bike lock.jpg
A cyclist has created an app to show where in London your bike is most likely to be stolen - after falling victim to theft himself.
After his bike was taken near to a police station in 2013, Enoch Adolfo, 23, decided shine a light on bike crime hotspots in the capital.
His £350 Specialized Sirrus hybrid bike was chained up near to Camden police station, but the lock was cut by thieves.
Mr Adolfo was surprised to check local crime statistics and find out the area was infamous for its high rate of cycle crime.
He is soon to unveil the Citybiker app, marking the safest places to leave bikes.
With more than 70,000 bikes stolen in the capital last year, and many thefts unreported to police, it is a major headache for cyclists.
Mr Adolfo told the Evening Standard: “I thought my bike would be fine outside a police station, but had I locked it up 100 yards down the road, statistically it would have been much safer.
“Cyclists know that there is information out there on traffic blackspots, but we don’t necessarily know where the theft hot spots are.”
The app will be officially launched in Bethnal Green next Thursday after a soft unveiling last month which reached around 80 regular users.
Mr Adolfo added: “I’m delighted with how the app has been received so far. The next stage for me is to look into GPS tracking and more in depth updates on crime hotspots.
“Eventually I’d like to take it to other cities in the UK and across Europe.”
MPs, investors, Strava and the London Cycling Club are expected to be among the audience at the launch in Maker Wharf.
Click here to read our road.cc guide to the best way to secure your bike against thieves.
After an unpromising start, having to be bribed by her parents to learn to ride without stabilisers, Sarah became rather keener on cycling in her university years, and was eventually persuaded to upgrade to proper road cycling by the prospect of a shiny red Italian bike, which she promptly destroyed by trapping a pair of knickers in the rear derailleur. Sarah writes about about cycling every weekend on road.cc.