Former chair of Southwark Cyclsits highlighted that no British Standard exists of bicycle locks. I was amazed to hear this. Some industry type standards exist but most UK citizens would know to trust a British Standard kite mark but wouldn’t know if some other standard quoted was just so much mumbo jumbo. Equally many locks don’t meet any standard and offer zero protection from bicycle theft. Once someone has a bike stolen they’re quite likely to give up cycling and not replace it. So this is a really important health and climate change issue.

So Simon Hughes MP has kindly taken up the challenge to try and see why this is with the following initial parliamentary questions:

Ordinary Written question to: Home Office – What steps her department is taking to improve security equipment for bicycles?

Ordinary Written question to: Home Office  – What steps her department is taking to promote awareness of cycle crime?

Ordinary Written question to: Home Office – To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has considered a British standard for cycle locks and other cycle security equipment?

Ordinary Written question to: Home Office – What steps is her department taking to reduce the theft of bicycles?

Ordinary Written question to: Home Office – How many cycle thefts were reported in a) the UK and b) London in the most recent period for which statistics are available?

Fingers crossed the answers will be helpful.