The prevalence of bike theft and how to protect yourself will also be tackled.
Cycling has seen a boom in recent years, further accelerated by the pandemic, said police minister Henri Kox. This has led to an increase in accidents involving cyclists. With the numbers of motorists being stagnant, conflicts between road users are bound to increase.
In light of this, the Luxembourg police has decided to increase awareness checking wether everyone respects each other's space, for instance if cyclists use the pavement or drivers close pass. During this initial phase, offenders will receive a caution, which will increase to a fine from next week, says Pascal Peters, director of the administrative police.
Cyclists will also be reminded to check their equipment, such as lighting. But drivers, too, are targeted by the campaign. The public space must be shared, after all. Everyone is expected to follow the highway code and look out for each other.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
Police also introduced a new feature in their updated app, which is available in four languages. It is called "My Safe" and can be used to create a digital passport for bikes and other valuables. This data can then be transmitted to police in case of theft, and the item returned to the owner more easily if recovered. 720 bikes were stolen last year alone, says Pascal Peters, often from underground car parks in apartment buildings. This represents a 50% increase from previous years.
