Better by bike
The secure compound at Winchester rail station isn’t particularly secure. Irrespective of where you leave a bike it is important to use a decent lock as a deterrent. E-bikes are being targeted due to popularity and their value.
There was a welcome reduction last year in thefts from both Winchester city and the railway station (British Transport Police) following the drop the previous year. But thefts remain a big problem; earlier this month we heard of the theft of a brand new electric foldable bike from the supposedly secure compound at the station.
Boomtown Festival 2024: convenient bike parking option for Sunday Local Residents Ticket holders, but SWR confirms the same unsatisfactory arrangement for Winchester Station as in 2023.
Cycle Winchester has been closely monitoring the disturbing levels of bike theft in the city, and intervening to try and improve the situation in theft hot spots, notably at the railway station. The latest statistics, showing a reduction in thefts during 2023, provide a crumb of comfort, but overall the situation is far from happy.
There has been a spike in bike thefts from the railway station in recent weeks. These have mainly been from the covered racks in the rear car park also known as the “Hub”. Possibly as many as 7 were taken on one day. We have known for a while the …