New initiatives launched to deter bicycle theft

SINGAPORE — A pilot project is under way to deter bicycle theft, featuring a bicycle rack with better security features. Called Lock Lah, the specially-designed bicycle rack impedes access to the front wheel of the bicycle, while offering additional loops to secure the frame and back wheels with a cable lock.

Launched by the Singapore Police Force and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) yesterday, the racks have been installed at nine bicycle bays — at locations such as Velocity mall, Teck Whye Lane and parts of Hougang — and another three bays will have them by the end of the year. Together, the 12 bays will have 120 racks.

It was launched together with two other initiatives — a new online database for bicycle owners to share information on bicycles bearing unique serial numbers, and new anti-theft signage.

Bicycle theft is a perennial problem, although figures on cases of bicycle theft show a dip from last year — 588 cases were reported in the first half of this year, compared with 630 for the same period last year. Even with the drop, the police said such theft remains a major concern.

In coming up with the prototype design, the rack’s designers — three students from LaSalle College of the Arts — studied bicycles from around the world, and won a competition organised by the police and the NCPC organised from February to July last year, beating over 150 submissions.

Apart from the bicycle racks, an online database was also launched in partnership with bicycle online classifieds and forum Togoparts for users of Bicycle Security Labels, which are labels bearing a unique serial number.

These labels have been in use since 2011. With the online database, members of the database can update the status of their bicycles online — such as whether the bicycle is in their possession, lost, stolen or found — along with a picture of the bicycle. They can also check against the database to make sure they are not buying stolen bicycles.

The police and NCPC also launched new anti-theft bicycle signage posted near bicycle racks to increase awareness of bicycle theft. About 7,000 of such signage have been posted, with more to be rolled out in phases.

The authorities have been encouraging cycling as a mode of transport, with National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan saying last month that cycling must be made safe and pleasant for it to become a viable transport option for short trips.

Commenting on the new initiatives, Safe Cycling Task Force president Steven Lim said: “One of the reasons why people are not into cycling, especially for commuting, is because of bike theft. If there is any measures that can prevent that, it will be good.”

He suggested that the new racks be placed at void decks as residents could find it difficult to store bicycles in small homes. More racks also be added to libraries and town centres for residents taking short trips to these destinations, he added.

Mr Wong Koi Hin, 39, a regular cyclist who owns a software development company, welcomed the new racks, which he said should be placed anywhere with an adequate number of cyclists, if they are shown to be effective. “The three new cycling towns of Ang Mo Kio, Choa Chu Kang and Toa Payoh would appear to be excellent candidates,” he added.

The idea of having racks that are more secure at void decks is worth exploring, he added.

“It can be more of a bicycle parking space in much the same way we have carparks, charge a small fee to help with upkeep as well as moderate usage,” he said. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY XUE JIANYUE AND LOKE KOK FAI