Almost 5,000 bikes have been stolen in Dublin since the start of 2020.
3,958 were stolen in the capital last year while 867 stolen bikes have been reported in 2021 according to figures released to Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond.
Gardai announced a ‘Lock it or Lose it’ initiative in May but some have called for more serious measures to prevent bike theft.
Chairperson of VC Beechwood Cycling Club, Stuart Gilhooly, says the demand for second-hand bikes has caused this spike:
"We've seen a big change since the lockdown started in March last year when there were very few options available to people, except cycling. Where previously it might have been more difficult to sell a bike on the second-hand market, there's now really good offers. [...] It's become a real temptation for thieves, and obviously cyclists have to be so careful about where they leave their bikes."
With nearly 5,000 bikes stolen in Dublin over the past 18 months, it’s clear a new approach is needed:https://t.co/c7e3wMgOYH pic.twitter.com/5RN8rYadHs
— Neale Richmond (@nealerichmond) August 22, 2021
Proactive public safety measures are the only way to tackle bike thefts in Dublin with a marked rise in people cycling over the past year, according to Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond.
Deputy Richmond said:
“Over the past year there has been a marked increase in people choosing to cycle throughout Dublin, from families utilising our enhanced cycle lanes to commuters choosing not to use public transport. [...] We need to ensure not only that all new planning applications have adequate bike parking, but also that there is safer and better public parking for bikes. Introducing more bike lockers at public transport hubs, ensuring proper lighting and installing CCTV at bike parking are all important measures that must be pursued at a national level as well as a local level."
