LoveItLockIt

If you Love Your Bike, then Lock It!

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On Valentine’s Day (14th February), the Love Your Bike campaign will be launching “Love It Lock It” to encourage people to keep their love for their bike alive by securing it with a good quality lock. [1]

(for photos from the launch please see our Flickr photo album)

With one bicycle being stolen every 30 minutes in Greater Manchester [2] people need to “Love It Lock It” to make sure they are reunited with their bicycle upon their return.

Unfortunately, fewer stolen bicycles are being reunited with their owners. In Greater Manchester, the detection rate for stolen bicycles has nearly halved between 1999 and 2009. In 1999, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported a detection rate of 6.3% but by 2008-09 the detection rate had fallen to 3.5%.

Love Your Bike is calling on the Greater Manchester Police & Crime Commissioner (GMPCC) to ensure that policies to reduce cycle theft and vandalism are included in the new Greater Manchester Policing Plan. [3]

To help people to get their hands on good quality bicycle locks, Love Your Bike has enlisted the support of cycle shops in Manchester who will be offering discounts of up to 15% on cycle locks to anyone taking in the Love It Lock leaflet throughout February. [4]

Dr Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth, transport campaign co-ordinator said:

When choosing whether to cycle, people tell us that they need to be confident in their safety on the road and their bike’s security when parked. Leadership on these issues from the GM Police & Crime Commissioner is an essential part of helping Greater Manchester to enjoy the environmental, health and economic benefits of cycling.”

ENDS

Photo opportunity: Giant D-lock protecting bikes. Albert Square, cycle parking, top of Brazenose Street, Manchester City Centre, 8.30am, Thursday 14th February.

CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS

Pete Abel, Love Your Bike campaign. Mobile: 07951 642858

Graeme Sherriff, Manchester FoE, transport campaign co-ordinator. Mobile: 07948 405071

Notes to Editors:

[1] See www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/loveitlockit for more details (Please note that the Love It Lock It website will not go live until Thursday 14th February). . Love Your Bike would like to thank the Greater Manchester Police Authority for grant support for this campaign.

[2] See http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/annualreport.htm According to the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) annual reports approximately 4600 bicycles have been reported stolen each year between 2006 and 2009 (the latest figures available) However, the British Crime Survey indicates that there are 4 to 5 times more bicycles stolen than are reported to the police. This could mean that over 20,000 bicycles are stolen each year in Greater Manchester. See http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-june-2012/rft-appendic-tables-year-ending-june-2012.xls

[3] Police and Crime Commission http://www.gmpcc.org.uk/yoursay/

[4] Cycle shops supporting the Love It Lock It campaign and offering discounts on cycle locks include:

Bicycle Doctor, 68-70 Dickenson Rd, Manchester M14 5HF, www.bicycledoctor.co.uk (15% discount).

Ken Fosters Cycle Logic, 374-376 Barlow Moor Rd, M21 8AZ. www.kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk/ (15% discount)

Keep Pedalling, 23 Hilton Street, M1 1EL. www.keeppedalling.co.uk/ (15% discount)

 Campaign flyer available at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/42ek86j5sp0yk88/loveitlockitleaflet.pdf

 [5] Love Your Bike is an award winning Manchester based campaign aiming to promote cycling and help make it an even more attractive, accessible and fun way to get around. Co-ordinated by Manchester Friends of the Earth, the campaign works in partnership with other like-minded organisations. See www.loveyourbike.org