The scene happened before Samia's eyes, in the center of Paris in broad daylight. The thief used a break-in bar that he dropped on the ground to break the U-lock and leave with a black foldable bike.
"He pretended to have forgotten the keys!" I tried to catch up with him, shouting in the street, but it was too late, he had run off, ”she says, looking disgusted. The young woman, who also rides a bicycle, confirms: “It happens almost every day. I bought two bikes in three years. Now I don't take any more… ”
Twenty complaints a day
While more and more bikes are circulating in the capital every day, flights are also keeping up a good pace. According to data from the police headquarters, 871 have been declared stolen since the deconfinement (between May 11 and June 22). A figure almost identical to that of last year, at the same period. But many are not reported to law enforcement.
"This is a problem that is not really new, but which inevitably grows at the same time as the practice of cycling is accelerating", analyzes Jean-Sébastien Catier, president of the association Paris en Selle.
“Today, 10 to 15% of journeys are made by bicycle, or around 100,000 journeys per day in Paris. This figure has more than doubled since confinement. We are convinced that this will continue. The health crisis has accelerated this dynamic in favor of cycling, in particular with the installation of new infrastructures and cycle paths. "
Homeowners track down questionable ads
Mechanics, pedelecs (electric assistance), freighters (for the transport of goods): cyclists often spend large sums on equipment. So inevitably, not finding his bike where he was parked makes the owners rage.
Like this surfer on Facebook, who posted photos of his cargo bike, "a black Bullitt with electric assistance that you do not see on every street corner", stolen on a Saturday morning in June. "The second in two years! », He writes before adding that there will be a reward for whoever finds him. “My road bike was not even 6 months old, and was worth 650 euros, says Aurélien in another message. My sadness is endless. "
Paris Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
VIDEO. Solidarity movement for a young caregiver after the theft of her bike
On the Stolen Bikes Paris / Suburbs page, cyclists help each other by posting announcements which appear to them to be dubious, photos in support, in the hope of recovering their property. There are dozens of messages a day. A visibly recent Moma (VAE) sold in stores for 2,500 euros to… 150 euros on a classified ads site, a B'twin bicycle (note: one of the most widespread bikes, sold by Decathlon) electric “brand new at 100 euros” .
Thieves spot bikes in advance
"The B'twin starts very well and being a lambda bike, it is rare to find it," says Vanessa. Who will take this opportunity to remind you of a few rules: “Attach your bike everywhere, even for 2 minutes, even in private courtyards. Thieves spot bikes that are not regularly attached, take photos and offer them for sale. The day they find a buyer they come and steal it on the spot, ”assures the internet user.
She also advises to “do not hesitate to customize [the bike] to have a chance of finding it, to have it engraved with a bicycode (Editor's note: the serial number which will allow you to recover the bike after filing a complaint) , to have a good padlock (the U's) and of course, to file a complaint in the event of theft ”.
Sometimes there are happy endings. Alex was therefore very happy to announce on Vélos Volés Paris / Banlieue that his bicycle was found. “The person who bought it saw the ad on this group. She called me yesterday to get it back. There are still good people in this world (sic). "
How to park your bike safely
Paris has 60,000 outdoor spaces. But to protect your bicycle, there are several solutions.
The City of Paris' véloboxes (75 euros per year subscription), large metal boxes with 6 places, around fifty shelters will be set up during 2020 in all of the districts, i.e. 300 places in total.
Velostations, secure lockers near stations accessible by application or badge developed by Saemes. 198 places are available at Lyon Van Gogh station (75 euros per year) and soon an opening is planned at Montparnasse station.
Les Véligo, lockers at stations in partnership with SNCF, RATP and Ile-de-France Mobilités. You can get there with a Navigo card (in Paris, they are located in Montparnasse, Rosa Parks and Gare de l'Est, between 10 and 30 euros per year).
Note that many underground car parks offer spaces dedicated to bikes, monitored and secure (around 10 euros per month).
