Brussels is looking to roll out a new system of bicycle stands with "secure bike racks" to combat bicycle theft in the region, which deters many from buying two-wheeled vehicles.
Bicycle theft continues to be rife in Belgium, presenting a hurdle in the country's bid to encourage people to swap their cars for bicycles. "In Brussels, many people would like to cycle, but they don't do it because they don't have a safe place to park their bicycle or because they are afraid it will be stolen," Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt said.
In the past months, several measures have been considered to curb this problem, from making it easier for police to use "bait bikes" to increase the chances of catching thieves, to creating a free central bicycle register to log stolen bicycles.
In Brussels, another innovative measure to tackle the issue will be implemented in spring 2024, when a trial will be carried out in the region offering secure bicycle stands, with the aim of filling the gap between the existing systems in place, Brussels Mobility announced on Wednesday.
'Attractive pricing'
The project involves installing lightweight devices at the roadside that are comparable to conventional bicycle racks but with a higher level of security.
The system can be activated by card or smartphone, and locks the bicycle frame to a terminal, offering a higher level of security than a simple individual lock.
An example of the app to use the secure bicycle rack. Credit: Brussels Mobility/ Cadenas
"This will be adapted to as many different types of bikes as possible: city bicycles, folding bicycles, longtails, cargo bicycles, etc., with attractive prices for users, both for occasional use and via subscription packages," Brussels Mobility explained.
French operator Sharelock (used more than 6,000 times in French cities with no reported thefts) and Brussels-based Locky will each make their solutions available on a trial basis at 50 locations in Brussels, for a capacity of around 500 secure bicycles. Over the next two years, it will be possible to determine whether the project should be continued or extended.
