One in five cyclists have had their bike stolen in the past five years, while 8% have had at least three bikes stolen.
It may not be a matter of luck, however. Insurers Aviva note that 13% of bike owners leave the bike unattended and unlocked for short periods, for example when running an errand, while 17% put their bike out of sight but still leave it unlocked.
To promote their bike insurance, the company left five bikes around London in locations where they had received the most claims in the capital. One bike that had been left unlocked was pinched in just 20 minutes, while another locked to a parking meter survived four hours before being stolen.
Unfortunately for the firm's publicity, two of the bikes were left alone by thieves, including one that was left unlocked outside Euston Station for two days.
The real message is two-fold though. Whether or not you take out cover, locking a bike to a fixed object makes a major difference to security (and may be a must for insurance to be valid). And if you are considering cover, it's worth comparing the premiums with the replacement costs and then weighing up the likelihood of being a victim of crime.
