The new bikes, provided by the Health Improvement Commission’s BeActive team, had been offered for children to borrow on an honesty basis from storage boxes stationed at the leisure centre, as well as at Saumarez Park, throughout the summer holidays.
But the Beau Sejour bikes have been repeatedly damaged after being in place for only a month. About three weeks ago, one went missing – never to be returned – and the doors on the box were broken. Since then, further acts of what is now believed to be deliberate vandalism have taken place at the site.
The commission had added another two bikes in recent weeks, but in total five have been damaged.
Saddles, brakes and handlebar grips have been removed, cables pulled apart and headsets twisted around the wrong way. A lock was subsequently fitted to the Beau Sejour storage box, but the vandalism has continued, so the bikes have now been removed for the remainder of the season.
‘We are very saddened that our bikes won’t be freely available for young children to borrow from our box at Beau Sejour,’ said active travel officer Amy Woollaston.
‘The continued misuse and vandalism of them left us feeling that the younger children may be at increased risk of injury due to the daily damage they were suffering, and while Beau Sejour staff and the Youth Commission have been very supportive, between us all we have not been able to sustain the initiative.’
As of yesterday, two bikes and helmets will be placed behind reception in the leisure centre.
Parents and guardians can borrow these for children free of charge.
‘This does present a bit of a barrier, we know, but the children’s safety has to be our priority,’ said Ms Woollaston.
With no similar problems at Saumarez Park, bikes there will remain available to grab- and-go as usual.