Winnipeg bike group hopes to use survey results to reduce bike theft

A Winnipeg cycling advocacy group has issued a survey on bike theft with the hope ofreducing crime and finding lost bikes.

"Our goal is to get more people biking more often," said CharlesFeaver,a volunteer with Bike Winnipeg.

"Bike theft is really messing that up."

On Saturday morning, the organizationlaunched anonline survey to gather people's experiences of having their bicycles stolen. Questions included what people have done to try to recover lost bikes, whether they were successful, and whether registering a bike on Winnipeg's bike registry had been helpful.

The survey, which closed Monday night, had 300 respondents.

Winnipeg police said2,100 bicycles were reported stolen in 2020.

Crime of opportunity

Tim Webster, an avid cyclist and commuter,has had four of his bikes stolen from his home.

Today,they're storedin the middle of his living room, surrounded by his novelty swords.

"Because if they want to take it, then they have to come in and fight me for it," he said.

He said he's lucky to have a bike cage at work that he locks his bike in after commuting. He urges people to register their bikes with the city so if police find it, it can be returned to them.

"Wehave systemic problems that we need to solve before we can make a dent in bike theft," he said.

Feaver said so far, he understands many bicyclethefts to be crimes of opportunity. It's easy to steal a bicycle that's not locked up welland sell it for cash, he said.

One dayhe had two bicyclesstolen from the side of his house. All that was left was the chain he used to lock up his bicycleto his radiator.

"[I] learned a lesson. Even a good chain isn't good enough," Feaver said.

Bike Winnipeg hasrepeatedly recommendedusing two locks a cable and a U lock and always securing both wheels and the frame to whatever you're locking your bike to. The group has also been advocating for more long-term bike storage areas in the city.

Over the next few weeks, Feaver willanalyze the results of the survey and meet with the rest of Bike Winnipeg to discuss what he's found with other members of the advocacy committee.

He's also asking the community for help.

"If anybody has good ideas on how to deal with bicycletheft, send us a note," Feaver said.

"I'm hoping with the combination of thesurvey and other research that we can come up with a plan."

Winnipeg bike group hopes to use survey results to reduce bike theft

3 years ago

Duration 2:09

A Winnipeg cycling advocacy group has issued a survey on bike theft with the hope of reducing crime and finding lost bikes.