Cyclists urged to security mark bikes

Date: 31/8/2010

Cyclists should security mark their bikes so they can be returned to them if stolen, according to Transport for London (TfL).

The organisation has funded the Cycle Task Force, which is part of the Metropolitan Police Service, to encourage individuals to tag their bikes.

TfL stated thousands of missing bikes are recovered by police each year, but as officers have no means of tracing the owners, the vehicles are left in stations.

Sergeant Titus Halliwell of the Cycle Task Force said if a person has not registered their cycle with a unique security mark, they become almost impossible to trace.

"It's really sad to see thousands of great and well-loved bikes laying unused in the capital's police stations," he remarked.

Sergeant Halliwell also encouraged Londoners to attend one of the force's free bike-marking events.

Recently, Mayor Boris Johnson hailed the capital's cycle hire scheme as one of the city's success stories, which he said demonstrates the nation's enthusiasm for the pursuit.

Posted by Mary Treen