LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – There’s been a number of bicycles stolen in Downtown Lafayette recently, especially during Festival International weekend.
Including some bike locks that were cut right off the chain with bolt cutters.
Downtown Development Authority C.E.O. Anita Begnaud even had her bicycle stolen during the Festival.
As summer approaches and more people want to ride their bikes, officials are now working on solutions for bike riders.
“It (bike thefts) sparked some conversation around Downtown Lafayette about how to protect your bike, but also bike safety,” said Begnaud.
Lafayette Consolidated Government is working with an ‘Urban Trails Program’ to put more bike racks Downtown.
Begnaud says the Downtown Development Authority is working with the city to identify locations more bike racks could be placed in the area.
“When they’re coming out to grab a bite or coming to grab a drink, they’ll ride their bikes Downtown and have a safe place to store them,” said Begnaud.
“We’ve (Hub City Cycles) run into a lot of cases of bike theft and stolen parts off of bikes,” said Dustin Gaspard with Hub City Cycles.
He says there’s specific bike locks you should use.
“We recommend getting something like a ‘U Bar,’, which is a heavy metal steel lock, or a chain like this, which is a heavy gauge chain,” said Gaspard.
And specific ways to lock up your bike…
“You want to go ahead and lock through the frame, the center of the frame, as well as the front wheel,” said Gaspard.
As for more bike racks coming to Downtown in the future..
“We’ve scouted the locations, they’re (bike racks) being manufactured, and we hope to have them installed by summer,” said Begnaud.
Another tip is to try not to leave your bike somewhere overnight, unless it’s in a secure or well lit location.