A MAN from Endmoor has recovered at the very least 25 bikes from a bit of the River Kent within the final two years – with 5 recovered within the final two weeks.
Simon Raven, 62, is a eager bike owner and canoeist. He has a love of the outside and litter is certainly one of his pet peeves. Now retired after working at Heysham energy station, his pet peeve was taken to a different stage throughout his journeys into Kendal city centre.
“I’ve a factor about litter” Simon stated. “I began out simply litter selecting alongside the river however started to note all types of stuff within the river corresponding to laptops, faculty luggage, buggies, Hoovers.
“There had been additionally so many bikes so I waited till the river ranges weren’t too excessive to get them out.
Mark sticks between Stramongate Bridge to Nether Bridge as that is the place he can park simply.
He stated: “I usually have a group of them at my home and I attempt to reunite them with their homeowners. Many of the bikes are simply babies’s bikes.
“I managed to get one again to a baby who had gotten it for Christmas simply three weeks earlier than. One lady bought hers again who labored on the hospital and wanted it for transportation.
“If I can not return them, I give them to Re-bike in Carlisle who come and accumulate them.
“They re-furbish them to promote on. Some are simply too broken nonetheless and I’ve to take them to the tip.”
Disturbingly, Mark noticed two youths throw a motorbike into the river in entrance of him as soon as. He reported this and the stolen bikes to the police nonetheless nothing ever got here of the incidents.
“For some cause, bikes are simply handled otherwise,” Mark stated. “I perceive the police and the council have their jobs to do, but when it was one thing like a cell phone, it will be handled extra significantly.
“Many are stolen from gardens and youngsters simply rag them round after which discard them in the river – I can not perceive the mentality. I noticed it occur in entrance of me as soon as however they may have a knife or something.
“Owners want to make sure that their bikes are secured correctly, as a result of if thieves can take them, they may.”
Cumbria police have offered some suggestions for bike homeowners –
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“Lock your bike up everytime you go away it wherever utilizing safe thick cable lock.
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If doable, use two various kinds of locks.
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Thieves can reduce by means of poor high quality locks so by utilizing two locks they would want extra instruments to steal it.
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Make the locks and bike onerous to maneuverer and safe as shut as doable to a set object
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When locking your bike, accomplish that in both a safe cycle parking space or in a busy well-lit space with CCTV
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Change the place and the way you lock up your bike as a lot as doable
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Take elements that are straightforward to take away and steal with you – for instance lights, water bottles, saddles and many others.
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Get your bike securely marked and registered – this serves as a visible deterrent for thieves
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Record particulars of your bike such because the body quantity and different distinguishing options or take a photograph
If you get better a motorbike and suspect it has been stolen or utilized in a criminal offense, please contact police and report this through www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it . You also can name through 101.”
We have approached Westmorland and Furness council for remark.
