Do you use a bike for commuting to and from work? Having a bicycle can be highly advantageous in a densely populated city like London. It saves time and offers a host of health benefits. It’s also great for the environment. Parking your bike when it’s not in use is a different story, though. With bike theft rampant in London and other UK cities, cyclists need to be careful about where they park their bikes.

Renting an apartment with onsite bike storage facilities can solve this problem. Many Build To Rent (BTR) developments offer free cycle storage for tenants. Let’s review the benefits of BTR bike storage for tenants.

1. Bike Theft in the UK: How Safe Is Your Bike?
2. Bike Parking Problems in the UK
3. Why You Should Rent An Apartment with a Bike Storage Facility
4. Conclusion

1. Bike Theft in the UK: How Safe Is Your Bike?

Before we discuss why you should rent an apartment with a bike storage facility, let’s look at the frequency of bike theft in the UK.

According to Statista, 88,299 bikes were stolen in England and Wales in 2019 and 2020. Here’s a breakdown of bicycle thefts between 2015 - 2020¹.

The number of recorded offenses has declined in the last 3 years, but there is still a chance your bike could be stolen if it is parked in an unsecured location.

According to the Guardian, bike sales increased rapidly amid the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. It was reported that the number of bikes sold increased by 60%². This is hardly a surprise considering the health concerns surrounding the pandemic. Compared to other means of travel, bikes allow you to practice social distancing while traveling. They are also comparatively cheaper and easier to maintain.

However, the increase in bike sales was also followed by more bike thefts and the number of insurance claims in June 2020 increased by 46%. Filing for insurance can be costly (we will discuss this in more detail later). However, not getting insurance is unwise as well. With bikes costing anywhere between £200 and £1,000, you stand to lose a lot if your bike is stolen³.

2. Bike Parking Problems in the UK

Finding a place to park your bike once you get home is a daily challenge and secure bike parking can reduce the rate of bike thefts. Unfortunately, most residential areas lack safe overnight bike storage space. In many cases, any initiatives to improve cycle infrastructure focus on creating destination-based parking spaces. This includes your workplace, shopping malls, or train stations.

While these are important, there is a dire need for overnight cycle storage facilities in residential areas too. According to Bikehangar creators, 35,000 people in London are on borough waiting lists for cycle storage space⁴.

Bike Life also assessed cycling trends in 12 cities and towns in the UK. According to their survey, 21% of people in the UK avoid purchasing a bike due to a lack of storage facilities at home or work.

The Build To Rent model acknowledges this problem and offers secure storage space to tenants. Opting to rent an apartment with a bike storage facility can help you lock up your bike and not worry about it falling into the wrong hands. It also encourages more people to pursue cycling.

3. Why You Should Rent An Apartment with a Bike Storage Facility

Choosing to rent an apartment with a bike storage facility provides several benefits. These include:

You Don’t Have to Worry About Your Bike Getting Stolen or Damaged

First and foremost, a BTR bike storage facility means you get to park your bike in a secure space. It dispels any concerns you may have about your bike getting stolen or damaged overnight. This assures your peace of mind. It also helps you avoid any hassles with your insurance company.

In most cases, if your bike is valued at less than £500, you should get coverage for it under your home contents policy. However, if your bike is valued somewhere between £500 and £1,000, you may have to pay extra to get coverage for it under your home contents policy. You’ll have to talk to your insurance company to determine how much this would cost.

Home contents policies also have excesses. If you need to file a claim, you will have to pay the full excess of your policy. This is typically between £100 and £250. To understand how this works, let’s assume your excess is £150. In this case, if your stolen bike is valued at £400, you will only receive £350 from the insurer.

Don’t get us wrong. You should still make sure your bike is insured. However, having access to secure BTR bike storage can help you avoid these extra costs when you file a claim.

You Can Protect Your Bike from Bad Weather

Storing your bike outdoors can reduce its life. As your bike is exposed to weather elements, such as rain, snow, and heat, it can get damaged. Given the weather in London, most people cannot afford this.

According to Daniel Slusser at SRM, leaving your bike outdoors for a day or two won’t do much damage. However, if you continue to store it in an open space, its parts will quickly start deteriorating. Exposure to rain and humidity will cause the chain to rust. High-end bikes have chains made of stainless steel, which will rust less quickly. However, if you are buying a mid-range bike, its chain is likely to rust faster.

Exposure to heat can also cause the rubber and plastic parts of your bike to break down. Its color will fade and bolts can become stiff. Eventually, these, along with the steel cable inside, will corrode, too. If your area receives a lot of rain, the damage will occur at a much faster rate⁵.

A BTR bike storage facility can prevent your bike from being damaged. Your bike will be stored inside in climate-controlled conditions, which can extend its lifespan and help you get the most out of it. You don’t have to worry about cleaning it up and can save money on maintenance and repairs.

You Can Add Expensive Accessories

As the chances of a bike being stolen are quite high, people avoid adding any expensive accessories to their bike. However, if you rent an apartment with a cycle storage facility, you have the liberty to add bike accessories. These include bags, baskets, bottle cages, bells, lights, fitness and navigation gadgets.

Most of these are removable. However, if you park your bike in an open space after getting home and accidentally leave something behind, it’s unlikely you will see it again.

Build To Rent developments offer a secure storage facility with 24/7 CCTV surveillance. Access is restricted to tenants and onsite staff. Thus, you don’t have to worry about any miscreants stealing your bike or its accessories after you have locked it up for the night.

You Can Use Your Bike Anytime

Thanks to issues with parking and security, most bicycle owners refrain from using their bikes after locking it up safely. Even if you are storing your bike in your apartment, it can be a hassle to bring it back up (especially if your apartment doesn’t have an elevator).

However, storing your bike in a secure facility gives you the freedom to use it anytime without having to worry about parking or storing it once you return home.

4. Conclusion

Cycling is easily one of the most environment-friendly and economical modes of transport. It offers a wide array of health benefits and helps reduce pollution. Unfortunately, some people avoid getting a bike due to a lack of parking space or security.

The Build To Rent model offers an easy solution to this. Many Build To Rent bike safely when it’s not in use. Renting an apartment with BTR bike storage also allows you to use your bike anytime, protect it from bad weather, and add expensive accessories without worrying about them being stolen.

Do you want to rent an apartment with a bike storage facility? Head over to buildtorent.io and explore Build To Rent apartments that offer cycle storage to tenants.