Bicycle security
Where does your experience of bikes come from?
- Pedalling to school as a teenager?
- Spinning through the streets of picturesque cities on holiday?
- Riding to and from work everyday?
Whatever your cycling background, we think it’s fair to say that cycling is ingrained in our culture.
You might be surprised to learn that 14.7% of adults in the UK cycled at least once per month in 2023. 10.1% of UK adults cycled a minimum of once per week.
So, why is cycling proving so popular?
Well, the rising success of British cycling has certainly contributed. However, bicycles can be used for transport and leisure as well as sport, making them really versatile.
Bikes are also more affordable to run than other vehicles, not to mention more environmentally friendly. It’s also worth bearing in mind that cycling appeals to people of varying fitness levels. After all, we’re not all destined to be the next Sir Bradley Wiggins!
In England & Wales, a bike was reported stolen every 7 minutes in 2022/23
Given the many great benefits of taking up cycling, it’s even more unfortunate that thieves love bikes. Why? Well, simply put, they’re easy to steal.
We’re here to help give you confidence in your cycling adventures, including the best ways to protect your bike. Plus it’s worth checking whether or not your home insurance policy covers your bike. Saddle up and let’s find out more…
How to secure your bicycle when you’re out and about
Where should you park your bike?
It should go without saying that whenever you park up, lock your bike! But it’s often where you leave your bicycle that matters.
Bike racks in public places (such as train stations and shopping centres) are usually well-lit with lots of people passing by. Busy locations will deter cunning bike thieves. However, as a cyclist, you’ll be all too aware that bicycle racks aren’t the norm everywhere. It’s important that you do a bit of research before you set off somewhere new.
So, what do you do when you find yourself in a situation where there isn’t bike storage? Find something sturdy with both ends attached to the wall or ground. This is an ideal fixture to attach the frame of your bicycle to.
Don’t make the all-too-common mistakes of just fixing the lock through a wheel as it can easily be removed. You should also avoid locking it to a random post. A thief will easily be able to take your bike by lifting it up and over the post!
Unfortunate enough to be a victim of theft? Your bicycle may be covered through Swinton if you have Personal Possessions cover. As with all occurrences of theft, you would need to report it to the police.
What lock should you use?
It’s not so much one lock, but locks. Your first port of call should be a durable D-lock, and you should invest in the best quality you can afford. If possible, aim to get one that’s Gold Sold Secure. Lower-quality locks can easily be bolt cropped or sawn through by the wrong person with the right tools!
Use your D-lock effectively by filling up as much of the space within the lock as possible with your bike. Make sure it is tightly fastened.
A chain and padlock combination offers extra protection for your bicycle. That's because it’ll be secured in two different places.
Bike security at home
Many bicycle thefts occur near the owner’s property, i.e. garages, outbuildings and outside areas. Don’t be complacent about your bike once you're home. You should secure your bike as best you can with security rated anti-theft devices.
Even if you store your bike in a garage or shed, you should still lock it up. Plus, don’t forget to lock the outbuilding itself. Also, think about investing in a shed alarm for extra security.
Don’t make it common knowledge that you own a bike. Instead, keep it out of sight as much as you can and consider adding curtains/covers to the windows in your garage or shed.
For an extra layer of protection, it may be a good idea to submit your bicycle’s details to the national Bike Register. This is a simple three-step process that’s police-approved.
While registering your bike isn’t a requirement with Swinton, some insurers may need you to do this. So, make sure to check your policy carefully. Also, keep a record of the frame number, receipt of purchase, and photographs of the bike in a safe place
Is your bicycle covered on your home insurance policy?
Don’t assume that your bike is automatically covered on your home insurance policy. All insurance providers are different, and we strongly advise that you check your policy documents carefully.
Here at Swinton, both our Classic and Premier home insurance options offer bicycle cover. Each bike kept inside your house or flat will be covered up to £2,000. If you keep your bike in a shed or garage, bear in mind the limit for Theft from Outbuildings, which is £2,500 for Classic, and £5,000 for Premier policies.
Away from the home, your bike needs to be locked up if unattended. It also needs to be included in your Personal Possessions limit if it’s worth £2,000 or less.
If your bicycle is worth more than £2,000 and you keep it inside your house or flat, it needs to be listed as a specified Personal Possession. This includes sheds and garages. These options can be selected during the quote process.
Don’t forget accessories either, such as mounts and lights. As you’ll know, these can really add up! With a Swinton policy, they need to be included within the Contents Sum Insured limit.
Remember, if you store your accessories in an outbuilding, these will form part of the Theft from Outbuildings limit. If taken away from the home, they need to be included as part of the Personal Possessions limit.
Note that if any of your accessories are stolen outside the home, they will only be covered on a Swinton policy if your bike’s frame is taken at the same time.
If your bicycle is damaged by a car and the driver is at fault, the cost of the damage may be claimed from them. General accidental damage to your bike is covered under the Personal Possessions limit.
If you're injured while riding your bicycle and you need to take legal action, Home Legal Protection will offer you cover. This is included as standard on our Premier home insurance. It's also available as an optional extra on our Classic product.
When you’re working out how much cover you need for your home contents, we understand that it’s easy to forget things. Our handy Home Contents Calculator will help you estimate the total value of your possessions, including your bike.
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore Swinton Insurance cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.