Bristol has one of the UK’s worst train stations for bike theft, new figures have revealed.
Temple Meads is fourth in the list of worst stations in the country for leaving a cycle, with 179 bikes stolen from there in 2022.
This comes after bike thefts at stations across the UK were found to have increased by 40 per cent in a year to more than 6,900.
But the number of people charged by police fell by eight per cent to just 238, with the force recovering just 103 of almost 7,000 stolen bikes.
The figures, which put only St Albans City, Cambridge North and Woking railway stations above Temple Meads in terms of bike theft, are according to Freedom of Information requests obtained by insurance company Direct Line.
Commenting on the figures, West of England Combined Authority Mayor Dan Norris said: “This cycle theft epidemic is destroying our high streets and our communities.
“I’m doing everything I can to make it easier than ever to jump on two wheels, as well as investing in things like new and improved cycle paths, so people feel safe on their bikes, and more bike hangar, so Bristolians have more places to lock up their bikes.
“But the truth is that bicycle theft is so abundant, this is undermining these important efforts, as well as leaving residents out of pocket in a cost of living crisis. This wave of bicycle theft was made in the Great Broken Britain today, and it’s time to face it once and for all.
“This means many things, not the least of which is cracking down on thieves and keeping our stations safe.”
Norris has written to Avon and Somerset Police and the Crime Commissioner to call for urgent action to tackle the bike theft problem that is “burning” Bristol.
Avon and Somerset Police have been contacted for comment.
