FOI request detail

How many Santander Cycles go missing and where they end up

Request ID: FOI-1825-2122
Date published: 07 December 2021

You asked
I would like to know how many Santander Cycles go missing, of those how many are recovered, and where they end up. I'm looking for: - How many Santander Cycles have gone missing each year since the scheme launched - How many of the cycles that go missing are recovered each year - Where the cycles that go missing and are recovered are found

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-1825-2122
 
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12th November 2021 asking for information about the cycle hire scheme.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 
 
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below, so far as we can. Note that Santander Cycles has played a vital role in keeping people moving during the pandemic and we want to make sure bikes continue to be available, which is why we take any theft or loss extremely seriously. In recent years we have stepped up our measures to ensure bikes are recovered – this includes working closely with the Metropolitan Police to deter theft of Santander Cycles, as well as taking measures such as installing cameras at select docking stations, introducing new bikes with GPS tracking, and checking equipment at docking stations to ensure bikes are returned properly. We encourage people to continue to report any abandoned bikes to us via our website, email or the Santander Cycles app.
 
Question 1: How many Santander Cycles have gone missing each year since the scheme launched?
 
And;
 
Question 2: How many of the cycles that go missing are recovered each year?
 
Answer: TfL does not hold comprehensive, accurate data for the years 2010-2012. The data from 2013 onwards is provided in the table below. Note that the data for 2021 is to the end of July. “MDH>24H” means the bicycle has been missing during rental for over 24 hours: 
 
Year MDR >24H Recovered Missing
2013 4639 4531 108
2014 8594 8396 198
2015 7905 7668 237
2016 6214 5967 247
2017 6620 6256 364
2018 6952 6463 489
2019 10513 9708 805
2020 12448 11498 950
2021* 7862 7011 851
Total 71747 67498 4259
*to 31st July 2021
 
Question 3: Where the cycles that go missing and are recovered are found?
 
Answer: We are not able to provide details for the 67,498 recovered bicycles within the costs limit for responding to FOI cases. However, note that the majority of missing cycles are found abandoned within the boundary of the Santander Cycles scheme. The remainder are generally found within Greater London, with a small percentage recovered outside of Greater London.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
 
 

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