Bicycle theft remains a major concern for cyclists, particularly in urban areas, affecting thousands of cyclists each year. According to recent statistics, police in England and Wales recorded nearly 67,000 bike thefts in the year ending March 2024, while estimates from the Crime Survey suggest the real number could be over 200,000, indicating a significant underreporting of incidents.
Urban areas are particularly affected, with London boroughs like Hackney seeing some of the highest rates, at over 5 thefts per 1,000 people. Despite the scale of the problem, it is a crime that is often difficult to resolve, and charge rates remain low—only around 2% of reported cases lead to someone being charged, prompting concerns about police capacity and priorities.
Advocacy groups like Cycling UK are calling for better bike security infrastructure, more proactive policing, and increased awareness. Meanwhile, many cyclists are taking extra precautions: using heavy-duty locks, registering bikes on national databases, and avoiding high-risk parking areas.
While progress has been made in some regions through targeted police operations, the fight against bike theft remains an uphill battle. For now, prevention and vigilance are cyclists’ best defences. Whether you’re a business, property developer, or facility manager, providing secure bike storage is essential for encouraging cycling while minimising theft risks.
In this article, we explore the best practices for protecting bicycles from theft, ensuring that cyclists feel confident leaving their bikes in your facility.
Choose the Right Bike Parking Infrastructure
One of the first things that springs to mind when talking about any bike storage is security—the primary reason for the existence of our products. Security is often one of the most important factors that can influence the rates of bike theft and help lower them.
The type of bike parking facility plays a crucial role in preventing theft. This is why it is so important that cyclists have access to secure, durable, and well-designed racks that discourage criminals from attempting to steal bikes. If you are trying to decide what bike storage product to invest in, we have some recommendations.
The key here is to not underinvest in whatever you’re buying. Cheap materials and poor-quality design and build make for bad racks and stands, which can be easy to tamper with and steal from. When selecting a product, you should look for high-quality materials like steel and stainless steel, which can withstand both the elements and any attempts to interfere with it.
Another thing to avoid, especially if you live in a high-crime area and bike theft has been an issue before, is wheel-only locking racks. Some models are built to offer bike support, but the user can only lock their wheel. Multiple locking points—wheel and frame—are the better options since racks that provide only wheel locking are not much better than a lamp post.
Sheffield bike stands are a good choice. They are traditional and widely used, making them familiar to most users. They are also sturdy, not too expensive, and allow the locking of both the frame and wheels.
Another model that fulfils the criteria is our Semi-Vertical Bike Rack, which has an optional extra locking loop to allow cyclists to chain the frame and wheel with a D-lock. These racks are great for another reason, too—they offer compact storage and save space.
Two-Tier Bike Racks are probably the top product when it comes to bike storage. They’re increasingly popular as they offer an unparalleled combination of security and storage maximising. They stack two bikes in one space, allowing both frames and wheels to be chained to the rack
Ultimately, one of the most secure options is bike lockers—they are fully enclosed, with lockable doors, and are ideal for long-term storage or high-theft areas. Their only disadvantage is that they can only fit a few bikes and are bulky, but depending on your situation, this may not be an issue, so they’re worth considering.
Install Bike Racks in Secure Locations
Next on our list is location. Even the best bike racks won’t prevent theft if placed in poorly monitored or hidden locations. Choosing the right spot is essential.
As a best practice, there are some key considerations when it comes to selecting it. Ideally, your bike storage should be located in a high-visibility area with natural traffic, deterring potential thieves who wouldn’t like to be seen. You should also aim to position it near entrances for both security and user convenience.
Good lighting is another important step in making the location more secure. Well-lit areas deter thieves and make cyclists feel safer. As an extra measure, you can include not just lighting but CCTV. Cameras covering your bike parking should function as an additional layer of security to deter criminals and be used as evidence if theft occurs.
Lastly, if the area can be gated or access restricted in any way, you should implement that to limit who can enter the premises. This can be done by installing your bike storage indoors, where random people’s access is already naturally limited. Alternatively, if your cycle parking is outside, you should always provide a shelter. Many models can be manufactured with additional security options like a coded padlock, lock and key, or swipe card system for restricted entry.
Encourage the Use of High-Security Bike Locks
Our products are crafted from strong steel, made to be durable and secure, but no bike storage system is theft-proof if cyclists use no locks or weak locks. Many of the products we sell offer two-point locking for wheel and frame, which provides the best security the bike rack itself can give. However, encouraging the use of high-quality locks is one key element to significantly reducing theft risk.
Most users are familiar with what they need to purchase to ensure their bike is as safe as possible, but it is always a good idea to remind cyclists about best practices. This can be done with leaflets, email shots, or signage in the parking area.
D-locks are strong and resistant to bolt cutters, so they are always a good recommendation. Chain locks are another safe choice, as they are usually made from hardened steel and are flexible and heavy-duty. On the other hand, using cable locks is rarely enough, as they are easy to cut and provide minimal security.
In an ideal scenario, both the frame and wheel should be locked using a strong cut-resistant lock.
Promote Bike Security Awareness
As we said above, even the best infrastructure won’t stop theft if cyclists don’t take precautions. Educating users about best security practices improves overall bike protection.
Strategically placed signs near bike racks can educate users on the safest ways to lock their bikes—such as securing both the frame and at least one wheel with a sturdy D-lock and avoiding quick-release components. Diagrams or short bullet-point tips can be surprisingly effective for quick learning.
Follow up with cyclists through email newsletters or internal communication platforms to share seasonal security tips, highlight common theft tactics, or offer reminders about locking up properly—especially during high-theft times like holidays or busy commuting seasons.
Consider partnering with local police departments, cycling groups, or security experts to host occasional bike safety sessions. These can cover locking techniques, how to choose a good lock, what to do if a bike is stolen, and even how to register a bike for added security.
Promote services like BikeRegister or local equivalents. Registering a bike creates a record that can deter theft and aid in recovery if the bike is stolen.
Final Thoughts
Bike theft may be a persistent problem, but it’s not unsolvable. Smart infrastructure, thoughtful design, and informed users can significantly reduce the risk. Whether you’re managing a commercial property, residential development, workplace, or public facility, the goal is the same: to create a secure, cyclist-friendly environment that encourages riding while deterring theft.
Investing in high-quality bike racks and lockers, placing them in well-lit, visible, and access-controlled areas, and promoting the use of strong, two-point locking techniques are all essential steps. But equally important is awareness—educating cyclists on how to protect their bikes, from choosing the right locks to registering them on national databases.
By combining secure infrastructure with proactive education and simple deterrents like signage and CCTV, we build more than just a place to park bikes—we build peace of mind. And that confidence is exactly what helps cycling grow and thrive in our communities.