About Bike Theft >The Problem >Contributing Factors
Parking Environment

‘Parking environment’ describes the context surrounding the bike parking furniture provided, including those shown below:

Length Of Stay
Charges
Location
Layout
Spacing
Access
Lighting, Surveillance & Guardianship
Maintenance & Servicing
Scale of Provision
Signage

Bicycle theft prevention measures may include alterations or adaptations to any of these features of the wider parking environment. Many of these factors are interdependent. A well guarded and surveyed parking environment may require less secure cycle parking. A staffed facility that offers valet parking may allow for greater density of parking stands as fewer users are required to negotiate the parking area. Designed parking facilities typically have the opportunity to control the parking environment by considering each of these factors and the type of parking furniture used to make parking easy, safe and secure for cyclists but difficult and risky for thieves.