Paris has also seen a significant rise in bike use. Since the end of lockdown, in May, cycling paths have had such an increase in traffic flow (67%), that the council is planning to extend it over fifty more kilometres. Still, the biggest concern for cyclists is: where to park securely and make sure to find their bicycles once back? In the French capital, there are 500 thousand bicycles and only 40 thousand secured parking areas. These parking areas are monitored by CCTVs. They are accessible with badges and padlocks connected to a mobile app, that also warns you in case of theft. The insurance plan covers damages up to 200 euros. Charging stations for electric bikes are also provided and the annual membership varies from 10 to 75 euros a month, depending on the service type. Some companies have decided to provide their employees with specific areas to park their bikes. However, more dedicated space is needed, and some have started asking the Government for help, in order to continue boosting the use of bicycles, help reducing pollution and improving air quality.

The number of bicycle thefts have dramatically increased in the French capital: 540 bikes stolen each month (+62% compared to 2019); according to ‘Le Figaro’, stolen bicycles amount to 4,350 from January to August (331 more compared to the whole of last year) and up to 400 thousand a year according to Ifresi’s research in collaboration with the CNRS. How’s that possible? Why they cannot be found? Stores ran out of stock. However, sales quadrupled since May and second-hand bicycles from unknown sources are all over the market and on the internet. Their price is low enough to believe they may have been stolen.

To end this black market, France has decided that all new bicycles will have to be officially labelled.

CREDITS: https://www.assinews.it/09/2020/bici-ruba-furti-62-servono-parcheggi-sicuri/660077949/