hopefully thanks to this new partnership, alongside other measures we will be introducing, we won’t see a repeat of the behaviour we have witnessed over the last few months.”
