BikeSafe

Safer bike parking starts with better information

A civic data initiative designed to improve transparency around bike parking safety by combining infrastructure data, theft reports, and rider feedback.

Explore the initiative

The Problem

Bike parking safety remains a missing piece of everyday urban mobility

Cities across the United States are investing in bike lanes, trails, and other infrastructure to encourage bike riding as an everyday transportation option. Yet bike theft remains a major concern.

Today, there is no clear way for riders to evaluate how safe a bike parking location may be. Public crime data rarely captures bicycle theft clearly, and there is no standardized way to assess parking safety.

Without clear visibility into parking safety and risks, infrastructure investments alone cannot remove this barrier.

82% riders felt safe

(24 recommended)

$0+ million

invested in bike infrastructure in Texas

Cities are investing heavily in bike lanes and infrastructure to promote sustainable mobility.

$0+ million

invested in bike infrastructure in Texas

Cities are investing heavily in bike lanes and infrastructure to promote sustainable mobility.

0+ million

bikes stolen each year in the U.S.

Bicycle theft remains one of the most common property crimes affecting riders.

0+ million

bikes stolen each year in the U.S.

Bicycle theft remains one of the most common property crimes affecting riders.

estimated recovery rate of stolen bikes

Most stolen bicycles are never recovered once a theft incident occurs.

estimated recovery rate of stolen bikes

Most stolen bicycles are never recovered once a theft incident occurs.

0 tool

to access bike parking safety

Public crime data rarely identifies bicycle theft clearly or captures potential risks.

0 tool

to access bike parking safety

Public crime data rarely identifies bicycle theft clearly or captures potential risks.

The Solution

Introducing the Bike Parking Safety Index

BikeSafe introduces the Bike Parking Safety Index — a framework that combines infrastructure data, theft reports, and rider feedback to estimate parking safety.

Instead of relying on guesswork, riders see a simple safety score that reflects these signals.

the conditions around a parking location

whether theft incidents have occurred nearby

how other riders perceive the location

How it works

How the safety index works

Gathering safety signals

Many indicators of parking safety already exist across cities — including infrastructure conditions, environmental factors, and historical theft data. BikeSafe brings these signals together to better understand the context around bike parking locations.

Gathering safety signals

Gathering safety signals

Translating signals into a Safety Score

These signals are analyzed and translated into a standardized safety index. The index is then expressed as a simple score that helps riders quickly compare parking locations.

Translating signals into a Safety Score

These signals are analyzed and translated into a standardized safety index. The index is then expressed as a simple score that helps riders quickly compare parking locations.

Translating signals into a Safety Score

These signals are analyzed and translated into a standardized safety index. The index is then expressed as a simple score that helps riders quickly compare parking locations.

Making safety visible on the map

Safety scores appear directly within a familiar map interface. Clear visual indicators help riders quickly understand nearby parking conditions.

Making safety visible on the map

Safety scores appear directly within a familiar map interface. Clear visual indicators help riders quickly understand nearby parking conditions.

Making safety visible on the map

Safety scores appear directly within a familiar map interface. Clear visual indicators help riders quickly understand nearby parking conditions.

Supporting more informed parking choices

By translating scattered signals into clearer information, BikeSafe helps riders better understand local parking conditions and make more informed parking decisions.

Supporting more informed parking choices

By translating scattered signals into clearer information, BikeSafe helps riders better understand local parking conditions and make more informed parking decisions.

Supporting more informed parking choices

By translating scattered signals into clearer information, BikeSafe helps riders better understand local parking conditions and make more informed parking decisions.

What's next

Designed to scale across cities

The concept is designed to be adaptable across different cities. When local infrastructure data, crime reports, and community input are available, the Bike Parking Safety Index can be applied to new urban environments.

Contact

Interested in following the project or collaborating?

BikeSafe is exploring opportunities to collaborate with city agencies, cycling advocacy groups, and civic technology communities.

If you represent a city agency, research group, or organization interested in sharing infrastructure or safety data, feel free to reach out to contact@bikeparkingindex.org

If you'd like to follow the development of the BikeSafe initiative, you can sign up using the form to receive updates as the project develops.