Le Monde writes that a new study by the Académie des mobilités actives (ADMA) and FUB finds bike theft is the second biggest barrier to cycling in France, after road safety. The study, based on 2,800 survey responses and field observations, shows only 61% of theft victims buy another bike, usually a cheaper one. Young men in big cities, locking bikes with simple cables outdoors, are most at risk—especially in the evening and late summer. Theft risk is three times higher in Paris than elsewhere in France. European comparisons reveal that countries with high cycling rates, like the Netherlands and Denmark, also have high theft rates, while cities with poor cycling infrastructure see less theft. The article notes that most stolen bikes in Amsterdam remain local rather than being exported. The study’s authors hope their findings will support policies to reduce theft and promote cycling.
