Bike theft? Make it your insurer's problem

A car is stolen in the UK every 8 minutes and only a minority are recovered - drivers make it their insurer's problem. More cyclists should do the same.

{{cta-cycling}}

Radio 4 this morning ran a piece on cycle theft, focussing on the police warning riders against trying to recover stolen bikes themselves. The backdrop to the story is cyclists using GPS trackers to monitor the location of their stolen bikes in real time, and the reluctance of police to act on that intelligence when it's offered to them. Increasingly, such trackers are built into e-bike frames, and while they work well, it's for nothing if the police do not have the will or resources to prioritise bike crime.

Having seen the most recent budget and its measly allocation for active travel, we won't be holding our breath for nationwide cycle storage solutions. Instead, there’s a strong case for doing as motorists do. While insurance for cyclists is not mandatory like it is for drivers, it remains the simplest way for to mitigate against theft. After all, a fully comprehensive cycle insurance policy works exactly like the cover for cars. It protects against accidental damage, includes 24/7 breakdown recovery, and covers repair costs should you prang someone else’s vehicle.

Most importantly, if your bike is stolen you can be back on the road within days. And if you cover your bike through a specialist provider like ETA, as opposed to sticking it on your house insurance, affect the no-claims discount on your home insurance.

Drivers with fully comprehensive cover make a stolen car their insurer's problem. More cyclists should do the same.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover  and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

{{cta-cycling}}

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