Oxford University Security Services have recently reported that “cycle theft appears to have increased dramatically over the past couple of months.”
The Security Services have advised that cycle crime is occurring in many places, at all times of the day and night, and all over the University and College estate. Cycles are being cut free, with cable locks in particular being the most vulnerable. The thieves are also taking the cut lock with them, possibly to prevent DNA or fingerprints being left at the scene.
One student commented, “It’s really frustrating. I left my bike locked outside Worcester for a couple of hours and came back to find it had been stolen. I went to the porters’ lodge, and they told me it happens all the time. Some of my friends have had their bikes nicked too. I’ve got a better lock now, but I really can’t afford to lose this one.”
The University has a CCTV service which does help reduce bike theft. In just 10 days during 4th and 5th week, the University was able to use CCTV to catch 10 thieves.
At St Anne’s college, Bursar Martin sent an email out to the student mailing list saying, “We have seen theft outside of Green College (opposite St Anne’s) and a cycle parked on the pavement in front of the Gatehouse has just been stolen.”
The police have also angered some cyclists with their recent stop check on the city centre. A record number of Oxford cyclists were issued with £30 fines recently for riding in pedestrianised areas. The police collected £2,850 in an operation to make Oxford safer.
Last week they dished out 95 fines in 3 hours. They were monitoring Queen street and Cornmarket, where cycling is restricted. Each fine was £30.
“I think that’s disgustingly excessive,” said Andy James, a cyclist from Magdalen. “I think it would be better if the police just asked people nicely to get off. I think police time is better spent stopping cyclists being run over by traffic considering the relatively few cases where pedestrians are run over by cyclists.”
A St Anne’s second year, who asked not to be named, said he had been fined for cycling on Cornmarket last year. He accused police of being unnecessarily aggressive, saying “They were shouting at me in a really angry way, as if I’d done something really dangerous. I felt quite frightened.”
The police defended their crack down on cyclists. PC Steve Higa said, “If people cycle, there is a danger to themselves and pedestrians. It makes it even more complicated with buses in Queen Street. We don’t want anyone to get injured.
“Most of the cyclists got off their bikes when they saw us so they knew full well what they were doing was wrong. There’s no excuse. The signs are very clear.”
“I don’t see the point in cycling on Cornmarket street,” said a first year history student, who also regularly cycles in Oxford. “There are too many people in the way – it’s faster to walk. Though it would be good if they put a sign up making it clearer that you could be fined.”
Cyclists in Oxford have been facing further difficulties with the Council enforcing rules more strictly on where they can park. For cyclists with bikes which are not stolen, they may still lose their bicycles to the Council.
Oxford City Council planned this week to remove cycles parked on the pavement for Woodstock Road. Students at colleges along the road, such as St Anne’s, will have to move their bikes to cycle storage areas or face losing their bikes.
The University Security Services have been offering advice to students worried about bike theft. They recommend buying D locks rather than cable locks. D locks can still be cut by thieves, but it takes a lot longer.
