With Soaring Demand for Cycling, City Sees Uptick in Bike Thefts

By
Stephen Nessen
WNYC News | Jul 15, 2020


As many people continue to avoid buses and subways, the demand for bicycles is soaring. That's also been followed by an uptick in bicycle theft.

The NYPD says 413 more bikes have been stolen so far this year compared to the same time last year. That's an 18 percent increase. Expensive bikes, the ones that cost more than $1,000 are getting stolen the most. Thefts of those bikes increased 54 percent compared to the same time in 2019. Rich

Rich Mintz says his pedal-assist Blix bike was stolen in front of the Chelsea Fairway while he was shopping.

“I was always very careful to lock through the frame, but in the end someone came with a lever of some kind and snapped the U-Lock in half and took the bike,” he said.

Mintz says the bike has not been recovered. He wants the city to create secure parking spaces for bikes.

 

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Stephen Nessen

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