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On this World Bicycle Day, in the columns of the French newspaper Le Parisien, our customer Motto explains its fight against bicycle theft in Paris:
Bike theft must be fought in Paris
A chat with Antoine Bouttier, CEO and co-founder of Motto.
Cycling in Paris and the Ile-de-France region is exploding and this is to be welcomed. Unfortunately, the subject of theft is not sufficiently addressed, even though it is the first obstacle to adoption mentioned by Motto’s customers. Operating a fleet of more than 2000 bikes in Paris, Motto, the e-bike subscription service, shares the findings of a recent study carried out over the last 2 years.
What are the main observations you have made about bicycle theft in Paris?
Five arrondissements are particularly affected by the phenomenon: the 10th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 20th arrondissements. This is not a surprise because these neighborhoods are very populated and the buildings do not always have a courtyard or a bicycle room to shelter them. Thefts most often take place between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., which is complicated to manage because insurance companies often exclude the night from their coverage. It is important to emphasize that the month of August and the start of the school year in September is the period when there are the most theft in Paris.
Can you share some tips to prevent these thefts?
Absolutely, at Motto we place a special emphasis on the safety of our subscribers. First of all, you need to invest in a high-quality lock. Our security partner is ABUS, which is known for its robustness and the quality of its products. Some practical advice: do not leave your bike in the same place for more than 3 days and always attach your bike to street furniture provided for this purpose, especially for short stops.
What about the installation of GPS trackers?
We are convinced that GPS trackers are part of the future of mobility. We work with Connected Cycle, a French company specializing in the matter. All our bikes are equipped with GPS chips, which allows us to find 9 out of 10 stolen bikes. Locating the bike is the first step. But recovering it is of paramount importance. That’s why we have developed in-house technology to trigger alerts as soon as a bike is reported stolen. The key to our approach lies in our ability to intervene quickly.
How does Motto’s subscription system offer an effective solution to bicycle theft in Paris?
Our subscription service goes far beyond just renting e-bikes. We offer our subscribers peace of mind by guaranteeing the safety of their bike. Being a Motto subscriber is the guarantee of having a bike even in the event of theft because we replace the stolen bike, In addition, our ability to intervene quickly after a theft, combined with our close collaboration with the Paris police authorities guarantees real action against bicycle theft. The key is to intervene within 24 to 48 hours. Beyond that, it’s almost zero chance of finding it.
More information on www.ridemotto.com
