Keep yourself and your bike safe: Shrewsbury Cycle Security Event 2015

Many people now see cycling as a faster, cheaper, more reliable and economic way to travel, in respect to protecting the environment and keeping fit.

Unfortunately, this increase in cycling can result in easy pickings for opportunist thieves who target unsecured bikes, as well as providing a greater risk of accidents to both pedestrians and cyclists as more and more use the roads.

To tackle this, Shrewsbury’s Safer Neighbourhood Team have been working in partnership with Shropshire Council, Stan’s Cycles, Dave Mellors, Urban Bikes, Bodytech, Storm and other businesses, such as Plush Hill Cycles, to launch a cycling initiative to encourage awareness of bike security and cyclist safety.

The team have organised an educational cycle surgery to encourage bike owners to ensure their security.

The event, which is free and open to everyone, will take place on Saturday 7 March 2015 from 10am until 2pm in The Square, Shrewsbury.  It is also being supported by Body Tech who will be on hand to help advise on general fitness levels, provide a taster session on spinning, and offer expert advice on fitness.

In the fight against criminals, police officers will be available to educate owners about the methods of tracing their bike, should it be lost or stolen, by recording the serial number on databases such as www.immobilise.com and www.bikeregister.com.  These enable the police to be able to identify recovered bikes and return them to their rightful owner.

Stan’s Cycles has arranged a well-known insurance company to attend.  Cycle security demonstrations will also be available all day.

PC Karena Evans, West Mercia Police’s cycle co-ordinator, said:

“The campaign is proving a great success so far and I encourage cyclists to pop along to The Square to talk to us and work with us to protect them from harm.

“The cycle shops will be on hand to help educate cycle owners about security marking and provide top tips on how to secure bikes.  By working together in this way we can help prevent crime, bring offenders to justice and most importantly keep cyclists safe.”

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, added:

“This is a great initiative, especially as more people will be getting back on their bikes now that spring is finally on its way.

“It promises to be a good long lunchtime out and we hope that it will encourage even more people to cycle, and be safe.”