Nextbike suspends bike share scheme after rise in thefts and vandalism

  • Wales

  • Watch the full report by Katie Fenton.

Bike share company nextbike are suspending the scheme after months of vandalism, thefts and threats to staff.

The bikes are being removed temporarily from the streets of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, but the company warned the scheme could be permanently shut down.

The company launched in Cardiff in 2018 with bikes introduced to the Vale of Glamorgan two years later.

But since its introduction over 300 bikes have been stolen - with 130 of those taken since August this year. A further 260 bikes have been scrapped due to damage caused by vandalism ranging from being set on fire or dumped in rivers.

The incidents of theft and vandalism account for over half of nextbike's Cardiff fleet of bikes, which stands at 1,030.

Nextbike have warned they may have to permanently scrap the scheme Credit: PA

The scheme will be suspended from November 15 while the company repairs its fleet and brings in additional bikes ahead of a relaunch next year.

If the theft and vandalism of bikes continue, the company say it will have to permanently scrap the scheme.

260 bikes have had to be scrapped after they were damaged by vandalism

Krysia Solheim, nextbike UK Managing Director, said: “The amount of vandalism and theft that we have seen is simply staggering and not something we’ve experienced to the same extent anywhere else in the UK. Our teams simply cannot keep up with the level of damage and theft being carried out.

“We are temporarily removing bikes while we repair those that can be repaired and investigate what safeguards are in place around our bike stations - for example CCTV and street lighting - and how this can be improved. We will be readjusting the network to move stations to safer areas where needed. We will also be providing our staff with body cameras for their own protection."

Ms Solheim said nextbike staff had even been threatened when trying to recover bikes.Recent incidents have included an employee being urinated on and another being chased by someone with a shovel when trying to recover a bike.

“The team is made up of local people who live and work in Cardiff and Vale,” said MsSolheim. “It is totally unacceptable that they should be treated in this way. Our schemes employ 17 local people - that’s 17 people who will be out of a job if we’re forced to withdraw the schemes. This cannot be allowed to happen.”