Bike: the anti-theft solution KeepMyBike is being rolled out in Lille

To combat the scourge of bicycle theft, secure parking is one of the solutions implemented by local authorities.

Encouraging the use of the bicycle, or even nearly imposing it as in Paris where cars are being pushed out, requires combating insecurity and theft. It is known that 25% of victims abandon their transition and revert to a solution deemed more reliable… like the car. In France, it is estimated that the number of bicycle thefts varies from 350,000 to 580,000 per year, which is up to 1,590 thefts per day… or one every 10 seconds!

This wide range is explained by the difficulty in obtaining accurate statistics, as not all thefts are reported. These figures show an increase compared to previous estimates, which were often quoted between 300,000 and 400,000 thefts per year. This rise seems to be due to increased bicycle usage, but also to a better accounting of incidents thanks to more recent and detailed studies. Electric bicycles are particularly targeted, representing a growing share of thefts (as well as spare parts).

Multiplying Secure Bike Stations

KeepMyBike is a French company specializing in securing bicycles in urban environments. Founded in 2021, this company offers an innovative solution to address the growing problem of bicycle theft in France. Their main offering is a mobile application that allows users to locate secure bicycle parking spaces, reserve them, and manage their parking directly from their phones.

The KeepMyBike stations are equipped with secure and connected racks that can protect all types of bicycles, including electric bikes. Their first stations were deployed in Lille.

In addition to the bicycle rack, each station is equipped with individual lockers to securely store helmets, seats, batteries so that users do not have to carry them to the restaurant, shops, or cinema.

The mobile application Keepmybike is particularly well designed, as it allows users to reserve a spot in advance and also guides them via geolocation. The app then serves as a lock to secure and unlock your bicycle, and also to make payments.

To test the experience, Keepmybike offers each new user a free one-month subscription which includes 15 hours of parking at one of the three stations located in Lille.

Of course, while the initiative is commendable, it is not without constraints: the space occupied on the ground and thus the parking fees. Cities must also enhance their security, otherwise the appeal of bicycles compared to cars will diminish with the consequences we already know…

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