Bicycles abandoned in the entrances to buildings or garages are generally reported to the City of Luxembourg, which passes the message on to the operator of the service, JCDecaux. (Photo: Paperjam.lu)

Bicycles abandoned in the entrances to buildings or garages are generally reported to the City of Luxembourg, which passes the message on to the operator of the service, JCDecaux. (Photo: Paperjam.lu)

Self-service bicycles are experiencing an upsurge in vandalism, according to their operator JCDecaux, which has noted an increase in the number of returns to the workshop for repair.

Vel'oh bicycles stripped of their pedals or their chains: this type of unpleasant surprise is not uncommon for users of the self-service bicycles in Luxembourg City and its surroundings.

“Unfortunately, in recent months, bicycles in Luxembourg have been facing an increase in acts of vandalism, which was not the case before,” said Jérôme Blanchevoye, deputy general manager of cities & development at JCDecaux Belgium.

In the spring of 2021, he explained to Delano’s sister publication Paperjam that “vandalism is much lower in Luxembourg than in the other European cities where JCDecaux works” and that all the parts of a bicycle must be replaced on average every five to six years.

Availability and operability in short supply

Today, the operator is forced to bring more machines into the workshop for repairs, with RTL saying 6,000 parts had to be replaced in the past year. JCDecaux did not provide any numbers in an interview, but spoke of a “very strong increase in the rate of vandalism since the beginning of this year.”

The parts that are most often damaged are the baskets and the wheels. “the Vel’oh is not designed to be ridden by several people, which damages it,” the operator said.

More bikes in the workshop means fewer bikes available for hire for users. Users are faced with stations that are empty or have a limited number of bikes, or none at all if they are looking for a bike with a sufficient battery level, for example.

The introduction of electric assistance on these bikes in 2018 seems to have lifted a barrier for many users: the capital’s terrain is no longer as problematic as it seemed thanks to the help of a battery that allows you to ride at up to 25km/h with a welcome boost on the climbs.

Popular rentals

The operator reported a 400% increase in rentals in 2021 compared to 2018, with 800,000 operations. As for long-term subscribers, their number exceeds 20,000, which is 150% more than in 2018.

In addition to damage, JCDecaux has noted “vandalism in stations leading to the theft of bicycles.” Equipment has been found hidden, hung up or dismantled in different corners of the capital.

“When the City of Luxembourg receives complaints from users or residents, it intervenes with JCDecaux managers. The complaints sent to the city mainly concern Vel’ohs abandoned in the public space,” said a spokesperson of the commune. Repairs are the responsibility of the operator and not the municipality.

At present, Vel’oh has a total of 1,000 bikes at 116 stations across the capital and a number of neighbouring communes.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.