SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Nearly 3,000 powered cycles and e-bikes were stolen in London last year, a 21% increase from the previous year.

Data obtained from the Metropolitan Police showed 2,966 powered cycles and e-bikes were stolen in the capital during 2025, up from 2,448 in 2024. Pelion said the total was likely the highest on record.

The figures add to signs of rapid growth in London’s micromobility market. Transport for London recently reported a 50% year-on-year increase in demand for rental e-scooters in the 12 months to September 2025.

The city’s rental e-scooter trial has also expanded, with Lime and Voi operating across more than 1,600 parking bays in 11 participating boroughs.

Pelion’s wider study of European cities found London had the largest number of e-bikes among the markets it examined. The report counted more than 75,000 e-bikes across free-floating and station-based schemes in London, compared with 38,000 in Paris, 20,000 in Berlin and 18,000 in Milan.

By contrast, London had a much smaller e-scooter fleet. The city had 4,000 e-scooters, far behind Berlin’s 19,000, because local rules limit each operator to 2,000 vehicles.

Theft trend

The latest total extends a multi-year rise, though the pattern has not been steady. Metropolitan Police figures cited by Pelion showed 2,171 thefts in 2021, 2,216 in 2022, 2,120 in 2023, 2,448 in 2024 and 2,966 in 2025.

The increase comes as e-bikes become more visible on London’s streets through both private ownership and shared schemes. More vehicles in circulation can widen the market for resale and parts, while making it harder for operators and owners to secure them.

Pelion’s report, produced with Berg Insight, examined connected systems used in micromobility fleets. It said telematics installations in powered bicycles are expected to rise from nearly 2 million in 2026 to just under 3.5 million by the end of 2029.

These systems can provide location, battery status and usage data. In theft cases, operators and manufacturers use them to monitor vehicles and support recovery efforts.

Insurance pressure

Dave Weidner outlined Pelion’s view of the shift in risk facing the sector.

“E-bikes and powered cycles have shifted from low-value assets to high-value targets. Their portability and resale value make them significantly more vulnerable to theft than cars or motorcycles, and the impact is growing as adoption scales.”

“In that context, connectivity-enabled services are becoming a clear differentiator for manufacturers looking to strengthen their market position in this space. Many are already responding by adopting stolen vehicle tracking solutions based on embedded cellular connectivity, reflected in the growing volume of telematics deployments across the sector.”

“In some markets, insurers are already mandating approved tracking solutions or pricing risk accordingly. That dynamic will only accelerate. Theft is no longer a side issue in micromobility; it is becoming a defining factor in how these services are built, deployed and scaled in London, across the UK and Europe,” said Weidner, Pelion’s Chief Executive.

The data points to growing tension in London’s transport mix. Shared and privately owned electric two-wheelers are becoming more common as cities push lower-emission travel, but rising theft adds costs for operators, owners and insurers.

For fleet operators, losses can affect vehicle availability, maintenance schedules and replacement spending. For consumers, theft risk may influence where they park, what security devices they buy and whether insurance remains affordable.

London’s position is notable because it combines a large e-bike base with tighter e-scooter rules than some European peers. That has made the capital one of the biggest markets for electric cycles while limiting the scale of scooter fleets.

With more than 75,000 e-bikes already in free-floating and station-based schemes, the city stands out as a major test case for how operators, manufacturers and insurers respond to a rising theft problem.

Rhys Smith, who has worked with the Oxford Bus Company since June 2024 and lives in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, launched the support group Men’s Minds with his brother Aaron in September.

The group, which now has 15 regular attendees, meets every other Friday for community sessions and every other Saturday for football meet-ups at Leys Pools and Leisure Centre.

Mr Smith said: “I’ve got a personal connection to this issue, as there’s a family history when it comes to mental health.

“The normal processes don’t always work, and people can struggle to get the right support.

“I wanted to start something new and different, and the reaction from family and friends was huge.

“I was posting videos on social media, and they were getting lots of shares and comments.”

The group has steadily grown through word-of-mouth and outreach, which has included putting up posters in gyms, shops and barbers around Blackbird Leys, an area Mr Smith knows well.

He said: “In Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys, the rates for self-harm are higher than anywhere else in Oxfordshire.

“I’ve lived in Blackbird Leys all my life and I know everyone here.

“We began putting posters, leaflets, and banners up in gyms, barbers, and shops, and it’s been growing since.”

Mr Smith said: “We’re all part of a brotherhood.

“There’s a WhatsApp group where we check-in and chat with each other.

“When we meet, we talk about our plans, we joke and laugh, and what we want to provide is something different to your average mental health group.

“I don’t want people sitting in a circle watching a screen.

“It’s about everyone talking and there being a togetherness.”

Recently, members of Men’s Minds climbed Snowdon together.

Mr Smith said: “It was an incredible experience, and I feel very fortunate to have completed it with the group of lads we went up with.

“It was by no means an easy task, but we all made it to the top.

“There were a few challenging moments along the way, however we supported one another throughout and remained committed to not leaving anyone behind.”

His efforts have been recognised by his employer.

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Rhys for the way he is tackling one of society’s biggest issues.

“Mental health is something the business take very seriously, yet it’s a topic which we generally shy away from as a community.

“Rhys is a real credit to Oxford Bus Company as he continues to open conversations and seek positive change.”

JOSEPH GABRIEL LAGONSIN

News Editor

App store push

The Royal Horticultural Society has appointed Yodel Mobile to support the expansion of its RHS Grow app in the charity’s first partnership with an app marketing agency.

The appointment is part of a wider effort to extend the RHS’s reach beyond its gardens and shows and draw more users to its digital services. Yodel Mobile will work to improve the app’s visibility in app stores through app store optimisation, helping the charity target younger gardeners, beginners and people across the UK who may not engage with its physical sites.

RHS Grow offers gardening guidance, inspiration and practical advice through a mobile app. The partnership reflects a broader push to make gardening more accessible wherever people live, as the RHS develops its digital strategy alongside its traditional work in horticulture, education and public gardens.

Founded in 1804, the RHS is the UK’s largest gardening charity, with more than 600,000 members. It shares horticultural advice through its gardens, events, education programmes, publications and website, while also running campaigns linked to sustainability and school gardening.

For Yodel Mobile, the agreement adds a well-known national institution to its client list. The consultancy, part of NP Digital, specialises in mobile app marketing and says it has worked on more than 2,500 apps since its founding in 2007, including for TUI, UKTV, Global Player and Hinge.

Charity digital shift

The partnership also signals a shift in how the RHS is approaching audience development. Long reliant on its gardens, flower shows and publishing to connect with the public, the charity is now placing greater emphasis on mobile products to reach new demographics, including urban users and younger people.

RHS strategy 2030

The app forms part of the RHS’s 2030 Strategy, which aims to widen access to gardening, support more sustainable practices and use science-based approaches to address issues affecting people and nature. Digitally, that means using online tools to reach audiences who may not see gardening as an established part of daily life.

One likely focus is discoverability. Competition in app stores is intense, and charities and membership organisations often face the same challenge as consumer brands in turning recognition into downloads and repeat use. By focusing on organic app store presence rather than paid promotion alone, the RHS appears to be seeking longer-term user growth.

Jamie Meza De Paz, App Marketing Manager at the RHS, outlined the thinking behind the appointment.

“RHS Grow is about opening up gardening to new audiences and showing that it’s for everyone, wherever they live,” said Jamie Meza De Paz, App Marketing Manager at the RHS.

“It’s also important that we extend the reach of the RHS beyond our gardens, helping more people connect with nature and experience the joy of gardening in their everyday lives. We were looking for a partner with a proven track record of delivering measurable results, and Yodel Mobile stood out immediately. Their expertise will help us reach more people and strengthen our app store presence, ensuring even more users can discover and enjoy the app,” said Meza De Paz.

The charity’s focus on younger and newer gardeners reflects a broader trend across the horticulture sector, where established institutions are trying to connect with audiences shaped by mobile-first habits, smaller living spaces and growing interest in urban and sustainable gardening. Apps have become one way to offer advice and build regular engagement without relying on visits to physical venues.

Yodel Mobile role

That creates an opening for specialist marketing firms focused on app discovery, retention and engagement. Yodel Mobile said its role will centre on strengthening the app’s organic position in app stores, which can influence both download volumes and how a product is perceived by prospective users.

Mick Rigby, Chief Executive Officer of Yodel Mobile, said the partnership would support the charity’s digital ambitions.

“We’re delighted to partner with the RHS, a national institution with such a strong legacy, to help unlock the full potential of the RHS Grow app,” said Mick Rigby, Chief Executive Officer of Yodel Mobile.

“This initiative will support the RHS’s vision of making gardening accessible for everyone, while strengthening its digital presence for the future,” said Rigby.

The RHS has also set out a separate sustainability strategy aimed at making the organisation net positive for nature and people by 2030. Alongside its Planet-Friendly Gardening campaign, the charity has encouraged UK gardeners to respond to climate and biodiversity pressures, adding another dimension to its effort to broaden participation in gardening through digital tools.